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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →To configure NordVPN, open the app’s settings on your device and choose the controls you need—most commonly auto-connect, a VPN protocol, Kill Switch, or custom DNS. The menus and available options differ by operating system and, on macOS, by whether you installed the app from the App Store or NordVPN’s website. Use the platform-specific steps below and check NordVPN’s current support instructions if your app labels have changed.
Choose the settings that match your needs
Start with the outcome you want rather than changing every setting. Auto-connect can start a VPN connection when you join a selected kind of network; a Kill Switch can restrict internet access if the VPN connection drops; a protocol choice can affect which specialty servers are available; custom DNS is an optional network setting.
- Connect automatically: Configure auto-connect for the networks or connection target you want. A trusted network may be excluded.
- Limit unprotected traffic: Check the Kill Switch behavior documented for your platform and app version.
- Use a particular server category: Check protocol compatibility before selecting a protocol.
- Set custom DNS: Do so only if you have a reason to override the default, and follow the instructions for your device.
NordVPN lists NordLynx, NordWhisper, and OpenVPN among its protocols, but that feature list does not establish that one is universally best for speed, privacy, or every use case. See NordVPN’s feature overview.
Set up auto-connect
NordVPN documents auto-connect controls for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, browser extensions, and Android TV. Its guide says tvOS does not support configuring auto-connect. The setting’s location and network choices vary by platform, so identify your device and check the current app interface if the labels below differ.
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Windows
Open Settings > Connection and security > Auto-connect. Enable auto-connect, then choose the network scope offered by the app, such as all networks, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or mobile networks.
macOS
Open the app’s settings, find Auto-connect, enable it, and select a connection target. The available controls can depend on which macOS app distribution you installed; see the macOS section below.
Android and iOS
Open Settings in the NordVPN app and select Auto-connect. Choose from the network or connection options shown for your device. The choices are not identical on Android and iOS.
Linux
In the NordVPN CLI, run nordvpn set autoconnect on. The guide also documents choosing a country code or server for the connection; check its current command syntax for the target you want.
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Browser extensions and Android TV
Use the auto-connect control in the browser extension or Android TV app’s own settings. These interfaces have separate controls from the desktop and mobile apps.
If auto-connect does not start
Check whether the Wi-Fi network is marked as trusted. NordVPN says trusted networks prevent auto-connect on those networks, so an enabled setting may not start a VPN connection there. Review NordVPN’s auto-connect instructions for your platform.
Choose a protocol with server compatibility in mind
The protocol selector is in the app settings, but its location varies by platform. If you need Double VPN or certain obfuscated servers, NordVPN says those categories require OpenVPN TCP or UDP; switching to another protocol may make them unavailable.
On Linux, NordVPN’s documented sequence is to select OpenVPN technology, then choose TCP or UDP:
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- Run
nordvpn set technology openvpn. - Run
nordvpn set protocol tcpornordvpn set protocol udp.
For other platforms, open the protocol selector in app settings and choose from the options shown. NordVPN’s OpenVPN TCP/UDP instructions describe the platform-specific route.
Configure Kill Switch for your platform
NordVPN describes Kill Switch as a way to prevent unprotected internet access when traffic is not going through a NordVPN server. The exact protection differs by platform and app version, so do not assume that a control with the same name blocks traffic in the same way everywhere.
- Windows: NordVPN distinguishes an Internet Kill Switch from an app-specific Kill Switch.
- Android 8.0 or later: NordVPN says the feature blocks internet access when no VPN connection exists.
- Linux: NordVPN documents system-wide blocking.
- macOS and iOS: Routing protection differs between the macOS App Store app, the macOS website app, and iOS.
- Amazon Fire TV Stick: NordVPN says Kill Switch is unavailable.
Find the Kill Switch control in your app’s settings and read the platform-specific description before enabling it, particularly if you need a specific kind of traffic blocking. See NordVPN’s Kill Switch behavior by platform.
Set custom DNS only if you need it
Custom DNS changes how your device resolves domain names. NordVPN provides setup instructions for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Its instructions list 103.86.96.100 and 103.86.99.100 for Windows and macOS, and 103.86.96.100 in the iOS and Android instructions. These are vendor-provided values; check the current instructions for your platform before entering them.
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After changing DNS, reconnect to NordVPN. NordVPN warns that custom DNS on iOS may affect website accessibility or streaming use. If a site or service stops working, revert the custom DNS setting and reconnect, or follow NordVPN’s current troubleshooting instructions.
Follow NordVPN’s custom DNS setup instructions. For iOS-specific settings and caveats, see NordVPN’s iOS app settings guide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.On macOS, identify which NordVPN app you installed
NordVPN documents separate macOS versions distributed through the App Store and its website. Its comparison article describes versions for macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later; verify current requirements and availability before relying on those details.
| App distribution | Documented differences |
|---|---|
| NordVPN website | Offers Real-time protection, a customizable app Kill Switch, and custom DNS. |
| App Store | Provides a simpler installation; its Kill Switch blocks all internet access if the VPN drops. |
Both versions share several VPN features, but their controls and protection behavior are not identical. Check the app’s source and the relevant settings before following macOS steps. Compare NordVPN’s macOS App Store and website apps.
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Find other controls without assuming every app has them
NordVPN’s Windows and general feature guides describe options such as Meshnet, specialty servers, and protection features. Their presence and location can vary between platform apps; use the guide for your device rather than assuming a Windows control exists on mobile, Linux, or a TV app.
See the Windows app settings guide or check NordVPN’s general feature overview.
Troubleshoot a settings change
- Auto-connect appears enabled but does not run: Check whether the network is trusted and excluded.
- A specialty server is unavailable: Check whether it requires OpenVPN TCP or UDP, then select a compatible protocol.
- Internet access changes after enabling Kill Switch: Confirm what that platform’s Kill Switch blocks and whether it is system-wide or app-specific.
- Websites or streaming services misbehave after changing DNS: Reconnect, then revert the custom DNS values if the issue remains.
- A menu or option is missing: Confirm your operating system, app distribution, and app version, then use NordVPN’s platform-specific instructions.
For installation context, NordVPN also documents app and router setup as separate routes; a router is not required to configure ordinary app settings. See NordVPN’s installation instructions.
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