My Linux Guide

How to Import and Export a WireGuard VPN Using Network Manager (Manjaro, Ubuntu, etc.)

Linux Guy -

TL;DR

  • Install network-manager-wireguard.
  • Import/export configs easily via GUI or nmcli.
  • Transfer VPN profiles between machines in seconds.
  • Works on Manjaro, Ubuntu, Fedora, and others.

Introduction

WireGuard is a fast, secure VPN that's incredibly simple to use. While most guides focus on importing configs, what if you want to export a VPN configuration from one machine and import it to another? 🛫 ➔ 🛬

In this tutorial, you'll learn:

  • How to import a WireGuard VPN config using Network Manager.
  • How to export your VPN config using nmcli.
  • How to transfer configs between machines smoothly.

Prerequisites

  • Linux system (tested on Manjaro, Ubuntu, Fedora)
  • WireGuard VPN profile (or an existing connection to export)
  • vim editor for tweaks (optional but useful)
  • SSH/USB for file transfer between machines

Step 1️⃣: Install Network Manager WireGuard Plugin

Manjaro / Arch:

sudo pacman -Syu networkmanager wireguard-tools networkmanager-wireguard

Ubuntu / Debian:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install network-manager wireguard wireguard-tools network-manager-wireguard-gnome

Fedora:

sudo dnf install NetworkManager-wireguard wireguard-tools

✅ Check it's working:

nmcli connection show --active | grep wireguard

Step 2️⃣: Import WireGuard Config (GUI & CLI)

(Same as before—see earlier sections for full instructions on GUI and nmcli import.)

Example CLI:

nmcli connection import type wireguard file ~/vpn-configs/myvpn.conf

🆕 Step 3️⃣: Export WireGuard VPN Config Using nmcli

1️⃣ List your connections:

nmcli connection show

Locate your VPN connection name (e.g., myvpn).

2️⃣ Export the VPN config to a file:

nmcli connection export myvpn > ~/vpn-configs/myvpn-exported.conf

✅ Example:

nmcli connection export myvpn > ~/vpn-configs/myvpn-exported.conf

3️⃣ Transfer the file to another machine:

  • Use SCP:
scp ~/vpn-configs/myvpn-exported.conf user@remote-host:~/vpn-configs/
  • Or use a USB drive / cloud sync.

Step 4️⃣: Import on Another Machine

On your second machine:

1️⃣ Install the required Network Manager plugins (Step 1).

2️⃣ Import the exported config:

nmcli connection import type wireguard file ~/vpn-configs/myvpn-exported.conf

3️⃣ Connect:

nmcli connection up myvpn

✅ Done! Your VPN is now fully transferred and operational on the new system.

Bonus: Edit Config via vim

After importing, you can tweak your settings:

vim /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/myvpn.nmconnection

Reload:

nmcli connection reload

Troubleshooting

(Same as before—plus one extra)

  • Issue: Error "export not supported for this connection type"
    Fix: Make sure your VPN was originally imported or created via Network Manager. Manually added configs outside NM might need to be copied directly from /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/.

Conclusion

With these steps, you can import and export WireGuard VPN configurations seamlessly using Network Manager—whether you're setting up a new laptop, migrating between machines, or backing up your VPN settings.

No more re-typing keys or recreating configs from scratch—nmcli makes it simple.

References