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NordVPN Not Connecting

Workaround available Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android Updated October 21, 2026

Quick answer

Most often antivirus or a firewall is blocking NordVPN, the protocol is blocked on your network, or app settings are corrupted. Try another server and protocol, add NordVPN to your security software's exceptions, then reset the app with the Diagnostics tool.

Most likely fix: Try different servers and another device.

Symptoms

The app stays on 'Connecting', times out, fails on every server, or connects and immediately drops.

Why it happens

  • Antivirus or firewall blocking the NordVPN service or VPN ports
  • Current protocol blocked by the network (work, school, hotel Wi-Fi)
  • Corrupted app settings or a stuck session
  • Faulty TAP/virtual network adapter on Windows
  • Inactive subscription or failed payment
  • Server-side outage

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

  1. 1. Try different servers and another device

    1. Connect to two or three different servers or countries
    2. Try the NordVPN app on your phone on the same network
    3. If it works elsewhere, the problem is on the first device

  2. 2. Change the VPN protocol

    1. Open Settings and show advanced settings (Connection on newer versions)
    2. Under Protocol, switch from NordLynx to OpenVPN (TCP or UDP), or the other way round
    3. Reconnect

  3. 3. Add NordVPN to antivirus and firewall exceptions

    1. Temporarily disable third-party antivirus/firewall to test
    2. If that fixes it, add NordVPN.exe and nordvpn-service.exe as exceptions and re-enable protection

  4. 4. Reset the app with the Diagnostics tool (Windows)

    1. Open Settings > Show advanced settings > Run Diagnostics Tool
    2. Click Reset app to restore defaults
    3. Log back in and connect

  5. 5. Re-enable the TAP adapter (Windows)

    1. Open Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Centre > Change adapter settings
    2. Right-click TAP-NordVPN Windows Adapter and choose Disable
    3. Wait a few seconds, then double-click to enable it again

  6. 6. Reset Windows networking

    1. Open Command Prompt as administrator
    2. Run ipconfig /release, ipconfig /flushdns, ipconfig /renew and netsh winsock reset
    3. Restart the computer

  7. 7. Check your account and reinstall

    1. Log in to Nord Account and confirm the subscription is Active and the last payment went through
    2. Log out of the app and back in
    3. If it still fails, uninstall, download the latest version from nordvpn.com and reinstall

This guide also covers

  • nordvpn not connecting
  • nordvpn won't connect
  • nordvpn connection timed out
  • nordvpn keeps disconnecting
  • nordvpn stuck on connecting

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