How to Set Up NordVPN on Your Devices

To set up NordVPN, install its official app for your device, sign in to your Nord Account, and select Secure my connection or the connection control shown on your TV. Approve your device’s VPN permission request when prompted. Browser extensions have a separate setup and protect browser traffic only.

Follow the setup for your device, then configure automatic connection if you want it. Sign in only through NordVPN’s own app or website, and never share a code, password, or remote access with someone who contacts you.

Get the official app for your device

Open the official NordVPN download page, choose your operating system or browser, and follow its download or app-store link. You can get installers and store links for computers, phones, tablets, TV apps, and extensions there.

Keep your Nord Account login ready because several apps complete authentication in a browser. Signing in to the account website alone does not start a VPN connection. Return to the app after authentication and use its connection control.

Install NordVPN on Windows

On Windows 10 64-bit, version 1607 or later, or on Windows 11, download the Windows installer and open NordVPNInstall.exe. Click Yes, select Next, then select Install. When installation finishes, select Launch NordVPN.

Select Log In and complete authentication in your browser. When the browser asks permission to return to NordVPN, click Open or Allow. Back in the app, select Secure my connection to connect.

Set up NordVPN on a Mac

For the website edition on macOS 14 or later, select Download App on NordVPN’s macOS download page and open NordVPN.pkg. Select Continue > Install, authenticate with your Mac password or Touch ID, then select Close. Press Command + Space, enter NordVPN, and press Return to open the app.

Select Log In > Continue and authenticate through Nord Account. Complete onboarding, then select Secure my connection. To choose a destination yourself, search for a country or choose one from the location list.

The Mac App Store edition also requires macOS 14 or later. Install NordVPN from the Mac App Store, open it through Spotlight with Command + Space, and select Log In > Continue. Authenticate, return to the app, and select Secure my connection, or choose a country through search or the location list.

Connect your phone tablet or Chromebook

On an iPhone or iPad running iOS or iPadOS 17 or later, search for NordVPN in the App Store, download it, and select Open. Choose Accept, Reject, or Customize for privacy preferences. Select Next, choose your notification preferences, then select Log In or Sign up.

Complete onboarding and select Secure my connection. Tap Allow for the VPN configuration request, then authenticate with your device passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID. To choose a destination yourself, open All locations and select a country, or expand its downward arrow to select a city.

For the standard Android app, you need Android 9 or later. Search for NordVPN in Google Play Store, Samsung Galaxy Store, or Amazon Appstore, depending on your device, and select Install. Open NordVPN, select Log in, authenticate in the browser, and select Continue. Return to the app, select Secure my connection, and tap Ok.

Compatible Android devices without Google Play can use the APK from NordVPN’s official Android download page. Download the APK on the device and open it to run the installer, then open NordVPN and log in. Select Secure my connection and tap Ok. NordVPN also directs Android 7 and 8 users to its sideloaded application.

On a Chromebook that supports the NordVPN Android app, open Google Play Store, search for NordVPN, and select Install. Open the app and follow the Android login and connection steps above. Older Chromebook models may not support the app; the Chrome extension provides a separate option for browser traffic.

Install the Linux app

The graphical Linux app supports Debian 12 or later, Ubuntu 22.04 or later, Mint 21 or later, Fedora 43 or later, and Raspberry Pi OS, with GNOME and KDE desktops. Open Terminal and run the following command to install the GUI package.

sh <(wget -qO - https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/linux/install.sh) -p nordvpn-gui

Open NordVPN from your application menu and select Log in. Complete authentication in the browser, return to the app, and select Secure my connection.

You can also install the native command-line app on a supported Linux distribution. Run its installer in Terminal.

sh <(curl -sSf https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/linux/install.sh)

Next, run the login command below. Complete authentication in your browser, then return to Terminal.

nordvpn login

Run the following command to connect. When you want to end the connection, run nordvpn disconnect.

nordvpn connect

Connect a supported TV

On a compatible Android TV, Google TV device, or Nvidia Shield, install NordVPN from Google Play and open it. Select Log in, then scan the displayed QR code or enter the displayed code at the Nord Account remote login page using another device. Approve the VPN request with OK, then select Quick Connect or choose a destination under Countries.

Before installing on a Fire TV Stick, check your model: the app excludes first-generation Fire TV Stick, second-generation Fire TV Stick, and Fire TV Stick Basic Edition. Devices running Vega OS currently have feature limitations.

For supported Amazon Fire devices, open the apps menu and Amazon Appstore, then search for NordVPN. Select Get, Download, and Open as displayed. Select Log in and authenticate with the QR code or the displayed code through Nord Account remote login. Complete the system VPN permission prompt, then select Quick Connect or a destination under Countries.

On an Apple TV with an App Store and a compatible tvOS version, open the App Store and install NordVPN. Launch the app, authenticate with your Nord Account, and select a server location.

Add a browser extension

NordVPN extensions protect traffic in your browser, leaving your other applications outside that connection. Follow the browser-specific store link on NordVPN’s official download page to get the extension.

In Chrome Web Store, find NordVPN, select Add to Chrome, and click Add extension. Open the browser’s Extensions menu using the jigsaw icon and select NordVPN. Log in, then select Secure my connection or choose a country.

For Firefox, follow NordVPN’s official extension link to its Mozilla listing, select Add to Firefox, then click Add. Open the NordVPN toolbar icon and log in. Select Secure my connection or a country.

In Microsoft Edge Add-ons, open NordVPN’s listing, select Get, and click Add extension. Open the NordVPN toolbar icon and log in. Select Secure my connection or choose a country.

Configure automatic connection

After your first connection, you can configure when NordVPN connects automatically. On Windows 10 or Windows 11, open NordVPN’s Settings > Connection and security > Auto-connect, then choose On all networks or a connection type. On macOS, open Settings > Auto-connect and enable Auto-connect.

On Android, open your profile, then Settings > Auto-connect, and select All networks, On Wi-Fi, or On mobile networks. On iOS, open your profile, then Settings > Auto-connect, and choose Always or On Wi-Fi networks.

In a browser extension, open Settings > Connection and security > Auto-connect. On Android TV, open Settings > Auto-connect; NordVPN does not offer configurable auto-connect on tvOS. On Linux, enable it with the following command.

nordvpn set autoconnect on

Set up devices through a compatible router

A compatible router can provide a NordVPN connection for consoles, Roku, Chromecast, smart TVs, and other connected devices without native apps. First confirm that your router model and firmware support a VPN client. Router interfaces do not share one universal setup path, so open NordVPN’s official Help Center instructions for your exact firmware.

For manual OpenVPN setup, sign in to Nord Account and select NordVPN > Advanced Settings > Set up NordVPN manually. Open Service credentials, complete email verification if prompted, and copy the service username and password. Obtain the server profile through OpenVPN configuration files; manual connections use these service credentials rather than your normal account login.

Follow the router-specific steps to import the server profile, enter the service credentials, and enable the connection. SmartDNS provides a separate option for compatible devices with configurable DNS, but it does not provide VPN encryption. If installation, authentication, or connection fails after the matching setup steps, contact NordVPN through its official Help Center for help with your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you set up NordVPN manually with WireGuard?

Yes, with an active NordVPN subscription, you can download manual WireGuard configurations for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS or iPadOS. In Nord Account, open NordVPN > Advanced Settings > Set up NordVPN manually, choose a country and server, then select Available protocols > WireGuard > Download config. Follow NordVPN’s platform-specific instructions to install a compatible WireGuard client and load the configuration.

Can you connect to NordVPN with Siri?

Yes, the iOS and iPadOS app supports Siri shortcuts. In NordVPN, open your profile, then Settings > GENERAL > Siri shortcuts, and select Secure my connection or select Disconnect. Enter or record your chosen phrase, then select Done. If you assigned the phrase Connect to NordVPN, say Connect to NordVPN to run it.

Can you put NordVPN controls on your Android home screen?

Yes, install NordVPN and sign in at least once, then hold an empty home-screen area and select Widgets. Locate NordVPN and drag its widget onto the home screen. On a launcher that supports widgets, you can use it to connect, disconnect, and view status.

Does deleting NordVPN from an iPhone cancel its subscription?

No, removing the app does not automatically cancel an App Store subscription. To remove the app itself, hold the NordVPN icon, select Remove App > Delete App, then tap Delete.

Do older Kodi VPN add-ons still work with NordVPN?

NordVPN says VPN add-ons do not currently work on Kodi. On a supported Windows, Linux, Android, macOS, or iOS host, open NordVPN and select Secure my connection, then launch Kodi.