diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 1015df48..4edd45b2 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -120,6 +120,8 @@ ENV VPN_SERVICE_PROVIDER=pia \
     VPN_PORT_FORWARDING_LISTENING_PORT=0 \
     VPN_PORT_FORWARDING_PROVIDER= \
     VPN_PORT_FORWARDING_STATUS_FILE="/tmp/gluetun/forwarded_port" \
+    VPN_PORT_FORWARDING_USERNAME= \
+    VPN_PORT_FORWARDING_PASSWORD= \
     # # Cyberghost only:
     OPENVPN_CERT= \
     OPENVPN_KEY= \
diff --git a/internal/configuration/settings/errors.go b/internal/configuration/settings/errors.go
index ad60b02c..87de8866 100644
--- a/internal/configuration/settings/errors.go
+++ b/internal/configuration/settings/errors.go
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ var (
 	ErrOpenVPNVerbosityIsOutOfBounds   = errors.New("verbosity value is out of bounds")
 	ErrOpenVPNVersionIsNotValid        = errors.New("version is not valid")
 	ErrPortForwardingEnabled           = errors.New("port forwarding cannot be enabled")
+	ErrPortForwardingUserEmpty         = errors.New("port forwarding username is empty")
+	ErrPortForwardingPasswordEmpty     = errors.New("port forwarding password is empty")
 	ErrPublicIPPeriodTooShort          = errors.New("public IP address check period is too short")
 	ErrRegionNotValid                  = errors.New("the region specified is not valid")
 	ErrServerAddressNotValid           = errors.New("server listening address is not valid")
diff --git a/internal/configuration/settings/portforward.go b/internal/configuration/settings/portforward.go
index 2cf01767..6999d30e 100644
--- a/internal/configuration/settings/portforward.go
+++ b/internal/configuration/settings/portforward.go
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ type PortForwarding struct {
 	// forwarded port. The redirection is disabled if it is set to 0, which
 	// is its default as well.
 	ListeningPort *uint16 `json:"listening_port"`
+	// Username is only used for Private Internet Access port forwarding.
+	Username string `json:"username"`
+	// Password is only used for Private Internet Access port forwarding.
+	Password string `json:"password"`
 }
 
 func (p PortForwarding) Validate(vpnProvider string) (err error) {
@@ -61,6 +65,15 @@ func (p PortForwarding) Validate(vpnProvider string) (err error) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if providerSelected == providers.PrivateInternetAccess {
+		switch {
+		case p.Username == "":
+			return fmt.Errorf("%w", ErrPortForwardingUserEmpty)
+		case p.Password == "":
+			return fmt.Errorf("%w", ErrPortForwardingPasswordEmpty)
+		}
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -70,6 +83,8 @@ func (p *PortForwarding) Copy() (copied PortForwarding) {
 		Provider:      gosettings.CopyPointer(p.Provider),
 		Filepath:      gosettings.CopyPointer(p.Filepath),
 		ListeningPort: gosettings.CopyPointer(p.ListeningPort),
+		Username:      p.Username,
+		Password:      p.Password,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -78,6 +93,8 @@ func (p *PortForwarding) OverrideWith(other PortForwarding) {
 	p.Provider = gosettings.OverrideWithPointer(p.Provider, other.Provider)
 	p.Filepath = gosettings.OverrideWithPointer(p.Filepath, other.Filepath)
 	p.ListeningPort = gosettings.OverrideWithPointer(p.ListeningPort, other.ListeningPort)
+	p.Username = gosettings.OverrideWithComparable(p.Username, other.Username)
+	p.Password = gosettings.OverrideWithComparable(p.Password, other.Password)
 }
 
 func (p *PortForwarding) setDefaults() {
@@ -116,6 +133,12 @@ func (p PortForwarding) toLinesNode() (node *gotree.Node) {
 	}
 	node.Appendf("Forwarded port file path: %s", filepath)
 
+	if p.Username != "" {
+		credentialsNode := node.Appendf("Credentials:")
+		credentialsNode.Appendf("Username: %s", p.Username)
+		credentialsNode.Appendf("Password: %s", gosettings.ObfuscateKey(p.Password))
+	}
+
 	return node
 }
 
@@ -143,5 +166,10 @@ func (p *PortForwarding) read(r *reader.Reader) (err error) {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	p.Username = r.String("VPN_PORT_FORWARDING_USERNAME",
+		reader.RetroKeys("USER", "OPENVPN_USER"), reader.ForceLowercase(false))
+	p.Password = r.String("VPN_PORT_FORWARDING_PASSWORD",
+		reader.RetroKeys("PASSWORD", "OPENVPN_PASSWORD"), reader.ForceLowercase(false))
+
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/portforward/service/settings.go b/internal/portforward/service/settings.go
index 0e35117d..1782226b 100644
--- a/internal/portforward/service/settings.go
+++ b/internal/portforward/service/settings.go
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ type Settings struct {
 	ServerName     string // needed for PIA
 	CanPortForward bool   // needed for PIA
 	ListeningPort  uint16
+	Username       string // needed for PIA
+	Password       string // needed for PIA
 }
 
 func (s Settings) Copy() (copied Settings) {
@@ -26,6 +28,8 @@ func (s Settings) Copy() (copied Settings) {
 	copied.ServerName = s.ServerName
 	copied.CanPortForward = s.CanPortForward
 	copied.ListeningPort = s.ListeningPort
+	copied.Username = s.Username
+	copied.Password = s.Password
 	return copied
 }
 
@@ -37,11 +41,15 @@ func (s *Settings) OverrideWith(update Settings) {
 	s.ServerName = gosettings.OverrideWithComparable(s.ServerName, update.ServerName)
 	s.CanPortForward = gosettings.OverrideWithComparable(s.CanPortForward, update.CanPortForward)
 	s.ListeningPort = gosettings.OverrideWithComparable(s.ListeningPort, update.ListeningPort)
+	s.Username = gosettings.OverrideWithComparable(s.Username, update.Username)
+	s.Password = gosettings.OverrideWithComparable(s.Password, update.Password)
 }
 
 var (
 	ErrPortForwarderNotSet = errors.New("port forwarder not set")
 	ErrServerNameNotSet    = errors.New("server name not set")
+	ErrUsernameNotSet      = errors.New("username not set")
+	ErrPasswordNotSet      = errors.New("password not set")
 	ErrFilepathNotSet      = errors.New("file path not set")
 	ErrInterfaceNotSet     = errors.New("interface not set")
 )
@@ -64,8 +72,15 @@ func (s *Settings) Validate(forStartup bool) (err error) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%w", ErrPortForwarderNotSet)
 	case s.Interface == "":
 		return fmt.Errorf("%w", ErrInterfaceNotSet)
-	case s.PortForwarder.Name() == providers.PrivateInternetAccess && s.ServerName == "":
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w", ErrServerNameNotSet)
+	case s.PortForwarder.Name() == providers.PrivateInternetAccess:
+		switch {
+		case s.ServerName == "":
+			return fmt.Errorf("%w", ErrServerNameNotSet)
+		case s.Username == "":
+			return fmt.Errorf("%w", ErrUsernameNotSet)
+		case s.Password == "":
+			return fmt.Errorf("%w", ErrPasswordNotSet)
+		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/portforward/service/start.go b/internal/portforward/service/start.go
index 99f514ec..5c21b3cf 100644
--- a/internal/portforward/service/start.go
+++ b/internal/portforward/service/start.go
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ func (s *Service) Start(ctx context.Context) (runError <-chan error, err error)
 		Client:         s.client,
 		ServerName:     s.settings.ServerName,
 		CanPortForward: s.settings.CanPortForward,
+		Username:       s.settings.Username,
+		Password:       s.settings.Password,
 	}
 	port, err := s.settings.PortForwarder.PortForward(ctx, obj)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/provider/privateinternetaccess/portforward.go b/internal/provider/privateinternetaccess/portforward.go
index a517356c..3955ced9 100644
--- a/internal/provider/privateinternetaccess/portforward.go
+++ b/internal/provider/privateinternetaccess/portforward.go
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ func (p *Provider) PortForward(ctx context.Context,
 		panic("server name cannot be empty")
 	case !objects.Gateway.IsValid():
 		panic("gateway is not set")
+	case objects.Username == "":
+		panic("username is not set")
+	case objects.Password == "":
+		panic("password is not set")
 	}
 
 	serverName := objects.ServerName
@@ -67,7 +71,7 @@ func (p *Provider) PortForward(ctx context.Context,
 	if !dataFound || expired {
 		client := objects.Client
 		data, err = refreshPIAPortForwardData(ctx, client, privateIPClient, objects.Gateway,
-			p.portForwardPath, p.authFilePath)
+			p.portForwardPath, objects.Username, objects.Password)
 		if err != nil {
 			return 0, fmt.Errorf("refreshing port forward data: %w", err)
 		}
@@ -136,8 +140,8 @@ func (p *Provider) KeepPortForward(ctx context.Context,
 }
 
 func refreshPIAPortForwardData(ctx context.Context, client, privateIPClient *http.Client,
-	gateway netip.Addr, portForwardPath, authFilePath string) (data piaPortForwardData, err error) {
-	data.Token, err = fetchToken(ctx, client, authFilePath)
+	gateway netip.Addr, portForwardPath, username, password string) (data piaPortForwardData, err error) {
+	data.Token, err = fetchToken(ctx, client, username, password)
 	if err != nil {
 		return data, fmt.Errorf("fetching token: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -237,12 +241,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 func fetchToken(ctx context.Context, client *http.Client,
-	authFilePath string) (token string, err error) {
-	username, password, err := getOpenvpnCredentials(authFilePath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("getting username and password: %w", err)
-	}
-
+	username, password string) (token string, err error) {
 	errSubstitutions := map[string]string{
 		url.QueryEscape(username): "<username>",
 		url.QueryEscape(password): "<password>",
@@ -287,37 +286,6 @@ func fetchToken(ctx context.Context, client *http.Client,
 	return result.Token, nil
 }
 
-var (
-	errAuthFileMalformed = errors.New("authentication file is malformed")
-)
-
-func getOpenvpnCredentials(authFilePath string) (
-	username, password string, err error) {
-	file, err := os.Open(authFilePath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("reading OpenVPN authentication file: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	authData, err := io.ReadAll(file)
-	if err != nil {
-		_ = file.Close()
-		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("reading authentication file: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	if err := file.Close(); err != nil {
-		return "", "", err
-	}
-
-	lines := strings.Split(string(authData), "\n")
-	const minLines = 2
-	if len(lines) < minLines {
-		return "", "", fmt.Errorf("%w: only %d lines exist", errAuthFileMalformed, len(lines))
-	}
-
-	username, password = lines[0], lines[1]
-	return username, password, nil
-}
-
 func fetchPortForwardData(ctx context.Context, client *http.Client, gateway netip.Addr, token string) (
 	port uint16, signature string, expiration time.Time, err error) {
 	errSubstitutions := map[string]string{url.QueryEscape(token): "<token>"}
diff --git a/internal/provider/privateinternetaccess/provider.go b/internal/provider/privateinternetaccess/provider.go
index c1183501..6d342c2b 100644
--- a/internal/provider/privateinternetaccess/provider.go
+++ b/internal/provider/privateinternetaccess/provider.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"net/http"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/constants/openvpn"
 	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/constants/providers"
 	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/provider/common"
 	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/provider/privateinternetaccess/updater"
@@ -18,7 +17,6 @@ type Provider struct {
 	common.Fetcher
 	// Port forwarding
 	portForwardPath string
-	authFilePath    string
 }
 
 func New(storage common.Storage, randSource rand.Source,
@@ -29,7 +27,6 @@ func New(storage common.Storage, randSource rand.Source,
 		timeNow:         timeNow,
 		randSource:      randSource,
 		portForwardPath: jsonPortForwardPath,
-		authFilePath:    openvpn.AuthConf,
 		Fetcher:         updater.New(client),
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/provider/utils/portforward.go b/internal/provider/utils/portforward.go
index 8a5430a3..0dd2a8f5 100644
--- a/internal/provider/utils/portforward.go
+++ b/internal/provider/utils/portforward.go
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ type PortForwardObjects struct {
 	ServerName string
 	// CanPortForward is used by Private Internet Access for port forwarding.
 	CanPortForward bool
+	// Username is used by Private Internet Access for port forwarding.
+	Username string
+	// Password is used by Private Internet Access for port forwarding.
+	Password string
 }
 
 type Routing interface {
diff --git a/internal/vpn/portforward.go b/internal/vpn/portforward.go
index f7eb92f2..c773c3fc 100644
--- a/internal/vpn/portforward.go
+++ b/internal/vpn/portforward.go
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ func (l *Loop) startPortForwarding(data tunnelUpData) (err error) {
 			Interface:      data.vpnIntf,
 			ServerName:     data.serverName,
 			CanPortForward: data.canPortForward,
+			Username:       data.username,
+			Password:       data.password,
 		},
 	}
 	return l.portForward.UpdateWith(partialUpdate)
diff --git a/internal/vpn/run.go b/internal/vpn/run.go
index 8926ac6d..a0cc0274 100644
--- a/internal/vpn/run.go
+++ b/internal/vpn/run.go
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ func (l *Loop) Run(ctx context.Context, done chan<- struct{}) {
 			canPortForward: canPortForward,
 			portForwarder:  portForwarder,
 			vpnIntf:        vpnInterface,
+			username:       settings.Provider.PortForwarding.Username,
+			password:       settings.Provider.PortForwarding.Password,
 		}
 
 		openvpnCtx, openvpnCancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
diff --git a/internal/vpn/tunnelup.go b/internal/vpn/tunnelup.go
index 5126b9c3..6e723041 100644
--- a/internal/vpn/tunnelup.go
+++ b/internal/vpn/tunnelup.go
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ type tunnelUpData struct {
 	vpnIntf        string
 	serverName     string // used for PIA
 	canPortForward bool   // used for PIA
+	username       string // used for PIA
+	password       string // used for PIA
 	portForwarder  PortForwarder
 }