NordVPN Not Working? Here's How to Fix It in 2024

Tim Mocan
Updated on: September 16, 2024 Senior Writer

NordVPN is an excellent VPN, but you could still experience some issues while using it. For example, you might not be able to connect to a VPN server, the VPN might not work with a specific streaming website, you might experience very noticeable slowdowns, or certain features might not work well. This isn’t something particular to NordVPN — these kinds of issues can happen with any top VPN.

Luckily, NordVPN has excellent support guides. It provides access to tons of support articles that help you troubleshoot all sorts of issues, and many of them have helpful screenshots. Plus, the VPN has 24/7 live chat, and its live chat reps are extremely friendly and knowledgeable.

But if you want to have all the solutions in one place, this article is just what you need. I covered all the most common issues you might experience with NordVPN, including problems related to installing and using the app, connecting to the provider’s servers, or using the VPN for streaming or torrenting. And I also provide step-by-step guides that should help you fix any problem you encounter with NordVPN.

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Troubleshooting NordVPN Account Issues

1. Nothing Happens in the NordVPN App After Logging in Through the Browser

When you log into the NordVPN app, it will ask you to continue the action in your browser. If nothing happens in the NordVPN app after doing that, you’ll need to reset the app. Below, I’m going to cover how to do it on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Windows

1. Open the app’s location. To do this, just find the app shortcut on your desktop, right-click it, and select Open file location.

2. Access the folder with the latest app version. When writing this article, the latest app version for me was 7.28.4.0, though that might have changed since then. Regardless, the app version folders will be located at the top, and you just need to pick the newest version.

3. Double-click on the Diagnostics app. You don’t need to look too hard to find it since it’s near the top. After you open it, just select the Reset app option, and you’re done.

macOS

1. Shut down the NordVPN app. Just find it in the Doc, right-click it, and select Quit.
2. Launch the Terminal. Use Finder and search for the word “terminal.” Alternatively, you can use Command+Space to do a quick search.

3. Use one of the following commands, depending on which NordVPN macOS app you’re using:

1. defaults delete com.nordvpn.osx-apple. Use this command if you downloaded the NordVPN app from the macOS App Store.
2. defaults delete com.nordvpn.macos. Use this command if you downloaded the NordVPN app directly from the provider’s site.

4. Open the NordVPN app again. The issue should be solved now.

Linux

The quickest fix is to use the callback login method. Here’s how:

1. Run the nordvpn login command. Just open the terminal window and type the command there. The command will provide you with an URL.
2. Open the URL provided by the command. You can do this on any device that has a browser that can open the link. Then, finish the login process.
3. Right-click the Continue button. Now, just copy the link address.
4. Run this command: nordvpn login –callback “<URL>”. Instead of <URL>, use the link address you just copied.

2. “429: Too Many Requests” Error

You might get this error when trying to log into the NordVPN app. The app displays this error if it detects too many unsuccessful login attempts, which it might consider a security threat.

There are several things you can do to solve this issue:

• Change your account password. To do this, just access the NordVPN account link (https://my.nordaccount.com/), click on Log in to Nord Account, select Forgot your password?, type in the email you used to sign up for NordVPN, and finally click Send.
• Turn off other VPN or proxy services. If you have a VPN or proxy app running in the background, it could interfere with the NordVPN app. So, make sure to close it.
• Wait up to 15–30 minutes. Give the app time to “cool off” before trying to log back in again.
• Use a different network or hotspot to log in. The easiest option would be to use your phone’s mobile data or mobile hotspot.

3. No Password Verification Email Has Been Sent

Make sure to check your spam folder, as the email might have been sent there instead of your inbox.

If you can’t find the email there, the best option is to contact NordVPN’s customer support team.

4. Password Is Incorrect

First, try resetting your NordVPN account password. I covered how to do this here — it’s the first bullet point. If that doesn’t work, you should uninstall the NordVPN app, download and install it again, and try logging in.

5. NordVPN Login Loop

When this issue occurs, the NordVPN app will ask you to log in again immediately after logging in. The best way to fix this issue is to reset your NordVPN app — I covered how to do that on Windows, macOS, and Linux here.

If that doesn’t solve the issue, you need to uninstall the app, re-download and reinstall it, and try logging in again.

6. NordVPN Keeps Logging Me Out

The best way to fix this problem is to reset your NordVPN app preferences — check out how to do that here.

Also, if you have another VPN app running in the background, it could interfere with your NordVPN app and NordVPN connection, so make sure to shut it down. Antivirus programs can do this, too. I don’t recommend shutting down your antivirus, though — instead, just whitelist the NordVPN app inside it.

Finally, DNS server issues can also cause this problem. In that case, you should change the DNS addresses on your device, so that it uses NordVPN’s DNS servers — just use the following DNS addresses: 103.86.96.100 and 103.86.99.100. NordVPN has helpful tutorials that show you how to change the DNS addresses on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

7. Linux-Specific Errors

On Linux, users might see the following error messages when trying to access their NordVPN account: “error: rotating: transport rotator: ntp check failed” or “”rotating: transport rotator: ptr timer is locked.”

To solve either of those errors, just use one of these two commands:

• sudo apt –purge autoremove nordvpn*
• sudo apt-get –purge autoremove nordvpn*

Then, just re-install the NordVPN app on your Linux device.

Troubleshooting NordVPN Connectivity & App Issues

Connectivity and app issues can be the same and also vary across devices. So, I decided to make things simple and first cover general tips that work on all devices. After that, I cover troubleshooting tips that are specific to certain desktop and mobile platforms.

General Connection & App Troubleshooting Tips

These are the kinds of tips that should solve connectivity or app issues no matter what device you’re using:

• Check if your NordVPN account is active. According to NordVPN, this is the most common reason why people can’t connect to its servers. To make sure your account is active, access the NordVPN account dashboard (https://my.nordaccount.com/dashboard/) and log in. Select NordVPN under the SERVICES tab on the left and make sure that it doesn’t say that your subscription is expired. If it is, renew it, and you should be able to connect to the provider’s servers.
• Make sure your NordVPN app is up-to-date. To check the app version, just access the Settings window (the cog icon in the bottom left). The version will be visible right under the Settings title. Then, check what the latest app version is for your device on NordVPN’s site — if you’re using an older version, uninstall the app, and download the latest version for your device from the provider’s site.
• Try a different NordVPN server. When a NordVPN server is down, it’s normally removed from the list of servers shown in the NordVPN app. That said, I still recommend trying to connect to a different server — just in case the one you’re trying to use at the moment is experiencing technical issues.
• Use the provider’s obfuscated servers. These are servers that obfuscate your VPN traffic, disguising it as regular internet traffic. NordVPN recommends using these servers if you’re trying to connect to its service on a restrictive network, like at work, in a hotel, or at school.
• Use a different VPN protocol. For example, if the NordLynx protocol isn’t working for you, try switching to the OpenVPN protocol. Also, if you’re experiencing issues with both OpenVPN and NordLynx, make sure you try OpenVPN over both TCP and UDP.
• Re-log into your NordVPN account. Just log out of your account in the app and then log back in.
• Change your device’s DNS settings. Default DNS settings could cause connectivity issues with NordVPN, so the provider recommends using its own DNS settings instead: 103.86.96.100 and 103.86.99.100. There are step-by-step tutorials showing you how to do this on every device.
• Reset the NordVPN app. I covered how to do this on different devices here. Resetting the app could fix various app-related issues, like crashes, freezes, or certain features not working. Also, on Windows, the Diagnostics app has a Network Flush option — this could also fix connectivity issues.
• Reinstall the NordVPN app. Uninstall the NordVPN app, reboot your device, then reinstall it and log back in.
• Check your firewall or antivirus. Your operating system’s firewall or the antivirus program you’re using might interfere with your NordVPN connection. Make sure to whitelist the NordVPN app both in your firewall and antivirus settings.
• Use NordVPN on a different device. Maybe you can’t connect to NordVPN due to a device-specific issue. Test this out by seeing if you can connect to the VPN on a different device.
• Use NordVPN on a different network. Network errors could prevent you from accessing NordVPN. Try connecting to the VPN over a different network to see if it works — for example, if you’re using your home Wi-Fi network, try using your smartphone’s mobile data instead.

Keep in mind that if you’re trying to connect to NordVPN from a restrictive country (like China or Russia), you probably won’t be able to do it, since the VPN doesn’t work in such regions. In that case, I recommend using ExpressVPN instead, since it works without issues in restrictive countries.

Windows-Specific Connectivity & App Issues

1. “FATAL: Blocking DNS failed” Error

The best way to fix this error is to reinstall the NordVPN TAP drivers, which are responsible for creating the VPN connections. Here’s how to do this on both Windows 10 and 11:

1. Head to Start > Settings > Apps & features. Just open the Start menu, click the cog icon, then click Apps & features (it’s the first one on the left).

2. Type “NordVPN” and look for “NordVPN network TAP.” Once you find it, hit Uninstall and wait for the uninstallation process to finish.

3. Reinstall the NordVPN TAP drivers. You can download them directly from the provider’s site — find the download link in the support section, ask the support reps for it, or just access it here.

2. “NordVPN TAP failed; code 1603” Error

If you get this error message, NordVPN recommends uninstalling the NordVPN TAP drivers and then reinstalling them. To do this, just follow the steps mentioned above.

If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to open Command Prompt in administrator mode. To do that, open the Start menu, type “cmd,” then right-click on Command Prompt, and pick Run as administrator. This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

After opening Command Prompt, just type this command: “sfc /scannow.” Then, hit enter and see if this fixes the issue. If it doesn’t, you’ll have to reach out to customer support.

3. “Error 1001”

You might encounter this error while trying to install NordVPN on Windows. The first thing you should try is to disable your antivirus software and firewall and then install the app again.

If that doesn’t work, you need to update your Windows operating system:

• Update the OS on Windows 11. Head to Start > Settings > Windows Update, and click Check for updates.
• Update the OS on Windows 10. Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security, and click Check for updates.

One last thing to try is to make sure you’re running the latest version of .NET Runtime, which is responsible for running apps on Windows. You can check what version you’re using via the Control Panel — here’s how (the process is the same on Windows 10 and 11):

1. Access the Control Panel. The fastest way to do it is to open the Start menu and type “control panel.”

2. Head to the Programs and Features tab. To access it, you just need to click Programs after you open the Control Panel. The Programs and Features tab will be the first thing you’ll see.

3. Scroll down until you find Microsoft .NET Runtime. You need to have at least version 4.8. Otherwise, you’ll keep getting the “Error 1001” message. If your version is outdated, uninstall it, then download the newest version from Microsoft’s site.

4. NordVPN App Keeps Crashing or Freezing

If the above tips didn’t help you fix the app crashes and freezes, then here’s what else you can try on Windows:

1. Open the Run window. To do this, just hit the Windows + R keys.

2. Use the Run window to open Services. To do this, you just need to type “services.msc” then hit the OK button.

3. Check if Task Scheduler is running. If it isn’t, right-click it and select Start.

5. App-Level Kill Switch Isn’t Working

On Windows, NordVPN has an app-level kill switch in addition to the system-level kill switch. The app-level kill switch is called App Kill Switch, and it’s supposed to shut down apps if you’re not connected to the VPN.

If it doesn’t do that, there’s a chance you didn’t configure it well. It’s not enough to go to Settings > Kill Switch, and turn on the App Kill Switch option. After you do that, you also have to click Adds apps and choose which apps you want NordVPN to shut down when you’re not connected to it.

6. NordVPN App Icon Is Missing

If the NordVPN app icon is missing the provider’s logo on your desktop, you could first try fixing this by reinstalling the VPN app. Alternatively, you can try this:

1. Remove the buggy app icon. Just right-click it, then pick Delete from the dropdown menu.

2. Now, set up a new shortcut on your desktop. To do that, just right-click the desktop, hover over New, then select Shortcut.

3. Next, click Browse and find the NordVPN .exe file. Head to the installation location — the .exe file will be located in the main NordVPN folder, and it’ll be simply called NordVPN.

4. Finally, name the new shortcut. You can name it anything, but it’s best to keep it simple and just call it “NordVPN.”

macOS-Specific Connectivity & App Issues

1. Keychain Access Issue

Keychain Access is a built-in macOS password manager. And the NordVPN app uses Keychain Access to securely store your login credentials. So, when you log into the app, you’ll get a prompt from Keychain Access asking you for your Keychain password (it’s your device password, unless you changed it).

Common issues with Keychain Access include the pop-up not disappearing after you enter the password and click Allow, and the Always Allow button not being clickable. Here’s how to deal with both problems:

1. Launch Keychain Access. You can do this by typing “keychain access” in the Launchpad search field.

2. Right-click the login entry. You can find it in the upper left corner in the Keychain window.

3. Click Lock Keychain “login.” This should be the first option that appears after right-clicking the login entry.
4. Next, try to unlock it. You might have to enter your device login password when you do this.
5. Launch the NordVPN app again. Try connecting to its servers to see if this fixed the problem.

2. “Login failed” Error

This error is similar to the Keychain Access issue I covered above. To fix it, you have to first force-quit the NordVPN app — you can quickly do this via the Option + Command + Esc command. Then, just follow the same steps I mentioned above.

3. macOS Ventura Installation Error

If you get an error while trying to install NordVPN on macOS Ventura, NordVPN recommends trying the following:

• Check folder access. After downloading the installer, it should be located in the Downloads folder. Before installing it from there, make sure you have proper access to the Downloads folder. To get access to it, use the Apple menu to head to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders, then turn on the ability to access the Downloads folder.
• Move the installer. The file should be named NordVPN.pkg. Try moving it from its current location to the Applications folder. If you don’t have rights to move it to Applications, then move it to the desktop instead.
• Use the terminal. Then, use one of the following commands:
  • sudo tccutil reset SystemPolicyDownloadsFolder. Use this command if the installer is located in the Downloads folder.
  • sudo tccutil reset All. Use this command if the installer is located in any other folder.

I recommend trying to install the NordVPN app after each step.

4. Can’t Enable Threat Protection Pro

If you can’t find the Threat Protection Pro feature in your NordVPN macOS app, it’s probably because you’re using the wrong macOS app version. If you downloaded the app from the Mac App Store, you’ll only have access to Threat Protection, which blocks malicious and phishing domains and some ads.

To get access to Threat Protection Pro (which also blocks ads, ad trackers, and malware), you need to get the macOS app version that you download from NordVPN’s website. You can download it from this web page — just click the Download App button.

Also, keep in mind that for both Threat Protection Pro and Threat Protection to work, you’ll need to enable them in your device’s system settings. Normally, the NordVPN app will alert you if the feature is blocked, and will link you to the system settings you need to change. But if that doesn’t happen, or you want to do it manually, here’s what you need to do:

1. Click the Apple Menu and select System Settings. If you’re using macOS Monterey or older versions, you’ll have to click Privacy Preferences instead.
2. Head to Privacy & Security. You’ll find this tab on the left, near the bottom.
3. Hit Allow under System software from application “NordVPN” was blocked from loading. You’ll probably need to enter your device password to confirm these changes. After you enter it, click Update Settings.
4. Finish setting up the feature in the NordVPN app. Head back to the app, and it will guide you through finalizing the Threat Protection Pro/Threat Protection setup process.

Linux-Specific Connectivity & App Issues

Several of the issues mentioned here are already found in the general troubleshooting tips section. But on Linux, you need to use specific commands when dealing with these issues. So, I decided to cover these tips here as well.

Also, I want to mention that if none of the tips covered here solve your problems, NordVPN recommends manually setting up a VPN connection to its servers instead — you can find helpful setup tutorials showing you how to do this on the provider’s site.

1. The NordVPN App Is Outdated

To update the app via the terminal, use these commands one after the other:

• sudo apt update. If it doesn’t work, try sudo apt-get update instead.
• sudo apt upgrade. If it doesn’t work, try sudo apt-get upgrade instead.

2. The NordVPN App Needs to Be Reinstalled

Here’s how to do this:

1. Use the sudo apt –purge autoremove nordvpn* command. If it doesn’t work, try sudo apt-get –purge autoremove nordvpn* instead.
2. Reinstall the NordVPN app. The installation process is different depending on which Linux distribution you use, so I recommend checking out NordVPN’s distro-specific installation tutorials.

3. “Whoops! Cannot reach System Daemon” Error

If you encounter this error, just type in the following two commands in order:

1. sudo systemctl start nordvpnd
2. sudo systemctl enable nordvpnd

4. “rotating: transport rotator: ptr timer is locked.” Error

The easiest way to fix this is to try and restart the NordVPN daemon. You can do this via the sudo systemctl restart nordvpnd command.

If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to disable IPv6 across the entire operating system. NordVPN has step-by-step tutorials showing you how to do that on both Debian and Red Hat-based distros.

5. ”Permission denied accessing /run/nordvpn/nordvpnd.sock” Error

To fix this error, you might need to do several things. First, try this:

1. Use this command: sudo usermod -aG nordvpn $USER. Just launch the terminal, type it in, and hit enter.
2. Restart your device. After that, check if this fixed the error.

If the steps above didn’t work, you might now see the “Whoops! /run/nordvpn/nordvpnd.sock not found” error. If this happens, you’ll need to use the following commands in the terminal until the issue is fixed:

• sudo systemctl restart nordvpnd
• sudo systemctl start nordvpnd
• sudo systemctl enable nordvpnd

If the issue still persists, you’ll need to try other things. In no particular order, this includes restarting your device, resetting the NordVPN app, reinstalling the NordVPN app, and making sure that your system firewall isn’t interfering with the NordVPN app.

6. “Temporary failure resolving repo.nordvpn.com” Error

If you get this error message, you need to enter the following commands in order, and press enter after each one:

1. sudo -i
2. cd /etc/apt/sources.list.d
3. echo “deb https://repo.nordvpn.com/deb/nordvpn/debian stable main” > nordvpn.list
4. sudo apt-get update
5. sudo apt-get install nordvpn

Mobile-Specific Connectivity & App Issues (Android & iOS)

1. Network Connectivity Issues

You might be experiencing problems with NordVPN’s app and connectivity due to your network. The best way to troubleshoot this is to just switch between networks — for example, if you’re connected to your Wi-Fi network, switch to mobile data.

2. Check Battery Saver & Cleaner Apps

Both the Android and iOS app stores provide access to tons of battery-saving and cleaner apps that are supposed to make your device run more efficiently. However, since the NordVPN app runs in the background, these kinds of apps can interfere with it — so, make sure to whitelist the NordVPN app if you’re using such applications.

3. Network Settings Reset (Android)

1. Go to Settings > General Management. You’ll have to scroll until you’re near the bottom of the device settings list to find General Management.

2. Find and tap Reset. You’ll have to scroll to the bottom to find this option.

3. Now, tap Reset mobile network settings. It should be the second option you see under the Reset category.

4. Finally, tap Reset settings. If you use a lock, you’ll likely be asked to unlock your phone to proceed — after that, you’ll have to tap Reset settings once more to finish up.

4. Wi-Fi Network Settings Reset (iOS)

NordVPN only recommends trying this if you’re using its service over a Wi-Fi network. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Once you reset the network settings, you’ll reset all Wi-Fi network, VPN, and cellular network settings.
2. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi. Keep in mind you must do this after following the step above, not before it.
3. Tap the i button. The button is on the right side of your wireless network field. Tapping it will show you the network settings.
4. Tap Renew Lease. It’s located at the bottom. Tapping it will renew your device’s IP address, and it will also refresh your connection.
5. Restart your device. You should now be able to use NordVPN without any issues.

5. Firewall App Conflicts (Android)

If you have a firewall app running, the NordVPN app likely won’t be able to run properly. On most devices, you’d be able to fix this by just whitelisting the NordVPN app. However, on Android, firewall apps use the same VPN interface as the NordVPN app — so, you’ll have to shut down the firewall application to prevent any issues.

Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.

Troubleshooting NordVPN for Streaming

Many streaming troubleshooting tips are the same across all devices. So, I first covered all general tips for fixing streaming issues. After that, I moved on to mentioning device-specific tips for desktop, mobile, and smart TV platforms.

General Streaming Troubleshooting Tips

• Reconnect to the server or use a different server. The most common reason why you can’t access a streaming site via NordVPN is that the site blocked the IP address of the server you’re using. To get a different IP address, you just need to reconnect to the same server you’re using. Alternatively, you could try a different server location — just make sure it’s in the same country as the previous server you were using.

• Restart the NordVPN app. The app might be experiencing technical issues that interfere with your VPN connections. Simply exit the app, then launch it again to see if this fixes the problem.
• Turn off Threat Protection Pro/Threat Protection. NordVPN actually recommends disabling this feature if you’re experiencing streaming issues. Maybe the feature is blocking the domain of the streaming platform you’re trying to access.
• Restart your device. Your device’s operating system might be causing connectivity issues, so try restarting it to see if it fixes the streaming issues you’re experiencing.
• Change your device’s DNS settings. NordVPN recommends using the following DNS settings if you can’t access streaming platforms: 103.86.96.100 and 103.86.99.100. It also has step-by-step tutorials showing you how to change DNS settings on most devices.
• Use NordVPN’s smart DNS. NordVPN’s smart DNS is a good alternative to the VPN if you’re experiencing streaming issues. Basically, the smart DNS still spoofs your geo-location, but it doesn’t hide your IP address or encrypt your traffic. To use the smart DNS, you’ll need to perform a quick manual setup — you can read about it on NordVPN’s site.

Desktop-Specific Tips

1. Clear Your Browser’s Cache & Cookies

Streaming sites use the browser’s cache to keep track of various data, such as what you search for or your account information. The problem is that old cache data could interfere with the VPN connection, and allow the streaming site to detect and block it.

Cookies also cause issues, as they’re small text files that websites use to log information related to your account, device, timezone, and more. So, cookies could potentially leak your real location to the streaming site, even though you’re connected to the VPN.

That’s why you should always clear your browser’s cache and cookies before accessing a streaming platform via a VPN. I can’t provide step-by-step instructions, as the steps vary from browser to browser — it’s best to search for how to do this on your browser.

2. Use a Different Browser (Or Use Incognito Mode)

When streaming with NordVPN (or any VPN, really), it’s best to use a different web browser, not the one you use daily. Ideally, it should be a browser you have never used before.

Also, I strongly recommend using the browser in incognito/private mode via the VPN. This way, it will automatically delete cache and cookie data when you stop using it.

3. Use the NordVPN Browser Extension

NordVPN recommends using its browser extension for streaming if you keep experiencing issues with its VPN app. Just add the extension in the browser you use, and use it to connect to the streaming site you want to access.

Mobile-Specific Tips

1. Force-Stop the Streaming App & Clear Its Cache (Android)

1. Head to Settings > Apps. You’ll need to scroll down a bit until you reach the bottom to find the Apps tab.

2. Tap the app, then hit Force stop. Just scroll through the list until you find the app, tap it to go to its settings, then force-stop it.

3. Next, tap Storage. It’s on the same app settings page. Just scroll down a bit, and you’ll find it under the Usage category.

4. Tap Clear cache. Wait for the process to finish, then restart the streaming app.

2. Force-Stop the Streaming App (iOS)

1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Do this when you’re on the Home Screen. Also, make sure to pause in the middle of the screen when you swipe up.
2. Find the app you want to force-stop. Just swipe right or left until you find it.
3. Swipe up on the app preview when you find it. This will force-quit the app. Then, just restart it and try accessing it via NordVPN again.

Unfortunately, you can’t clear an app’s cache on iOS like you can on Android. You can only do this if the streaming application has an in-app setting that lets you clear its cache.

3. Access the Streaming Service Via a Browser

You might have better luck trying to connect to the streaming site via your mobile browser. Simply open the browser app while connected to NordVPN, and type in the streaming site’s address.

This is more likely to work because streaming sites only use your IP to detect your location — mobile streaming apps might also use your device’s GPS data, which NordVPN can’t hide. If you want to use a VPN that can spoof GPS data on mobile, try Surfshark, since it has a GPS-spoofing feature on Android, and it also works with 50+ streaming services.

Just keep in mind that using a browser on mobile won’t work with all streaming services. Some, like Netflix, Disney+, and Max, only let you stream via the mobile app. But there are some streaming services that let you watch content via their sites on mobile, like BBC iPlayer, Crackle, and Pluto TV.

Smart TV-Specific Tips

There’s really only one specific tip I can mention here — force-stopping the streaming app you’re using, clearing its cache, and starting it up again. While I do own an Android TV, I unfortunately can’t provide step-by-step instructions on how to do this. That’s because the steps wouldn’t be the same for all Android TV versions, smart TV operating systems, and smart TV models. It’s best to google how to force-stop an app and clear its cache for your specific smart TV model and operating system version.

You could also try using your smart TV’s web browser to access the streaming service’s website, instead of using its streaming app. But doing this on a smart TV is very inconvenient.

Troubleshooting NordVPN for Torrenting

• Check if there are enough seeders. The number of seeders represents how many people are uploading the torrent you’re downloading, whereas the number of leechers represents the total number of people downloading said torrent. To be able to download a torrent or get good download speeds, you need to use a torrent that has more seeders than leechers.
• Try a different VPN server. Maybe the server you’re trying to torrent on is experiencing connectivity issues. So, just connect to a different VPN server (ideally one that’s close to your real location, so that you get fast P2P speeds). NordVPN also has dedicated P2P servers, but it’s not mandatory to use them — you can torrent on a regular VPN server, and the VPN app will just automatically reroute your traffic through the nearest P2P server.
• Double-check the SOCKS5 proxy data. If you’re torrenting over NordVPN’s SOCKS5 proxy servers, you’ll need to configure the SOCKS5 connection in your P2P client — this means you’ll need to enter the SOCKS5 server’s address, the port the connection will use, and your NordVPN login credentials. Check all of that information again to make sure it’s 100% correct. The port should always be set to 1080, and the login details are the same as your NordVPN account credentials. As for the server address, you can find the correct NordVPN SOCKS5 proxy addresses here.
• Check your firewall or antivirus. Your operating system’s firewall or antivirus program might interfere with the NordVPN connection. Security software could also interfere with torrenting and prevent you from connecting to peers to download the torrent. Make sure you whitelist both the NordVPN app and the P2P app you’re using inside your firewall and antivirus program.

Troubleshooting NordVPN’s Speeds

• Use the NordLynx protocol. NordLynx is based on WireGuard, which is a super-fast VPN protocol. If you’re using OpenVPN and you’re experiencing slowdowns, that’s to be expected since OpenVPN isn’t as lightweight as WireGuard. I tested both protocols on a VPN server in my country (Romania), and my NordLynx connection was 64% faster than my OpenVPN connection.
• Use OpenVPN over UDP. If you insist on using the OpenVPN protocol, use it over UDP since it’s slightly faster than over TCP. In my tests, I usually had 10–11% faster speeds with OpenVPN UDP than with OpenVPN TCP.
• Use a nearby VPN server. The closer the VPN server is to your location, the faster data travels between your device and the VPN server. To get the fastest speeds, I recommend using a VPN server in your country — to save time, you can use the quick-connect feature, as it automatically connects you to the fastest server.
• Use split-tunneling. NordVPN’s split-tunneling tool lets you pick which apps use the VPN and which apps use your normal internet connection. You can use split-tunneling to boost VPN speeds for specific activities — the less data the VPN needs to encrypt-decrypt and route, the faster the VPN connection will be. I tested this out while torrenting by only sending qBittorrent traffic through my NordVPN connection, and this boosted my VPN speeds by about 10%.
• Use a wired connection. If you use Wi-Fi, the strength of the signal will impact your VPN speeds — if the signal is too weak, you’ll experience noticeable slowdowns. It’s better to use an ethernet cable and hook up the device you’re using NordVPN on directly to the router, as this will provide you with the fastest speeds.
• Shut down background apps. If you have web-connected apps running in the background, they’ll put a strain on your overall internet speed — and this will impact your VPN speeds. So shut down any apps that you don’t need to use with the VPN. For example, if you use NordVPN just to download torrents, you don’t need to have Netflix or Steam running in the background.

Troubleshooting NordVPN’s Split-Tunneling Feature

There are two major issues you might experience when using the provider’s split-tunneling feature:

1. The Split-Tunneled App Doesn’t Have Web Access

Here’s what NordVPN recommends doing to try and fix this issue:

• Reset the NordVPN app. I covered how you can do that on different devices here. Alternatively, you can also do this inside the NordVPN app by going to Settings > General, and clicking Run diagnostics.
• Reset your network. Follow the same steps I mentioned above for resetting the NordVPN app. But instead of clicking Reset app, you’ll click Network Flush. Keep in mind that doing this will reset Wi-Fi networks and passwords and VPN settings.
• Reinstall the NordVPN app. Just uninstall it from your device, download the installer again, and re-install the app.
• Whitelist NordVPN in your firewall or antivirus. Your firewall or antivirus service might be interfering with NordVPN’s split-tunneling feature.

2. The App That You Excluded From the VPN Is Still Routed Through It

Unfortunately, you’ll have to reach out to NordVPN’s customer support team to find a solution for this problem — the provider has 24/7 live chat and email support, and its live chat support is extremely responsive and helpful.

I asked NordVPN’s reps why there’s no solution on its site for this problem. According to them, what causes this issue varies from user to user, which is why it’s best to contact the support team if you experience this problem.

Troubleshooting NordVPN’s Meshnet Feature

You might experience several issues with Meshnet, depending on which device you’re using it on. Below, I covered different problems you might encounter on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

Windows-Specific Meshnet Issues

Meshnet Doesn’t Turn On

If the feature just doesn’t work, there’s probably an issue with the NordLynx network adapter. The NordVPN app has to create the adapter (in addition to retrieving your device’s Meshnet details) for the Meshnet feature to work.

There are various things that can cause issues with the NordLynx network adapter. NordVPN recommends trying out any of the following to try and fix the issue:

• Check if the NordVPN app is outdated. In the NordVPN app, head to Settings (it’s the cog icon in the lower left). The app version will be shown under the Settings heading — make sure it matches the latest NordVPN Windows version. If it doesn’t, update the app to the latest version.
• Shut down other VPN or remote networking apps. Allowing other VPN or remote networking services to run in the background could cause connectivity issues with NordVPN’s app and Meshnet feature.
• Check for Windows updates. You need to be running the latest Windows version to avoid any issues with Meshnet. Here’s how to check for updates on Windows 10 and 11:
  • Windows 10: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
  • Windows 11: Start > Settings > Windows Update.

• Check your firewall and antivirus. Make sure to whitelist the NordVPN service in both your firewall and antivirus program, so that they don’t interfere with it.

If none of those tips work, you should try connecting to any NordVPN server via the NordLynx protocol. If that doesn’t work, the issue probably isn’t related just to Meshnet. In that case, you should contact the provider’s support team for further help.

Duplicated Meshnet IPs

This can happen if you’re using a cloned Windows installation. Basically, the NordVPN app relies on the Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) registry entry to identify different Windows devices. GUIDs are unique for each Windows installation — but if you clone the operating system, the GUID registry entries will be the same, resulting in the Meshnet duplication issue.

Luckily, this issue is very easy to fix, and you can quickly handle it in the NordVPN app. Here’s how:

1. Access the Devices in Meshnet tab. You can find the tab on the left menu of NordVPN’s Windows app.

2. Expand the Meshnet row and click Deactivate. You need to click the dropdown menu icon in the Meshnet row, which is to the right of the On switch.

3. Confirm the deactivation in the pop-up window. Just select Deactivate for this device.

4. Turn on Meshnet again. Wait until the deactivation process is done, then re-enable Meshnet. Your Windows device should now get its own unique Meshnet IP.

macOS-Specific Meshnet Issues

Duplicated Meshnet IPs

This is likely to happen if you migrate to a new macOS device, or if you use the Time Machine feature to restore your macOS system. That’s because Meshnet data is stored in Keychain Access — and when you do a migration or restore the system, the Keychain Access data is transferred exactly as it was. The NordVPN app then uses the same Meshnet data stored in Keychain Access, which results in duplicate macOS devices.

To fix this problem, do this:

1. Exit the NordVPN app. The provider recommends fully quitting the app, which you can do via the Option + Command + Esc command.
2. Go to Applications > Utilities. You can easily get there by using the Finder app.

3. Open Keychain Access. It should be easy to find — its icon is a keychain. Also, if you get the Manage Your Passwords in System Settings prompt, select Open Keychain Access.

4. Select the All Items tab. It’s the first one on the left, right under the Keychain Access heading.
5. Type “nordvpn” in the search field. This will show all keychain entries related to NordVPN.

6. Delete all NordVPN-related entries. Just select all of them, right-click, and click Delete. If you get a confirmation prompt, select Delete again.

7. Exit Keychain Access and launch NordVPN. You should now be able to use the Meshnet feature without experiencing any duplicate Meshnet IPs and NordVPN device names.

Linux-Specific Meshnet Issues

Duplicated Meshnet IPs

This issue occurs on Linux due to the content of the machine-id and hostname files. If you duplicate or install your Linux distro from a backup, the values for both systems in those files will be the same. In turn, this will create identical Meshnet IPs.

To fix this problem, NordVPN recommends editing the hostname file. The provider advises against making changes to the machine-id file since it could cause system problems. So, here’s what you need to do:

1. Use Terminal to uninstall the NordVPN app. You just need to use this command: sudo apt remove nordvpn -y.
2. Next, open the system’s hostname file. NordVPN recommends opening it via the GNU nano text editor. To do that, use this command: sudo nano /etc/hostname.
3. Edit the string value in the hostname file any way you want. It’s enough to just add, remove, or change a symbol.
4. Save the changes and exit. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + X, Y, and Enter.
5. Now, reinstall the NordVPN app. To do this, just use the following command: sudo apt install nordvpn -y.
6. Log into the app and activate Meshnet. The device you want to use should now have a unique Meshnet IP.

Android-Specific Meshnet Issues

The Meshnet Tab Is Missing on the Mobile App

The most common cause for this issue is an outdated NordVPN app. You probably didn’t update the app via the Google Play Store, or you installed the app using an older .apk file. Though, sometimes, this issue might also be caused by a technical error in the app.

The solution is very simple — just reinstall the NordVPN app. Uninstall it, then reinstall it from the app store. If you want to use the .apk file, make sure to download the latest version from the provider’s site.

Can’t Access the Host Device’s LAN While Routing Data Through Meshnet

This problem happens because the Local network discovery setting in the NordVPN app is enabled. If the feature is turned on while Meshnet is routing traffic, your Android device will only be able to connect to devices on its LAN — it won’t be able to access devices on the host device’s LAN.

Here’s how to disable that feature:

1. Tap Profile, then tap Settings. The Profile tab is located in the lower right. To find Settings, just scroll down a bit until you see a cog icon.

2. Make sure Local network discovery is set to Off. If it isn’t, tap on it, then tap on the on/off slider to disable the setting.

iOS-Specific Meshnet Issues

Can’t Access an iOS Device Even Though It’s Active

This issue is caused by how the iOS system works, and it’s basically a misunderstanding — the device is registered as active, but it’s actually locked.

When you lock an iOS device, most of the apps on it (including the NordVPN app) will enter sleep mode. iOS devices do this to prevent battery drain. In this state, the device will be registered as inactive in Meshnet.

However, sometimes a network change or a system process might temporarily activate the NordVPN app. This makes the device look like it’s active in Meshnet, when in reality it’s still locked (and the NordVPN app is still in sleep mode).

There’s nothing you can do to fix this problem since it’s just how iOS devices work.

What to Do If None Of the Above Tips Work

If none of the tips above helped you solve your NordVPN issue, the best option is to contact the provider’s customer support team. NordVPN provides excellent 24/7 live chat — it takes just a few seconds to be connected to a support rep, and all of the provider’s reps are extremely friendly and helpful.

I used the live chat support dozens of times while writing this article, and the reps always provided me with accurate responses. I usually didn’t have to follow up with more questions, as the first reply I received provided the solution I was looking for.

What Are the Best NordVPN Alternatives?

If you can’t fix the issues you’re experiencing with NordVPN and would like to try out other services, there are a few good alternatives on the market. Here are 3 of my favorites:

• ExpressVPN. This VPN is the best NordVPN alternative in my opinion, as it provides industry-leading security and privacy features, it works with 100+ streaming sites, it has servers in 105 countries, and it maintains the fastest speeds on the market.
• Private Internet Access. This provider has high-end privacy features, and it provides excellent torrenting support — it allows P2P traffic on all servers (located in 91 countries), it has SOCKS5 proxy support, and it also has built-in support for port forwarding, which can boost P2P speeds.
• CyberGhost VPN. This is a very good streaming VPN, as it works with 50+ streaming platforms via dedicated streaming servers. It also has very beginner-friendly apps, convenient tools for automating VPN connections, and servers in 100 countries.

Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn’t NordVPN working with streaming sites?

There are tons of issues that can occur to prevent NordVPN from working well with streaming services. I mainly recommend reconnecting to the server you’re using (or trying a different server), restarting the NordVPN app, or restarting your device to try and fix this problem. If that doesn’t help, check out what other things you can try to solve streaming issues with NordVPN.

Why is NordVPN not working on my phone?

There are dozens of reasons why you might be experiencing connectivity issues with NordVPN on mobile, like network issues, battery saver apps getting in the way, or VPN protocol issues. I recommend first trying out some general troubleshooting tips, like making sure your subscription is active, trying a different VPN server, or changing your device’s DNS settings. If none of them work, check out some mobile-specific tips that might solve your connectivity issues.

What should I do if NordVPN isn’t connecting?

There are tons of things you can try to fix connectivity issues with NordVPN. I mainly recommend connecting to a different VPN server, or trying to use a different VPN protocol. Also, you should make sure that your subscription is still active — it doesn’t sound very helpful, but NordVPN actually says this is the main reason why a lot of their users experience connectivity issues.

Why isn’t NordVPN’s Meshnet feature working?

There are lots of device-specific issues that can interfere with the provider’s Meshnet feature. For example, using a cloned operating system could cause duplicate Meshnet IPs on Windows, using the Time Machine feature to restore your system could duplicate Meshnet IPs and NordVPN device names on macOS, and an outdated NordVPN app could cause the Meshnet tab to disappear on Android.

Why can’t I download torrents with NordVPN?

The first thing to do is check the number of seeders — if it’s way smaller than the number of leechers, you won’t be able to download the torrent at all. If that’s not the issue, try connecting to a different NordVPN server. If that also doesn’t work, there are several other things you can try to troubleshoot torrenting issues with NordVPN.