Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: OpenVPN connection breaks time to time: TLS Error: local/remote TLS keys are out of sync

OpenVPN connection issues with TLS keys out of sync. Restarting the connection multiple times.

Quick Answer: Check and update the TLS authentication settings in your client.ovpn file to ensure a stable connection.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🛑 Root Causes of the Error
  2. 🚀 How to Resolve This Issue
  3. 💡 Conclusion

The OpenVPN connection error 'TLS Error: local/remote TLS keys are out of sync' affects Linux users who are experiencing intermittent disconnections while connecting to their company's VPN. This issue can be frustrating, especially when it requires repeated restarts to establish a stable connection.

Fortunately, this problem is solvable with the right troubleshooting steps and configuration adjustments.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary reason for this error lies in the mismatch between the local and remote TLS keys. When both ends of the VPN connection use different key versions or have expired certificates, it causes the TLS handshake to fail.
  • Another possible cause could be a misconfigured 'tls-auth' directive in the client.ovpn file, which might lead to an inconsistent key exchange.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Configuring Consistent Key Versions and Certificates

  1. Step 1: Update all certificates (ca.crt, mycrt.crt, and mykey.key) to use the same version and ensure they are not expired.
  2. Step 2: Verify that the 'tls-auth' directive in client.ovpn is set correctly. If using a custom key file (ta.key), make sure it matches the key version used by both ends of the connection.
  3. Step 3: Check for any certificate chain issues or expired certificates on either end of the VPN connection.

Adjusting 'remote-cert-tls' and 'persist-key' Directives

  1. Step 1: Modify the 'remote-cert-tls' directive in client.ovpn to ensure it matches the key version used by the server. This can be done by setting 'remote-cert-tls' to either 'server' or 'client'.
  2. Step 2: Adjust the 'persist-key' directive to prevent key re-negotiation issues. Set 'persist-key' to 'yes' to keep the TLS keys persisted throughout the connection.

💡 Conclusion

To resolve the OpenVPN 'TLS Error: local/remote TLS keys are out of sync' issue, it is recommended to configure consistent key versions and certificates on both ends of the VPN connection. Additionally, adjusting the 'remote-cert-tls' and 'persist-key' directives can help prevent key re-negotiation issues.

Did this fix your problem?

If not, try searching for specific error codes.

🔍 Search Error Database

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

🛠️ Related Fixes

How to Fix: Pc crashes shortly after launching game (rainbow

Fix Pc crashes shortly after launching game (rainbow six siege). Compl

How to Fix: Installing an APK on a locked down phone

Installing an APK on a locked down phone: Try using a rooted device, e

How to Fix: New PC build- no signal and no clue

Fix New PC build- no signal and no clue. Complete troubleshooting guid