How to Setup PPTP, L2TP or IkeV2 service for Windows

Special settings to use L2TP or IKEv2 on Windows

If you are only using PPTP you can skip this section.

Windows by default prevents L2TP connections to servers behind NAT firewalls. No other operating system works this way.  In order to make Windows work with L2TP an exception has to be added to the registry. Please follow these steps if you wish to use L2TP on Windows.

On the Windows computer be sure you are logged in as an admin user.

Click Start

Search for regedit and then right click on it and select Run as Administrator. In WIndows XP just double click.

Locate and then click on the following registry key

WIndows Vista, 7, 8 and 10 – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\PolicyAgent

Windows XP – HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\IPSec

On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Type AssumeUDPEncapsulationContextOnSendRule and then press ENTER.

Right click on the AssumeUDPEncapsulationContextOnSendRule you just created and click Modify.

In the Value Data box, type the number 2 as the value and click OK.

Exit regedit.

Reboot the computer then proceed below for either Windows XP or further down for Windows Vista, 7 and 8.

Windows 7 (see Windows 8 and 10 below)

Go to:

Control Panel and select ‘Network and Sharing Center’ and then ‘Connect to a Network’

Select ‘Set up a connection or network’

Vista PPTP Setup

Select ‘Connect to a workplace’

Vista PPTP VPN Service

Select ‘Use my Internet connection (VPN)’

Vista Personal VPN

Next to ‘Internet address:’ enter the server name we sent you

Next to ‘Destination name:’ type in a description of the connection (this can be anything you want)

Click on ‘Don’t connect now’ and then ‘Next’

PPTP VPN using Vista

Enter your user name and password and click ‘Create’

VPN Service setup

Click on ‘Properties’ and then ‘Security’

To use PPTP, select PPTP from the ‘Type of VPN:’ drop down and click ‘OK’

To use IKEv2 select IKEv2 from the ‘Type of VPN:’ drop down and click ‘OK

To use L2TP, select L2TP from the ‘Type of VPN:’ drop down. Then click ‘Advanced settings’ and enter the pre-shared key we supplied when we sent you the connection information (after you requested the service). Click ‘OK’

PPTP VPN Service
Setting up L2TP VPN

From the task bar, select your connection from the Network icon menu. Click ‘Connect’

You can check to see if you are on the network on this page

Windows 8 See Windows 10 below

WIndows 8 is similar to Windows 7 above except for the look of the screens.

PPTP

L2TP (For IKEv2/IPsec choose IKEv2 instead)

The step below is only required for L2TP

Windows 10

Windows 10 PPTP Setup

PPTP

Setup PPTP on Windows 10

L2TP – Enter the pre-shared key provided in your registration email

For IKEv2 select IKEv2/IPsec instead and there is no key required.

windows 10 l2tp

Connect

Windows 10 PPTP vpn

Back to PPTP/L2TP VPN Page