Set up Lisar on iPhone and iPad

Before you start

Open the Lisar panel and select an active profile. The connection details belong to that profile: use its server, VPN account and IPsec values for L2TP/IPsec, or its downloaded .ovpn file for OpenVPN. A website sign-in password is not automatically a VPN password.

Start with L2TP/IPsec when your device and network support a suitable connection. OpenVPN is the alternative when they do not. An operating system listing another protocol does not mean that your Lisar profile supports it.

Option 1: built-in L2TP/IPsec

Apple documents L2TP/IPsec support on iOS and iPadOS. Use this path when the profile, operating system and current network are compatible.

1. Open Settings and find VPN, usually under General → VPN & Device Management. Choose Add VPN Configuration.
2. Select L2TP where offered and enter a name that helps you recognize the connection.
3. Use the Server, Account, Password and Secret values for your active Lisar L2TP/IPsec profile. Do not substitute your website login for the VPN account.
4. Review the routing option, including Send All Traffic where offered, against your intended profile setup. Save and enable the connection.
5. Check the VPN status in Settings, then open Safari or another browser to verify browsing.

If a work or school policy prevents adding a VPN, ask the device administrator. If L2TP is unavailable on your device or unsuitable on the network, use the OpenVPN path below.

Alternative: import an OpenVPN profile

If L2TP/IPsec is unavailable or unsuitable, install OpenVPN Connect for iOS from the official download or store link. The import labels can vary by app version.

1. Download the active profile's .ovpn file from the Lisar panel.
2. In OpenVPN Connect, add a profile and choose Upload File. Select the downloaded file.
3. Confirm the import, then connect. Approve the operating system's VPN permission when it appears.
4. Check the client's connection status before using the connection. Use Disconnect when finished.

Keep the original profile file private. If the client asks for a value that the panel does not provide, contact support with the field name and error message. Do not remove certificate checks or copy connection values from another provider.

Safari, other browsers and iCloud Private Relay

The VPN connection is configured for the device, so you do not need a separate Lisar extension for each browser. Proxy settings, split routing or another relay can change the route a browser uses. If Safari shows a different address than expected, review those settings before replacing a working VPN profile.

A VPN status icon confirms a connection state; it does not guarantee that every website will accept the exit address. See browser connection checks.

Check the connection and resolve common problems

A saved configuration is not a connected tunnel. Confirm that your VPN client or system settings shows Connected, then open a website. After changing Wi-Fi, waking the device or switching to mobile data, check the status again.

If authentication fails, check the active profile and its connection values. If the VPN connects but browsing fails, check DNS and routing before changing the profile. If only one browser fails, review its proxy, secure DNS and other VPN extensions. Use the troubleshooting checklist for the next checks.

For support, provide your operating system, client version, protocol and a redacted error message. Do not send passwords, shared secrets, private keys or a complete profile in a public message.

Official platform references

• Apple: supported VPN protocols
• Apple: iCloud Private Relay
• OpenVPN: import a profile

More setup help