Unable to export VPN profiles from Network Preferences

Question

lukeyfresh Author

Level 1

8 points

Unable to export VPN profiles from Network Preferences

Hi everybody. I've found what appears to be a bug in the Catalina 10.15.4 OS.

Unable to export vpn configurations from the network preferences screen.

Can reproduce.

Open Network Preferences, select a VPN profile, click on the little cog below and select Export Configurations...

This brings up what appears to be a 'save as' window.

Using the mouse/trackpad, does not allow you to select any fields.

Using the keyboard to tab through the fields, only two fields can be selected - the 'save as' field, and the 'tag' field. The location field cannot be selected, and it defaults to Applications.

If you press enter to try and save, it comes up with an error:

"The export failed. Unable to write the configurations out to the file because there are no configurations."

Can anyone please help with an alternative way to achieve this? I need to get these VPN profiles to import into a new MBP

MacBook Pro Retina

Posted on May 6, 2020 4:50 AM

Reply

Answer 1

raina_b22

Community Specialist

May 7, 2020 12:35 PM in response to lukeyfresh

Hello lukeyfresh,

Thanks for trying the troubleshooting. Since this is also not working in safe mode, and also occurs system wide in the test user, it may be beneficial to reinstall macOS.

Use this article to reinstall macOS: How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support

You may want to backup your important files using iCloud, or your entire Mac with Time Machine, prior to reinstalling macOS: How to back up your Mac - Apple Support

Thanks and have a wonderful day.

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Answer 2

chris_g1

Community Specialist

May 6, 2020 5:10 PM in response to lukeyfresh

Hello lukeyfresh,

Thanks for asking the Apple Support Communities for help with exporting VPN configurations.

1. Please verify you are completing the steps as shown here: Import and export network connection settings on Mac - Apple Support

"Export settings: To export a file, select the service whose settings you want to export, such as a VPN configuration, in the list at the left, click the Action pop-up menu , then choose Export Configurations. Give the configuration file a name, click the Where pop-up menu, then choose where to save it. You can also select to export the user or machine configuration, or both."

2. If this does not work as expected, are you able to export the settings from safe mode or a test user? If this is a third-party program, it may not load in safe mode. But the checks are still good to have the system complete. How to use Safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

"Safe mode prevents your Mac from loading certain software as it starts up, including login items, system extensions not required by macOS, and fonts not installed by macOS. It also does a basic check of your startup disk, similar to using First Aid in Disk Utility. And it deletes some system caches, including font caches and the kernel cache, which are automatically created again as needed."

3. If the issue is also occurring or can't be tested in safe mode, please test if the issue is also occurring in a newly created unmodified test user. This will let us know if the issue is isolated to your account, or system wide. This article will help: How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac - Apple Support

Thanks and have a wonderful day.

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Answer 3

sterling r

Community Specialist

May 7, 2020 4:35 PM in response to lukeyfresh

Hello lukeyfresh,

Thanks for the updated info. I recommend contacting AppleCare for more assistance with this.

Use this link to contact AppleCare: Contact - Official Apple Support

Thanks and have a wonderful day.

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Answer 4

lukeyfresh Author

Level 1

8 points

May 6, 2020 10:53 PM in response to chris_g1

Hi Chris G1.

Yes, that is correct; that is the method I am following to export the VPN profile
No, this activity does not work in safe mode either
No, this activity does not work using a newly created test user

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Answer 5

lukeyfresh Author

Level 1

8 points

May 7, 2020 4:56 PM in response to sterling r

Hi Sterling R

What do you recommend logging the AppleCare ticket as? There doesn't appear to be an option for Mac OS Catalina settings. Only Mac Apps.

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Answer 6

lukeyfresh Author

Level 1

8 points

May 7, 2020 4:18 PM in response to raina_b22

Hi Becky S22,

I appreciate your response, but I don't think that's a suitable solution to the problem.

For further reference, I attempted to perform a migration from one Mac to another Mac using Migration Assistant. I selected the Network options to be migrated, however only one VPN profile was successfully migrated. The other two (which are the two I require) were not migrated.

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Answer 7

CarlAVII

Community Specialist

May 7, 2020 5:38 PM in response to lukeyfresh

Hello lukeyfresh,

I'd be happy to offer an option or two. I was able to choose two different choices which gave me the support options available for my area. Either:

Internet & Connectivity (Which relates to Network Preferences where your VPN settings are stored.)

OR

Other Mac Topics > The topic is not listed > and typed in "VPN settings."

Either option should get you to support, and you can let them know this relates to exporting VPN settings. Thanks and have a wonderful day.

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Unable to export VPN profiles from Network Preferences

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