Desktop Client
Overview
Desktop client provides an easy way to access VPN locations of multiple Defguard instances via user-friendly UI.
Download latest release here: https://defguard.net/download/
For development/pre-releases, go to GitHub: https://github.com/DefGuard/client/releases
Guides:
Windows
Our desktop client has bundled official WireGuard client - as we use wg.exe to manage the WireGuard tunnels.
If you have the official WireGuard client installed - Defguard client installation may fail.
MacOS
On macOS the desktop client requires the user to belong to the staff group in order to access the defguard.socket Unix socket used for IPC.
This is usually the case by default and requires no additional actions.
Has no external requirements and we have wireguard-go bundled.
You can also download Desktop Client via Homebrew using:
brew install --cask defguard-client
Linux
On Linux the desktop client uses resolvconf to manage DNS servers. On newer distributions it should be a symbolic link to resolvectl, more details can be found on the troubleshooting page.
On Linux the desktop client requires the user to belong to the defguard group in order to access the defguard.socket Unix socket used for IPC.
The official packages handle group setup, but logging out and back in or rebooting might be required on initial client install to refresh group membership. This is no longer required on subsequent updates.
ArchLinux
There is an AUR package: defguard-client.
If you don't know how to install AUR packages, please follow these guidelines:
Manual install: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_User_Repository
Installation through PARU (AUR Helper): https://owlhowto.com/how-to-install-paru-on-arch-linux/
Client update
Defguard Client regularly checks for updates and in order to do so operating system name and installed application version are sent to the Defguard update service.
This functionality can be turned off in the Client settings under Updates section so that no data is sent.
If a new version is available, a notification with a download button will be shown near the bottom of the menu.
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