In short: on current TP-Link Archer models (AX55, AX73, the BE series and others on up-to-date firmware) a VPN is set up natively — the web interface has a VPN client section with WireGuard and OpenVPN support, and the whole job takes about 10 minutes: download the configuration from your provider, import it, switch it on. On the older models of previous years (Archer C6, C7, A9) only OpenVPN is available. The VLESS protocol is not supported by stock firmware — for that you need OpenWRT. We go through every path step by step.
Step 0: Check What Your Router Can Do
Open the web interface — tplinkwifi.net or 192.168.0.1 — and go to Advanced → VPN. If you see a VPN Client tab, the native path is available and you can go straight to setup.
If there is no such tab, update the firmware from the official site first (enter your model in TP-Link support): recent updates often add exactly this VPN client — the budget Archer AX55, for instance, received an OpenVPN client through an update.
A rough guide by model:
| Model | Stock VPN client | VLESS |
|---|---|---|
| Archer BE series (BE800 and others) | WireGuard + OpenVPN | Via OpenWRT |
| Archer AX55, AX73 and newer | WireGuard/OpenVPN (depends on firmware) | Via OpenWRT (AX73 — partly, AX23 — yes) |
| Archer C6, C7, A9 | OpenVPN, L2TP | C6 v3 — via OpenWRT |
| Older models with no VPN Client | — | OpenWRT only, if the model is supported |
And the foundation of every path: the router needs a subscription with a configuration for the protocol. With Tainet, WireGuard and VLESS configurations are available the moment you sign up — in the Telegram bot or in your account on this site, and the first 7 days are free: enough to verify the setup before paying.
The practical steps are below; if you'd rather skip the setup, Tainet connects in a couple of minutes - through the Telegram bot or in your account.
Path 1: The Stock WireGuard Client (Newer Archers)
- Download the WireGuard configuration file — with Tainet it sits in your account, in the subscription section.
- In the router web interface: Advanced → VPN Client → Add, connection type — WireGuard.
- Import the configuration file (or fill the fields in by hand from it: private key, address, server public key, endpoint).
- Enable the connection you created with the toggle.
- In the device list (Device List inside the VPN client) pick which devices go through the connection — all of them, or only the TV and the set-top box: a handy native TP-Link feature that many competitors lack.
- Check it: from a device on that list open an IP-checking service — the address should change to the server’s.
Path 2: The Stock OpenVPN Client (Older Models)
The order is the same, only the connection type is OpenVPN, and instead of a WireGuard file you import an .ovpn configuration. OpenVPN is slower (on most Archers, tens of Mbps against hundreds on WireGuard), but it is compatible with older models and is read reliably by any network.
Honestly About the Limits of the Stock Path
The stock client is the simplest route, but it has a ceiling: WireGuard is fast, yet its traffic is easy to recognise, and on some networks the connection is unstable — flying yesterday, dropping today. If that is what you are hitting, the answer is the VLESS protocol with masking as ordinary HTTPS: stock TP-Link firmware cannot do it, so there is one path — reflashing the router to OpenWRT (supported models include Archer C6 v3, AX23, and partly AX73 — check your model and revision on openwrt.org). From there the setup matches our OpenWRT guide exactly, from installing HomeProxy to filtering configurations.
Two warnings before reflashing: it voids the warranty, and on an unsupported revision it can brick the router — verify compatibility by model AND revision (it is printed on the sticker underneath). If reflashing is not your thing, stable VLESS for the whole house is easier to get on a router that handles it closer to out of the box: Keenetic (through Entware/XKeen) or ready-made OpenWRT routers such as GL.iNet.
Tainet works with either path: a WireGuard config for the stock client, a VLESS subscription for OpenWRT — one subscription, both formats, plus the same servers on your phone and your computer. Sign up through the Telegram bot or in your account on this site, from $0.10 a day.
Try it →Troubleshooting
There is no VPN Client tab. Update the firmware from the TP-Link site for your model; if it still does not appear, the model does not support the stock client — see the OpenWRT path.
The connection is on, but the IP does not change. Check that the device is added to the VPN client’s Device List, and that it is connected to the router itself rather than to another access point or a mesh node.
The speed dropped sharply. On OpenVPN that is normal (the encryption is heavy for a router’s processor) — if your model supports WireGuard, switch to it. On WireGuard, change the server to the nearest one.
The connection keeps dropping. A classic symptom of a recognisable protocol on a temperamental network — see the VLESS section above.
Still not solved — write to support: we will advise on your specific model and firmware, and if this is your first router setup, we will walk you through from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is setting up an Archer different from “just a TP-Link”?
It is not: Archer is TP-Link’s main line, and the instructions are the same for every model with a VPN client.
Can I send only the TV through the VPN?
Yes, natively: the VPN client settings have a device list — add only the ones you need. It is one of the most convenient TP-Link scenarios.
Which TP-Link should I buy for a VPN?
Among current models: the Archer AX73 is the sweet spot (stock client plus OpenWRT compatibility), and the BE series gives maximum WireGuard speed. If VLESS is specifically what you are planning, look straight at routers that ship with OpenWRT; for an overview of the options, see the guide to devices.
WireGuard or OpenVPN?
WireGuard is several times faster — pick it if your model supports it. OpenVPN is the fallback for older models. All the options are in the VPN protocol comparison, and VLESS and traffic masking are covered in the VLESS protocol breakdown.
One subscription for the router and the phone — is that allowed?
Yes: a Tainet subscription is multi-device — the router covers the house, and the same subscription in Happ on your phone works everywhere else.
If what you want is "set it up once, works for everyone at home": Tainet provides configurations for both TP-Link paths with a free first week — in the Telegram bot or in your account on this site, from $0.10 a day. Get stuck — support will help with your specific router.
