macOS has a built-in IKEv2 VPN client, so you can connect to PremierVPN without installing an app. This guide covers macOS Ventura and later, with notes for older versions.
Want more features? The PremierVPN app for Mac adds WireGuard and a kill switch, and signs in with your portal email and password.
Before you start: use your VPN credentials
Manual setups sign in with your VPN username and VPN password. These are separate from the email and password you use for the portal and the PremierVPN apps, and the portal login will not work here.
- Find both on your Dashboard under Your VPN credentials. Click Show to reveal the password.
- To change the VPN password, go to Settings › VPN Password. The new password applies from your next connection.
- Not sure which login is which? See Understanding your VPN credentials.
Add the VPN configuration
- Open System Settings › VPN.
- Click Add VPN Configuration and choose IKEv2.
- Fill in:
- Display name: any name, for example
PremierVPN UK - Server address: a hostname from the table below, for example
uk.premiervpn.net - Remote ID: the same hostname, for example
uk.premiervpn.net - Local ID: leave blank
- Display name: any name, for example
- Under Authentication, set User authentication to Username, then enter your VPN username and VPN password.
- Click Create.
On macOS Monterey or earlier: open System Preferences › Network, click +, choose Interface: VPN and VPN Type: IKEv2, then enter the same details. Set the username and password under Authentication Settings.
Connect and disconnect
- Go to System Settings › VPN.
- Turn on the switch next to your PremierVPN configuration.
- The status changes to Connected.
Turn the switch off to disconnect. To control the VPN from the menu bar, go to System Settings › Control Centre and set VPN to Show in Menu Bar.
Server hostnames
Add one configuration per location if you switch often. You can also copy any hostname from the Servers page in the portal.
The Server address and Remote ID must be the same hostname. If you change one, change the other.
| Location | Hostname |
|---|---|
| Denmark | dn.premiervpn.net |
| Finland | fn.premiervpn.net |
| France | fr.premiervpn.net |
| Germany | de.premiervpn.net |
| Israel | isr.premiervpn.net |
| Italy | it.premiervpn.net |
| Netherlands | nl.premiervpn.net |
| Norway | no.premiervpn.net |
| Poland | pl.premiervpn.net |
| Romania | ro.premiervpn.net |
| Spain | sp.premiervpn.net |
| Sweden | sw.premiervpn.net |
| Switzerland | swiss.premiervpn.net |
| Turkey | tr.premiervpn.net |
| United Kingdom (London) | uk.premiervpn.net |
| Argentina | ar.premiervpn.net |
| Brazil | br.premiervpn.net |
| Canada | ca.premiervpn.net |
| Mexico | mx.premiervpn.net |
| Peru | pe.premiervpn.net |
| United States (Kansas) | ks.premiervpn.net |
| United States (Los Angeles) | la.premiervpn.net |
| United States (New York) | ny.premiervpn.net |
| United States (Santa Clara) | sc.premiervpn.net |
| Australia | au.premiervpn.net |
| Hong Kong | hk.premiervpn.net |
| India | in.premiervpn.net |
| Japan | jp.premiervpn.net |
| Singapore | sg.premiervpn.net |
| South Korea | sk.premiervpn.net |
Troubleshooting
"The VPN server did not respond"
- Check that Server address and Remote ID are identical and spelled correctly.
- IKEv2 uses UDP ports 500 and 4500. Some public Wi-Fi, office and school networks block them. Try another network, or use OpenConnect (port 443) or the PremierVPN app.
"User authentication failed"
Use your VPN username and VPN password from the Dashboard, not your portal email and password. If you changed your VPN password, update it in the configuration.
Do I need to install a certificate?
No. Our servers use a publicly trusted certificate that macOS already trusts.
Still stuck? Open a support ticket and tell us your macOS version, the error you see and what you've tried.