# Can't find the VPN Option **URL:** \ **Category:** Router\ **Created:** [May 22, 2024, 9:04am UTC](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/cant-find-the-vpn-option/42601 "2024-05-22T09:04:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![salmanfarisvp](https://forum-assets.gl-inet.com/user_avatar/forum.gl-inet.com/salmanfarisvp/32/17428_2.png) [@salmanfarisvp](https://forum.gl-inet.com/u/salmanfarisvp)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 9:04am UTC](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/cant-find-the-vpn-option/42601/1 "2024-05-22T09:04:43Z")
I bought this modem from Shenzhen, China, to use with VPN, but now I can't find the option anywhere. ![image](https://forum-static.gl-inet.com/original/3X/6/f/6f9b6f31c0640a3d64fdde4b2758b3321329df55.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![admon](https://forum-assets.gl-inet.com/user_avatar/forum.gl-inet.com/admon/32/32880_2.png) [@admon](https://forum.gl-inet.com/u/admon)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 9:06am UTC](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/cant-find-the-vpn-option/42601/2 "2024-05-22T09:06:07Z")
I am afraid that there is no way _official_ way to add VPN to a Chinese device, see: > [@Statement on the purchase of products in mainland China](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/statement-on-the-purchase-of-products-in-mainland-china/29186): > > Dear all, We regret to make the following annoucement. Due to current legal and policy restrictions in mainland China, we are unable to provide VPN and AdGuard Home features in our CN version products sold in mainland China. We understand that this may cause inconvenience, but we have to comply with local regulations. If you purchase GL.iNet devices from [tmall.com](http://tmall.com) or [taobao.com](http://taobao.com), your devices will be CN version. We have added this information to our product pages on [TMall](https://glinet.world.tmall.com/), our official store in… There are some scripts online which might help you anyway. Feel free to do a Google search about it. ---
**Author:** ![salmanfarisvp](https://forum-assets.gl-inet.com/user_avatar/forum.gl-inet.com/salmanfarisvp/32/17428_2.png) [@salmanfarisvp](https://forum.gl-inet.com/u/salmanfarisvp)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 9:12am UTC](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/cant-find-the-vpn-option/42601/3 "2024-05-22T09:12:49Z")
I'm based in India, So when I reach there - Can I use the device with VPN? ---
**Author:** ![admon](https://forum-assets.gl-inet.com/user_avatar/forum.gl-inet.com/admon/32/32880_2.png) [@admon](https://forum.gl-inet.com/u/admon)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 9:16am UTC](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/cant-find-the-vpn-option/42601/4 "2024-05-22T09:16:19Z")
I am afraid that within this forum it's not possible to help because of laws and no one wants to put GL.iNet in an unpleasant situation here. Speaking generally: It is totally possible to use VPN on a device with the "CN" firmware. You can use VPN without the GUI if you like. So going `luci` or SSH for example. ---
**Author:** ![SpitzAX3000](https://forum-assets.gl-inet.com/user_avatar/forum.gl-inet.com/spitzax3000/32/11018_2.png) [@SpitzAX3000](https://forum.gl-inet.com/u/SpitzAX3000)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 10:46am UTC](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/cant-find-the-vpn-option/42601/5 "2024-05-22T10:46:13Z")
Try to flash it using uboot method with an international firmware and see if it works. ---
**Author:** ![admon](https://forum-assets.gl-inet.com/user_avatar/forum.gl-inet.com/admon/32/32880_2.png) [@admon](https://forum.gl-inet.com/u/admon)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 10:46am UTC](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/cant-find-the-vpn-option/42601/6 "2024-05-22T10:46:52Z")
Won't work - I can say for sure. The difference is not inside the firmware itself. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SpitzAX3000](https://forum-assets.gl-inet.com/user_avatar/forum.gl-inet.com/spitzax3000/32/11018_2.png) [@SpitzAX3000](https://forum.gl-inet.com/u/SpitzAX3000)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 10:47am UTC](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/cant-find-the-vpn-option/42601/7 "2024-05-22T10:47:40Z")
Then as you suggested he can use the command line to do it. Or Google: version switching for Chinese version router to global with vpn support. I have heard many users have done it. ---
**Author:** ![salmanfarisvp](https://forum-assets.gl-inet.com/user_avatar/forum.gl-inet.com/salmanfarisvp/32/17428_2.png) [@salmanfarisvp](https://forum.gl-inet.com/u/salmanfarisvp)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 12:54pm UTC](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/cant-find-the-vpn-option/42601/8 "2024-05-22T12:54:52Z")
Thanks, @admon @SpitzAX3000; I understand about the law and regulations. I will check another resource. ---
**Author:** ![salmanfarisvp](https://forum-assets.gl-inet.com/user_avatar/forum.gl-inet.com/salmanfarisvp/32/17428_2.png) [@salmanfarisvp](https://forum.gl-inet.com/u/salmanfarisvp)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 12:59pm UTC](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/cant-find-the-vpn-option/42601/9 "2024-05-22T12:59:08Z")
@admon, does the CN version have any other differences from the international version in hardware and performance or features other than VPN? ---
**Author:** ![admon](https://forum-assets.gl-inet.com/user_avatar/forum.gl-inet.com/admon/32/32880_2.png) [@admon](https://forum.gl-inet.com/u/admon)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 1:00pm UTC](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/cant-find-the-vpn-option/42601/10 "2024-05-22T13:00:10Z")
I am not really aware of differences - besides VPN and AdGuard Home. But since I never checked the firmware in detail there might be even backdoors; can't tell. So hardware is the same. ---
**Author:** ![salmanfarisvp](https://forum-assets.gl-inet.com/user_avatar/forum.gl-inet.com/salmanfarisvp/32/17428_2.png) [@salmanfarisvp](https://forum.gl-inet.com/u/salmanfarisvp)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/cant-find-the-vpn-option/42601/11 "2024-05-22T13:27:48Z")
Do we have any other alternative open-source software that I can run on the machine? ---
**Author:** ![admon](https://forum-assets.gl-inet.com/user_avatar/forum.gl-inet.com/admon/32/32880_2.png) [@admon](https://forum.gl-inet.com/u/admon)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 1:59pm UTC](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/cant-find-the-vpn-option/42601/12 "2024-05-22T13:59:07Z")
Not by default. You can install whatever you like, but it won't be integrated into the GL GUI. ---
**Author:** ![SpitzAX3000](https://forum-assets.gl-inet.com/user_avatar/forum.gl-inet.com/spitzax3000/32/11018_2.png) [@SpitzAX3000](https://forum.gl-inet.com/u/SpitzAX3000)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/cant-find-the-vpn-option/42601/13 "2024-05-22T14:10:11Z")
> [@salmanfarisvp](#): > > Do we have any other alternative open-source software that I can run on the machine? Yes you can run a plain openwrt. I also sent you a private message check it out! ---
**Author:** ![bruce](https://forum-assets.gl-inet.com/user_avatar/forum.gl-inet.com/bruce/32/35649_2.png) [@bruce](https://forum.gl-inet.com/u/bruce)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2025, 11:39am UTC](https://forum.gl-inet.com/t/cant-find-the-vpn-option/42601/14 "2025-10-29T11:39:09Z")