How to setup Windows L2TP connection

This article explains how to setup a manual L2TP connection on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8

Note that you can also use our Dialer for this, which has the advantage that you can easily switch between all L2TP servers. See our article PPTP and L2TP Dialer for Windows for the downloads. Attention for Windows XP users: Since the L2TP connection setup on WinXP is a little different than on Vista or 7, we made an extra tutorial for XP: Windows XP L2TP connection setup

Short instructions: Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network And Sharing Center > Set up a new connection or network > Connect to a workplace > Next > Use my Internet Connection (VPN) Internet Address: The L2TP server IPs can be found @ http://hidemyass.com/vpn-config/l2tp/ Destination Name: Name it as you like. Eg: HMA! L2TP. Next Username: Your VPN username Password: Your PPTP Password. Can be found at http://vpn.hidemyass.com > PPTP Servers > Login Details Domain: Leave it blank Go back to Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings > Select HMA! L2TP (the one you just created) > right click and Properties > Security tab > Type of VPN: L2TP/IPSec > Advanced Settings > Use Preshared Key for authentication > Key: HideMyAss > OK Connect!

This tutorial will explain how to create a manual L2TP connection on Windows, in case you don't want to use our client. It has been made on Windows 7, so excuse me if it should be a little different on your machine.  First, go into the Windows control panel.Navigate to the "Network and Sharing center"  Click on "Set up a new connection or network"  Select "Connect to a workplace", then"No, create a new connection", then "Use my Internet connection (VPN)",  then "I'll set up an Internet connection later" In this window, enter one of the L2TP server IPs (which can be found @ http://hidemyass.com/vpn-config/l2tp/ ) in the "Internet Address" field. "Destination Name": Enter anything you want here, it's just the name for the connection. I'll take "HMA L2TP VPN" In the next window, you need to enter your VPN account username in the field "User name", and your PPTP password (get it in the VPN control panel under "PPTP settings") in the field "Password"  The connection is created. But we still need to change some settings. Go back to the Network and Sharing center and click on "Change Adapter settings"  Select your newly created network adapter, rightclick it and go to "Properties" In the "Options" register, change everything so it looks like this: Uncheck "Prompt for name and password, certificate, etc." Uncheck "Include Windows logon domain" Check "Redial if line is dropped" Open "PPP Settings..." and make sure software compression and Neogiate multi-link is unchecked. In the "Security" register, change everything so it looks like this: Type of VPN: Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with IPsec (L2TP/IPsec) Data encryption: "Require Encryption (disconnect if server declines)" Allow these protocols: CHAP + MS-CHAP v2  Click on "Advanced settings". Select "Use preshared key for authentication" Enter "HideMyAss" (case sensitive!)  Click on "OK", then again on "OK". You're finished. Now doubleclick the newly made connection "HMA L2TP VPN". The connection window will appear, connect, authenticate, TADA! :)   Visit this website: http://ipaddress.com (or any other IP verifying website, like http://www.ip-score.com) You should now see that your IP, location and internet provider is different than usual. That means you're succesfully connected. Well done!