How to set up a manual WireGuard® connection on a router (2024)

In this article, you will learn how to set up a manual WireGuard® connection on your router.

To start, you first need an active Surfshark subscription. You can find the available plans onSurfshark's pricing page.

Here are the steps we will go through:

Check if your router is compatible
Get your key pair
I have a key pair
I don't have a key pair
Choose a Surfshark server
Connect to the VPN
Ensure your connection is successful

Check if your router is compatible

First, you need to ensure that your router supports a WireGuard manual connection method. We all have different routers in our homes, which means that you will have to research to find out whether your router is compatible with WireGuard®.

Get your key pair

There are two ways we can go from here. You might have generated a key pair, and you'll be able to use it. Or, we will have to generate one.

If you have a key pair already, continue the tutorial as usual. If you do not, you should move on to the I don’t have a key pair section.

I have a key pair

Go to Surfshark's login page and log in. Then, visit VPN > Manual setup. Choose the Routeroption and click onWireGuard.
In the next window, click on I have a key pair.
Name your key pair and clickNext.
Enter your public key and hitSave.

I don't have a key pair

Go to Surfshark's login page and log in. Then, visit VPN > Manual setup. Choose the Router option and click on WireGuard.
In the next window, click onI don't have a key pair.
Name your new key pair.
Click onGenerate a new key pair.
NOTE: Copy and store the generated key pairs on your device. You will not be able to check them here again.

Choose a Surfshark server

NOTE: If you don’t generate the key pair before downloading the configuration file, the file will be missing your key pair. Then, you will need to generate a key separately and input it manually into missing fields.

Once you have your key pair, you should see a Choose a location button. Click on it. Here, you'll find the list of available locations to connect to. Select one and hit the download button.

Connect to the VPN

Copy the Server IP address and your public key, and connect.

Ensure the connection is successful

We always recommend checking if Surfshark VPN is working after setting it up for the first time. You can easily do it by performing Surfshark IP leak test and a DNS leak test. For your convenience, both are available on our website.