VPN Not Connecting? (Here’s the Solution)

What's wrong with my VPN connection?

There are a few things you may do if your VPN is having trouble connecting:

Fix One 🥇

Verify your login.

Checking your login credentials is the second step you may take in resolving a VPN connection problem. Verify that you have entered your login information accurately, since a misspelling or other clerical error may prohibit you from establishing a VPN connection.

For NordVPN users, you can verify them in your NordVPN account by visiting the user control panel. Pick NordVPN in the “Dashboard” menu on the left. If you'd rather set up your service manually, choose “Advanced configuration” and then “Service credentials” to access your account information. Also, check to see if your subscription has run out.

If you're having trouble logging in, your VPN service's support staff or a password reset may be able to assist. These simple steps can let you reset your NordVPN password. Use complicated passwords and update them often for your VPN account. Our NordPass tool is a safe place to keep them.

Router VPN software requires different service credentials to be input in addition to your VPN account details. You won't be able to connect to a VPN server if they are wrong.

Be wary of downloading a VPN without first verifying its legitimacy, since there are many phoney VPNs and cracked VPN accounts being traded on the dark web. Here's how to verify the authenticity of your NordVPN connection.

Fix Two 🥈

Make sure you're connected to the web.

Your VPN connection will be unstable if your Internet connection keeps cutting in and out. If your internet connection has been disrupted, try these four solutions:

1. Turn off your Wi-Fi and then turn it back on.
2. Simply restart the router.
3. Verify that the ethernet wire connecting your router is intact.
4. If you still need assistance after trying these steps, contact your ISP.

If you have an unreliable internet connection and NordVPN keeps dropping out, you need not worry. In the event of a VPN disconnect, all of your devices will be rendered inaccessible via NordVPN's Kill Switch.

We also provide advice on how to improve your Wi-Fi speed if you feel it is too limited.

Fix Three 🥉

Verify the online status of your VPN service.

Occasionally, you may be unable to connect to a VPN due to server maintenance or network difficulties. If you're having trouble connecting to your VPN of choice, switching to a server in a different area may help. If you're having trouble connecting to a UK VPN server, consider switching to a Link server in Germany instead.

Fix Four 🎖️

Check for VPN bugs in the software.

Like any other app, VPN software might unexpectedly shut down or exhibit other faults and flaws. Concerned there may be a flaw in NordVPN? If you're prepared to investigate, join a Bug Bounty programme. If you successfully identify the flaw, they will compensate you.

Make sure you're always using the most recent version of your programme (premium providers like NordVPN regularly test their software to identify and repair any flaws). If the issue still continues after these steps, consider resetting or reinstalling the app. You may want to kill some processes in the background and free up some storage space.

Your VPN configurations might possibly be at fault. If you think anything is off, resetting them to factory settings is a breeze. Additionally, make sure your VPN is up-to-date by checking for updates often.

Fix Five 🏅

Verify the VPN's Ports and Protocol.

Here’s where it gets a bit more technical…

Connectivity and performance problems with a VPN connection may often be remedied by switching the connection protocol. Just switch to a different VPN protocol. Although NordVPN's default protocol is NordLynx, another excellent alternative is the OpenVPN protocol, which is likewise well-known for its stability.

In order for a virtual private network connection to function, certain ports must be accessible. UDP port 500 and TCP port 443 are often used by VPN providers to establish connections. It's possible that you'll have connection problems if your ISP or your network firewall closes certain ports. You may either make sure the required ports are open or try a different port configuration.

The ports 443 TCP and 1194 UDP must be accessible for NordVPN to function. In addition, your network's firewall or router must support VPN connections.

The router settings are where you'll enable VPN passthrough for the desired protocol. Please be aware that port forwarding is not supported by NordVPN. The app closes all connections save the ones required by your VPN service. Since open ports provide several security threats, this keeps you safer.

Fix Six 📛

Restart your VPN.

If your VPN connection is stable, restarting the programme will cause it to reconnect to the internet.

• ✔️ Kill the VPN connection altogether. Swiping it off the screen or using a task manager are two common methods of forcibly closing an app.
• ✔️ Give the app a few seconds to completely exit.
• ✔️ Restart the VPN by double-clicking its icon.
• ✔️ If the problem still persists after restarting, try connecting to your VPN account again and choosing a different server.

Fix Seven 📵

Make sure there’s no firewall.

Checking whether the firewall is preventing the VPN connection is critical since firewalls may block VPN traffic or prevent the VPN client from connecting to the server, both of which can create connectivity difficulties.

You can test whether your personal firewall settings (including Windows Defender Firewall) are preventing the VPN client from connecting by temporarily removing them or by making an exception for the VPN client.

Fix Eight 🚨 

Tap out; call support.

If you have tried these solutions and are still experiencing issues, it may be time to contact customer care for your service provider. You may contact NordVPN at any time of the day or night.