User Tools

Site Tools


Stealth OpenVPN (macOS)


All information on this page relates to using Microsoft Windows with our Stealth OpenVPN service, if you're using a different device/service please go back and select the appropriate page.

To help with fixing your problem this page is split into 3 main sections, you can navigate directly to specific section by using the Table of Contents links on this page.:

  • Does the VPN connect?
  • Performance Tips
  • Location Detection Methods


Does the VPN connect?


When you instruct Tunnelblick/Stealth OpenVPN to connect, using the tunnel icon in your menu bar, does the icon in the menu bar at the top change to a solid/dark colour? If so, the VPN is connecting to our servers.





Yes, VPN connects


Ok, so Tunnelblick is connecting, the icon in the menu bar at the top change to a solid/dark colour? If the VPN connects, please open the below tester with the VPN connected. This will help us to determine the cause of your problem.



Tester shows: 'VPN Connected: No'

Even though the icon in the menu bar at the top change to a solid/dark colour showing you are connecting to our servers, if the tester shows 'VPN Connected: No' it means that your computer is not sending internet traffic via our servers; so your broadband IP address will not change, any blocked sites will remain blocked.

To troubleshoot this further, we need to retrieve the Tunnelblick Connection Log from your computer - this will explain where things are going wrong.


Tester shows: 'VPN Using Our DNS: No'

Even though the icon in the menu bar at the top change to a solid/dark colour showing you are connecting to our servers, the tester may show:

VPN Connected: Yes
VPN Using Our DNS: No


Whilst this confirms that your internet address is being replaced by our VPN server, so your Internet location is changing, some blocked sites may remain blocked until your VPN connection uses our DNS servers. DNS is a bit like the Internet telephone book, if you're not using the StreamVia DNS/Internet telephone book you may remain blocked.

The most common reason for seeing 'VPN Using Our DNS: No' is because Tunnelblick is not up to date. Latest VPN software versions can always be found in the Install/Setup Guides:


I'm still blocked from site XYZ

First make sure that the tester reports 'Yes' for both VPN tests, this confirms that the VPN is connecting correctly, you MUST have 2 x 'Yes', if not see above to fix this first. You should see the below if the VPN is connecting correctly.

VPN Connected: Yes
VPN Using Our DNS: Yes


We've verified that the VPN is connecting successfully, Apps/websites can often use a number of location detection methods - the VPN can change your Internet address, but some sites also check things like timezone, local time, date format, etc.

Click the button below to see the Location Detection Methods that sites may use.


I get disconnected

Keep in mind that some of you will be connecting to servers many, many thousands of miles away, often through multiple timezones (maintenance is usually performed out-of-hours local time), so some disconnections are inevitable from time to time.

Here are some of the reasons for disconnections and/or things you can do to improve stability:

  • Make sure your Tunnelblick software is the latest (Install/Setup Guides).
  • Try a different option, for example UK1, UK2, UK3 etc all use different network providers on our end which may impact the router/path between you and us. What works best one day, may not always be the case.
  • Experiment with 'Option 1' vs 'Option 2' (Faster/Reliable on older software versions, please update your software). These use different network protocols, so please experiment. What works best one day, may not always be the case.
  • Restart your broadband router, this can often work wonders.
  • Try with a network cable to your router rather than wireless, just to experiment. If a cable improves things, you're suffering from wireless interference tuning your wifi channel may help.
  • If you're using a public wifi, such as in a hotel, you are susceptable to interference from other users. Many hotels have a bandwidth bottleneck, especially at peak times, wifi signal can also vary hugely from one room to the next (best signal is usually in communal areas, where the wifi access points are often located)



Maximising Performance

We have a dedicated section covering performance tips:






No, VPN does not connect


Stealth OpenVPN produces a connection log file, this log file will detail what is not working and the potential cause. The first step, is to retrieve the Stealth OpenVPN connection log file as follows:

Step 1
Load Tunnelblick and attempt to connect a VPN, by going to the tunnel icon and selecting an option. Please complete this even if you know it will fail, we need to ensure there is an entry in the log file


Please complete this even if you know it will fail




Step 2
This time click VPN Details from the tunnel icon menu


Step 3
On the left-hand side, under the heading Configurations select the VPN that you tried to connect above


Step 4
In the middle window you can see the log file, to send the log to StreamVia Support simply click the Copy Log to Clipboard. Then paste this in an email to StreamVia Support or into a support ticket via our website. You may also be able to find the problem using the information below.

Authentication Failed

AUTH: Received control message: AUTH_FAILED


These are the most common reasons for seeing 'AUTH_FAILED' in your log file:

  • VPN username/password is wrong. The VPN credentials are separate from those you use to access our Client Area website, you can verify/change your VPN credentials here. Please either copy/paste the randomly generated VPN password, or change it here to something easier to enter, then reinstall Stealth OpenVPN and specify the correct password.
  • You already have 2 VPNs connected, this is the hard limit per account. Disconnect ALL other VPNs, wait 2-3 minutes for the disconnections to register, then try again.
  • You are trying to connect to a VPN option that is not included with your account. You can check which account you have here



How to connect Stealth OpenVPN


Step 1
Start Tunnelblick from your Applications folder. When Tunnelblick is running, you will see a tunnel icon in the top right-hand of your screen.

Step 2
Click the tunnel icon in the top right-hand corner of your screen, select an option to connect.

Step 3
If the VPN connects successfully, the icon will turn to a dark/solid colour. You can test your VPN is connected successfully using the below link:



If the VPN did not connect successfully the icon in the bottom right-hand corner will remain grey/red/yellow.



Performance Tips


We ensure our servers are NEVER overloaded, so this is not the issue if you are receiving poor performance; please get this out of your mind now ;-)

Your network, your ISP and their network have as much an impact on the speed you will receive as we do. Some of you will be connecting to a VPN server half way around the world, so degradation along the way is inevitable.


Quick tips

  • Experiment with Location 1, Location 2 (Site 1, Site 2) etc connections
  • Experiment with Option 1 UDP vs Option 2 TCP connections
  • If Faster does not connect, or is slow, try changing the port.
  • Use a network cable not wireless/wi-fi, this can often make the biggest difference.
  • Reboot router/computer
  • Clear all browser cookies/history/cache
  • If you are a VPN All or VPN UK & USA member and are using StreamVia to access streaming TV/video, please try SmartStream instead.



Location 1, Location 2 (Site 1, Site 2) etc
Each different VPN Site is a separate VPN location, you should experiment to see which works best for you. There may be a massive difference, some difference or no difference for you in speed. But you should experiment to see ;)


Option 1 UDP vs Option 2 TCP connections
Please ensure you experiment with both, whilst Option 1 has the capability of being faster than Option 2 there are some cases when Option 2 can actually work out best for you.


Browser cache/cookies
Always clear your browser cache/cookies/history after connecting VPN, you need to reset the browser for your change in location. Failure to do so can result in poor performance.


Wi-fi vs wired ethernet
Using a wired connection instead of wireless often has the biggest impact on speed. The best speed and reliability with always be seen when using a network cable rather than wireless, wireless networks cause latency which causes the speed to drop. If you are having speed issues, please try with a network cable rather than wireless.


Your broadband
Just because you have XYZ speed broadband, does not mean you should expect this speed over a VPN. All networks deteriorate in speed the further away you are, so whilst someone connecting in the UK or a country close by will be able to achieve close to maximum speed to a UK server, those in Australia will not.

Also, if you or someone else is heavily using the broadband connection (even if not over the VPN) then you will notice a performance drop. For best performance ensure others are not downloading/streaming on the same connection as you.


Reboot everything
Try restarting both your computer and your broadband router, sometimes this can work wonders!


Location Detection Methods


Your internet (IP) address is just one way a website can determine your location, the VPN/SmartStream can change your IP address, first check all is set up/connected properly (you only need one of the below to pass, depending on the service you are using):


Here are some other methods websites use in addition to an IP check:

  • Cache/cookies/history from your browser, you should clear these after the VPN connects or when you have problems to reset your location. For example, if you visited a website without our services enabled, it is possible the site has already cached your location.
  • Close all open browser windows, or force close all Apps you wish to use, then restart them afresh.
  • Log out & log in, if you're using a website/app where you need to log in, try logging out and back in again after making sure our services are configured/connected properly.
  • Time zone, set to the timezone of the content you wish to access. Restart the device once changed. Channel 4/All 4, UKTV/Dave & Sky use this additional check.
  • Region & date formatting, some sites will check the region specified on the computer/device and the date formatting, for example UK/USA dates are formatted differently. Restart the device once changed. Channel 4/All 4, UKTV/Dave & Sky use this additional check.
  • Location Services/GPS, devices like the iPhone/iPad/Android/AppleTV devices may have a GPS chip/Location Services, if so this should be disabled. ITV and SkyGo are known to use this check on iOS and Android (make sure you disable Location Services for these Apps). Some apps however will refuse to open at all, BT Sport and TVPlayer on a phone/tablet/AppleTV for example, TVPlayer does still function on the Amazon FireTV. National Lottery App on iOS now uses this check, try a browser instead of the app (on a computer still works).
  • Mobile signal, disable all mobile data by putting the device into Airplane mode, then re-enable wifi. Apps can check the mobile carrier and/or roaming status of the device. SkyGo for example use this additional check.
  • Location tracking, a feature most modern browsers have, this should also be disabled as it may override the IP check. Many sites use this.




Page Tools