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  2. Common OpenVPN Errors
  3. Error: Cannot load certificate file cert.crt

Error: Cannot load certificate file cert.crt

If OpenVPN is unable to open the CA, Certificate, or Key files specified for your connection it will display an error message in the log similar to Cannot load certificate file cert.crt.

Info

This error indicates that the file is not a valid certificate or key file. The most common cause of this error is getting the CA, Certificate, and Key files mixed up when entering them into Viscosity.

The simplest way to check for, and fix, this is like so:

  1. Open Viscosity's Settings window and make sure the Connections toolbar icon is selected.
  2. Select your connection and click the Edit button.
  3. Click on the Authentication tab.
  4. Click the Clear button next to each of the relevant fields.
  5. Click the Select button next to each of the just-cleared fields, select the corresponding original file supplied by your VPN Provider. If you are unsure which file to select for which field you should contact your VPN Provider.
  6. When finished click the Save button.

If the error message still appears after following the above steps, the file is not a valid certificate/key file. In this case you should contact your VPN Provider and ask for the files to be resent.