konduit-public/docs/gui-quickstart-windows.md

Konduit GUI — Windows Quickstart

Requirements

• Windows 10 or later (64-bit)
• Administrator account (required for VPN driver installation)

1. Download

Download konduit-gui-*-windows-x86_64.zip from the Releases page.

2. Extract

Right-click the zip file and choose Extract All. Extract to a folder of your choice, for example C:\Konduit.

Keep all files together — Konduit.exe and wintun.dll must be in the same folder.

3. Run

Double-click Konduit.exe.

Windows will show a UAC prompt asking for administrator permission. This is required because Konduit uses the WinTun driver to create a virtual network adapter. Click Yes to continue.

If you dismiss the UAC prompt, Konduit will not be able to establish a VPN connection.

4. Load your config

Your server administrator will provide either a client.toml config file or a QR code image.

• TOML config: your administrator will provide a client.toml file. Open it in a text editor and enter the server address, port, and key values into the corresponding fields in the app.
• QR code: tap Import QR image and select the QR code image file from disk.

5. Connect

Press Connect. A system tray icon will appear while the VPN is active. Right-click the tray icon to disconnect.

6. Windows Defender / antivirus warning

Some antivirus tools flag wintun.dll or new unsigned executables. If Windows Defender blocks the launch:

1. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection
2. Click Protection history
3. Find the Konduit entry and choose Allow

Alternatively, add the Konduit folder to your antivirus exclusion list.

7. Autostart on login (optional)

To start Konduit automatically when Windows starts, enable it in the app: Settings → Start on login.

Alternatively, create a shortcut to Konduit.exe and place it in your Startup folder:

Win + R → shell:startup → paste shortcut here

Troubleshooting

UAC prompt does not appear / app closes immediately — make sure you are running as a user with administrator privileges. Standard (non-admin) accounts cannot install the WinTun driver.

"wintun.dll not found" — Konduit.exe and wintun.dll must be in the same folder. Do not move them separately.

Connection fails immediately — check that your client.toml points to the correct server address and port. Contact your server administrator if you are unsure.

Tray icon disappears unexpectedly — the app may have crashed. Check Windows Event Viewer or relaunch Konduit.exe.