If you have a device that is not able to connect to NordVPN directly, you can connect to your NordVPN via hotspot, Wi-Fi, or ethernet cable by using a Windows computer. To get started with sharing your NordVPN connection, choose the applicable section below:
- Mobile hotspot Win10
- Wi-Fi Win 7/8.1/10
- Ethernet
Share a NordVPN connection via a mobile hotspot on Windows 10
To set up a NordVPN connection using a mobile hotspot on Windows 10, follow the steps below:
- Go to settings.
- Click network & internet.
- Click mobile hotspot.
- Select share over Wi-Fi and enable mobile hotspot.
- Go to settings.
- Select network and Internet.
- Scroll down to your NordVPN adapter and click edit.
Please note: After adjusting the adapter, you will need to switch to a TCP or UDP protocol within the NordVPN app.
- Open the sharing tab.
- Check allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection.
- Select your newly created hotspot from the dropdown menu.
- Connect to the hotspot with the device that you would like to connect to NordVPN.
After completing these steps, your mobile hotspot will be configured to share the VPN connection with other devices. Make sure to test the connection and ensure that all connected devices are successfully using the shared VPN connection. You can check your connection in the NordVPN DNS Leak Test.
Share a NordVPN connection via Wi-Fi from Windows 7/8.1/10
Note: Recent Intel Wireless Adapters don’t support the wireless hosted network feature on Windows 10. For more information, visit Intel's support page.
To share a NordVPN connection via Wi-Fi on Windows 7/8.1/10 follow these steps:
- Connect your Windows PC to your network via Wi-Fi.
- Search Command Prompt in the Windows Search bar, right click it to run as administrator.
- In Command Prompt, type the following:
netsh wlan show drivers
If the hosted network supported line says no, look for a newer version of your adapter drivers and install them.
- Type in the following command:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=NetworkName key=NetworkPassword
You should see something similar to this:
- To activate this virtual network, type:
netsh wlan start hostednetwork
- If you get the message “The hosted network couldn't be started. The group or resource is not in the correct state to perform the requested operation output” after performing netsh wlan start hostednetwork, try the following:
Open the run window by pressing windows button + R.
- Type in:
mmc devmgmt.msc
- Once the device manager is open, navigate to Network Adapters and right-click microsoft hosted network virtual adapter.
- Select enable.
- Type the following command again:
netsh wlan start hostednetwork
- Open the network and sharing Center by right-clicking the network icon in the system tray.
- Click change adapter settings.
- Right-click the TAP-NordVPN Windows Adapter V9 adapter.
- Select properties.
- Open the sharing tab.
- Check allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection box.
- Select the local area connection from the drop-down list.
- Click ok.
- Connect to one of our VPN servers in the NordVPN application.
To check the status of your virtual adapter, type the following:
netsh wlan show hostednetwork
To stop the virtual interface, type:
netsh wlan stop hostednetwork
After completing the steps, your NordVPN connection will successfully be shared via Wi-Fi.
Sharing a NordVPN connection through an Ethernet cable
If you're using an Ethernet cable to connect your PC to the network, you'll need a second Ethernet port to share your NordVPN connection with another device.
Laptops should connect to the network via Wi-Fi, leaving their ethernet port free for the device without the NordVPN connection.
To share your NordVPN connection through an Ethernet cable, follow the steps below:
- Open the network and sharing center by right-clicking the network icon in the system tray.
- Click open network & internet settings.
- Click change adapter options.
- There should be at least three interfaces:
- Your internet connection
- The interface you will use to connect the device without a NordVPN connection
- The TAP adapter used by the NordVPN app to establish a NordVPN connection
- Right-click the TAP-NordVPN Windows adapter.
- Select properties.
- Open the sharing tab.
- Tick allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection.
- Choose the network interface that you will share the connection with.
- Click ok.
- Switch to the UDP or TCP protocol in the NordVPN app.
- Connect the desired device to your PC using an Ethernet cable.
- Once you see the Ethernet interface trying to identify the connection, connect to NordVPN using the NordVPN app.
Once you have followed these steps, the NordVPN connection will be shared with the device.