I can’t connect to the VPN on macOS

Problem

You can’t connect to a VPN server on NordVPN’s macOS app.

Common symptoms

The app is stuck on the “Connecting” status.
You get a “Can’t establish connection” error.

Troubleshooting steps

NOTE: Make sure to check your connection after each step.

If you used the “Secure your connection” button to connect to the VPN, try manually selecting and connecting to several specific countries instead.
Check if you are using the latest version of the NordVPN app:
1. Click the cogwheel icon at the bottom left of the NordVPN app.
2. If the app is outdated, you will see a banner showing that a new version is available. Click the “Update now” button.
If you have an antivirus, ensure NordVPN is on the exclusions list.
Change the VPN protocol:
1. Open the NordVPN app and click the gear icon in the lower-left corner to enter the “Settings” menu.
2. Click “General.”
3. Try connecting with all available protocols.
Reapply the VPN configuration settings on macOS:
1. Click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of your screen.
2. Click “System Settings.”
3. Go to the “VPN” tab and click the information icon (i) next to NordVPN.
4. You will get a pop-up about modifying system settings. Approve it, click the “Remove Configuration” button, and click “Remove” once more to confirm.
5. Close the NordVPN app by pressing Command + Q on the keyboard.
6. Re-open the NordVPN app and click the “Secure your connection” button.
7. If a pop-up appears, allow the NordVPN app to add VPN configurations.

Additional tips

If the issue appeared after you have tried connecting to the same VPN server multiple times, wait a few minutes before attempting to connect again.
Check if the issue persists on a different device.
Make sure that your internet connection is active

Was this article helpful?

Still having issues?

Live chat

Contact our support to solve an issue live.
Email form

Fill out an email form so we can help you with an issue.

Email us

Our Support team will get back to you within 24 hours. We’ll reply to the email address you provide.

Attach a file (Optional)

Supported formats: JPEG, PNG.

We couldn’t process your form. Please try again or come back later.

By clicking “Submit”, you agree to our Terms of Service and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.

Thank you! We've got your message and will get back to you within 24 hours.

By clicking “Chat with support”, you agree to our Terms of Service and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. Chat functionality relies on cookies. By starting the chat, you agree to their use. Learn more in our Cookie Policy.

{ "chatTitle": "NordVPN Support", "chatCustomText": { "actionPaymentCompleted": "Payment Completed", "actionPaymentError": "An error occurred while processing the card. Please try again or use a different card.", "actionPostbackError": "An error occurred while processing your action. Please try again.", "clickToRetry": "Message not delivered. Click to retry.", "clickToRetryForm": "Form not submitted. Click anywhere on the form to retry.", "connectNotificationText": "Sync your conversation and continue messaging us through your favorite app.", "connectNotificationSingleText": "Be notified when you get a reply.", "conversationListHeaderText": "My conversations", "conversationListRelativeTimeJustNow": "Just now", "conversationListRelativeTimeMinute": "1 minute ago", "conversationListRelativeTimeMinutes": "{value} minutes ago", "conversationListRelativeTimeHour": "1 hour ago", "conversationListRelativeTimeHours": "{value} hours ago", "conversationListRelativeTimeYesterday": "Yesterday", "conversationListTimestampFormat": "MM/DD/YY", "conversationListPreviewAnonymousText": "Someone", "conversationListPreviewCarouselText": "{user} sent a message", "conversationListPreviewFileText": "{user} sent a file", "conversationListPreviewFormText": "{user} sent a form", "conversationListPreviewFormResponseText": "{user} filled a form", "conversationListPreviewImageText": "{user} sent an image", "conversationListPreviewLocationRequestText": "{user} sent a location request", "conversationListPreviewUserText": "You", "conversationTimestampHeaderFormat": "MMMM D, h:mm A", "couldNotConnect": "Offline. You will not receive messages.", "couldNotConnectRetry": "Reconnecting...", "couldNotConnectRetrySuccess": "You're back online!", "couldNotLoadConversations": "Couldn't load conversations.", "emailChangeAddress": "Change my email", "emailDescription": "To be notified by email when you get a reply, enter your email address.", "emailFieldLabel": "Email", "emailFieldPlaceholder": "Your email address", "emailFormButton": "Submit", "emailLinkingErrorMessage": "Please submit a valid email address.", "errorPrefix": "Error:", "fetchHistory": "Load more", "fetchingHistory": "Retrieving history...", "fileTooLargeError": "Max file size limit exceeded ({size})", "fileTypeError": "Unsupported file type.", "formErrorEntryRequired": "This entry is required", "formErrorInvalidEmail": "Email is invalid", "formErrorNoLongerThan": "Must contain no more than ({characters}) characters", "formErrorNoShorterThan": "Must contain at least ({characters}) characters", "formErrorUnknown": "This doesn't look quite right", "formFieldSelectPlaceholderFallback": "Choose one...", "frontendEmailChannelDescription": "To talk to us using email just send a message to our email address and we'll reply shortly:", "headerText": "How can we help?", "imageClickToReload": "Click to reload image.", "imageClickToView": "Click to view {size} image.", "imagePreviewNotAvailable": "Preview not available.", "inputPlaceholder": "Type a message...", "inputPlaceholderBlocked": "Complete the form above...", "introAppText": "Message us below or from your favorite app.", "lineChannelDescription": "To talk to us using LINE, scan this QR code using the LINE app and send us a message.", "linkError": "An error occurred when attempting to generate a link for this channel. Please try again.", "linkChannelPageHeader": "Sync your conversation", "locationNotSupported": "Your browser does not support location services or it's been disabled. Please type your location instead.", "locationSecurityRestriction": "This website cannot access your location. Please type your location instead.", "locationSendingFailed": "Could not send location", "locationServicesDenied": "This website cannot access your location. Allow access in your settings or type your location instead.", "messageError": "An error occured while sending your message. Please try again.", "messageIndicatorTitlePlural": "({count}) New messages", "messageIndicatorTitleSingular": "({count}) New message", "messageRelativeTimeDay": "{value}d ago", "messageRelativeTimeHour": "{value}h ago", "messageRelativeTimeJustNow": "Just now", "messageRelativeTimeMinute": "{value}m ago", "messageTimestampFormat": "h:mm A", "messageDelivered": "Delivered", "messageSeen": "Seen", "messageSending": "Sending...", "messageTooLongError": "Max message size limit exceeded ({size}).", "messengerChannelDescription": "Connect your Facebook Messenger account to be notified when you get a reply and continue the conversation on Facebook Messenger.", "newConversationButtonText": "New Conversation", "notificationSettingsChannelsDescription": "Sync this conversation by connecting to your favorite messaging app to continue the conversation your way.", "notificationSettingsChannelsTitle": "Other Channels", "notificationSettingsConnected": "Connected", "notificationSettingsConnectedAs": "Connected as {username}", "prechatCaptureGreetingText": "Hi there 👋\nTo start off, we'd like to know a little bit more about you:", "prechatCaptureNameLabel": "Your name", "prechatCaptureNamePlaceholder": "Type your name...", "prechatCaptureEmailLabel": "Email", "prechatCaptureEmailPlaceholder": "name@company.com", "prechatCaptureConfirmationText": "Hi there! I’m the AI Nordbot here to assist you. How can I help you today?", "prechatCaptureMailgunLinkingConfirmation": "You'll be notified here and by email at {email} once we reply.", "sendButtonText": "Send", "settingsHeaderText": "Settings", "shareLocation": "Location", "smsBadRequestError": "We were unable to communicate with this number. Try again or use a different one.", "smsCancel": "Cancel", "smsChangeNumber": "Change my number", "smsChannelDescription": "Connect your SMS number to be notified when you get a reply and continue the conversation over SMS.", "smsChannelPendingDescription": "Check your messages at {number} to confirm your phone number.", "smsContinue": "Send", "smsInvalidNumberError": "Please submit a valid phone number.", "smsLinkCancelled": "Link to {appUserNumber} was cancelled.", "smsLinkPending": "Pending", "smsPingChannelError": "There was an error sending a message to your number.", "smsSendText": "Send me a text", "smsStartTexting": "Start Texting", "smsTooManyRequestsError": "A connection for that number was requested recently. Please try again in {minutes} minutes.", "smsTooManyRequestsOneMinuteError": "A connection for that number was requested recently. Please try again in 1 minute.", "smsUnhandledError": "Something went wrong. Please try again.", "syncConversation": "Sync conversation", "tapToRetry": "Message not delivered. Tap to retry.", "tapToRetryForm": "Form not submitted. Tap anywhere on the form to retry.", "telegramChannelDescription": "Connect your Telegram account to be notified when you get a reply and continue the conversation on Telegram", "unsupportedMessageType": "Unsupported message type.", "unsupportedActionType": "Unsupported action type.", "uploadDocument": "File", "uploadInvalidError": "Invalid file.", "uploadPhoto": "Image", "uploadVirusError": "A virus was detected in your file and it has been rejected", "viberChannelDescription": "Connect your Viber account to be notified when you get a reply and continue the conversation on Viber. To get started, scan the QR code using the Viber app.", "viberChannelDescriptionMobile": "Connect your Viber account to be notified when you get a reply and continue the conversation on Viber. To get started, install the Viber app and tap Connect.", "viberQRCodeError": "An error occurred while fetching your Viber QR code. Please try again.", "wechatChannelDescription": "Connect your WeChat account to be notified when you get a reply and continue the conversation on WeChat. To get started, scan this QR code using the WeChat app.", "wechatChannelDescriptionMobile": "Connect your WeChat account to be notified when you get a reply and continue the conversation on WeChat. To get started, save this QR code image and upload it QR code scanner.", "wechatQRCodeError": "An error occurred while fetching your WeChat QR code. Please try again.", "whatsappChannelDescriptionDesktop": "Sync your account to WhatsApp by scanning the QR code or clicking the link below.\nThen", "whatsappChannelDescriptionMobile": "Sync your account to WhatsApp by clicking the link below.\nThen", "whatsappLinkingError": "An error occurred while fetching your WhatsApp linking information. Please try again." }, "chatCustomScreenReaderAnnouncement": { "supportTyping": "{author} is typing", "supportSays": "{author} says:", "sentImage": "{author} sent an image", "sentFile": "{author} sent a file", "sentCarousel": "{author} sent a carousel", "sentLocation": "{author} sent a location" } }

I can’t connect to the VPN on macOS

Problem

Common symptoms

Troubleshooting steps

Additional tips

Related articles