# Connect to an AWS Client VPN endpoint using a macOS client application
<a name="macos"></a>

These sections describe how to establish a VPN connection using the macOS-based VPN client, Tunnelblick or AWS Client VPN.

Before you begin, ensure that your Client VPN administrator has [created a Client VPN endpoint](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/vpn/latest/clientvpn-admin/cvpn-working-endpoints.html#cvpn-working-endpoint-create) and provided you with the [Client VPN endpoint configuration file](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/vpn/latest/clientvpn-admin/cvpn-working-endpoint-export.html). If you want to connect to multiple profiles simultaneously, you'll need a configuration file for each profile.

For troubleshooting information, see [Troubleshooting AWS Client VPN connections with macOS clients](macos-troubleshooting.md).

**Important**  
If the Client VPN endpoint has been configured to use [SAML-based federated authentication](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/vpn/latest/clientvpn-admin/client-authentication.html#federated-authentication), you cannot use the OpenVPN-based VPN client to connect to a Client VPN endpoint. This includes any ARM-based architectures. If you are using a device with an ARM processor (such as Apple Silicon Macs or ARM-based Windows devices), you must use SAML-based VPN endpoints with the AWS provided client instead of OpenVPN clients.

**Topics**
+ [Establish a VPN connection on macOS](macos-tunnelblick.md)

# Establish an AWS Client VPN connection on macOS
<a name="macos-tunnelblick"></a>

You can establish a VPN connection using the Tunnelblick client application on a macOS computer.

**Note**  
For more information about the Tunnelblick client application for macOS, see the [Tunnelblick documentation](https://tunnelblick.net/documents.html) on the Tunnelblick website.

**To establish a VPN connection using Tunnelblick**

1. Start the Tunnelblick client application and choose **I have configuration files**.

1. Drag and drop the configuration file that you received from your VPN administrator in the **Configurations** panel.

1. Select the configuration file in the **Configurations** panel and choose **Connect**.

**To establish a VPN connection using AWS Client VPN.**

1. Start the OpenVPN application, and choose **Import**, **From local file...**.

1. Navigate to the configuration file that you received from your VPN administrator, and choose **Open**.