Installing new software and ensuring that it is compatible with Linux can be a challenging endeavour that, at times, may appear to be impossible and feel like the end of the world. But hold on, ExpressVPN does not operate in this manner at all. ExpressVPN, in contrast to other providers of VPN services, supports Linux, and the service provides easy-to-follow instructions that users can follow in order to set up the VPN on a system running Linux.
You can improve the quality of your time spent online as well as your sense of safety by installing a reliable virtual private network (VPN) alongside your Linux operating system. There are two different approaches you can take to make ExpressVPN function on your Linux device. When setting up ExpressVPN, you have the option of using either a Linux app or the OpenVPN Client.
Installing and Configuring ExpressVPN on Linux
If you have never used ExpressVPN before, you will be required to sign up for one of the service’s plans. We advise going with ExpressVPN’s 12 + 3-month plan because it is their most affordable option and only costs approximately $6.67 per month (Save 49 percent and get 3 extra months FREE with a 12-month plan). To install ExpressVPN on Linux using its native application for Linux, follow these steps:
Download the Installer
The foremost step is to download the installer for your Linux version. You can do so by following the steps given below.
- Visit the ExpressVPN Downloads page and, after entering your credentials, sign in to your account there.
- In this step, you will need to enter the verification code that was sent to the email address you provided.
- You will see a dropdown menu for your Linux operating system on the right side of the screen.
- Choose the version of Linux you are currently working with. Pick one from the available choices:
- Ubuntu 32 bit
- Ubuntu 64 bit
- Fedora 32-bit Fedora 64 bit
- Raspbian 32 bit.
Note: To determine which version of Ubuntu or Fedora operating system you are working with, open the Terminal and enter the following command.
- uname –m
OR
- arch
It is recommended that you download the 64-bit installer if you are working with a 64-bit Linux distribution.
5. At this point, all you need to do is click Download. You should now be able to run the installer on your Linux machine after successfully downloading it.
Install & Activate the App
The next step involves installing and activating the app.
6. Install the file that you have downloaded.
Note: If you are unable to install the application directly through the graphical user interface (GUI), you can install it through the command line instead. To begin the installation, depending on the Linux distribution you are using, enter the command line that is below.
Ubuntu/Mint/Debian:
sudo dpkg -i [installer filename]
Fedora/CentOS:
sudo yum install [installer filename] ORsudo dnf install [installer filename]
7. After the installation is complete, open the Terminal and run this command.
expressvpn activate
Now paste the verification code from step 2.
8. Now you will see Y and N requesting that you share diagnostic reports that have been anonymized. To accept the terms, click “Y,” or to reject them, click “N.” If you answered yes to the previous question, then you will need to execute the following command:
“expressvpn preferences set send_diagnostics false.”
How to use ExpressVPN on Linux
Make a connection to a server
Run the following command in your terminal:
“expressvpn connect.” This command will connect you to the server you last connected to automatically. If you’re using ExpressVPN for the first time, the Smart Select feature will connect you to a server automatically.
A message will appear confirming that ExpressVPN is connected. To check the status of your connection, type the command below.
“expressvpn status.”
Connect to a different server location with ExpressVPN Linux
Go to Terminal and type the following command to see a list of ExpressVPN’s server locations:
- Full server list: expressvpn list
- Smart location list: expressvpn list all
- Enter the command below to connect to a server of your choice.
- expressvpn connect [LOCATION]
- Enter the following command to connect to a server using the smart location feature:
- expressvpn connect smart
Unplug from a server
To disconnect from a server, type the following command in your terminal:
“expressvpn disconnect”
The VPN will now be disconnected for which you will be notified.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that Linux systems are generally safer from viruses and malware than Windows or macOS systems, Linux users should consider using a reliable VPN to improve their privacy and security. On how to get ExpressVPN up and running on Linux, we’ve provided step-by-step instructions above.
