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  3. Issues using the NordVPN app
  4. I can't launch the NordVPN app, or it crashes

Common Windows application issues

This article covers problems you may encounter when using NordVPN on Windows devices, including situations where NordVPN is not working on your Windows 10 device or you have no internet access with NordVPN on Windows 10.

Crash or freeze

If your NordVPN app keeps freezing, follow these steps:

  1. Uninstall the NordVPN application.
  2. Update your Windows operating system to the latest available version.
  3. Install the latest NordVPN app for Windows.

NordVPN Kill Switch feature does not work. 

If the Kill Switch feature fails to stop specific apps, you can manually add their executable files (.exe) to the Kill Switch list in the NordVPN app: 

  1. Go to settings:

    Group 8 (3).png
     
  2. Select Kill Switch:

    Group 9 (1).png
     
  3. Click on Add apps under App Kill Switch:

    Group 10 (1).png

     
  4. Select browse apps.
  5. Select the app’s executable file (in this example, we are using the NordVPN app):

    Group 11 (1).png

 

No internet access when connected to a NordVPN server

If you’re getting disconnected from the internet when you connect to a VPN server, try the following to fix the problem: 

  • Connect to a different VPN server in the NordVPN app.
  • Change your VPN connection protocol:
  1.  
    1. Switch to OpenVPN (UDP or TCP) 
    2. Switch to NordLynx
  • Turn off your other cybersecurity software (such as your antivirus and firewall) to check if it’s responsible for the issue. If the NordVPN app works after turning off other cybersecurity software, you may need to add exceptions for NordVPN files.
     
  • Perform a network flush:
  1.  
    1. Open the NordVPN application.
    2. Click on the question mark icon to reach the Help section.


       
    3. Click the Run diagnostics button to launch the NordVPN diagnostics application.



       
    4. Select reset network:

      Group 14.png
       
    5. Restart your PC and try connecting to VPN servers again.

If the problem persists, reinstall the NordVPN app:

  1. Uninstall the NordVPN application.
  2. Restart your device.
  3. Install the latest version of the NordVPN Windows app.

 

A particular feature of the application is not working properly

If you discover that a feature isn’t working as it should, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the question mark icon to reach the Help section.


     
  2. Click the Run diagnostics button to launch the NordVPN diagnostics application.


     
  3. Select reset app:

    Group 15.png
     
  4. Re-launch the application.

If the problem persists, try the following:

 

NordVPN is not working after an update.

If your NordVPN Windows application has stopped working after an update, try the following to fix the problem:

 

The NordVPN icon is missing

If the NordVPN application icon is missing from the NordVPN shortcut on your desktop, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click the broken NordVPN app icon and choose delete.
  2. Right-click on your desktop:
  3. Choose new.
  4. Select shortcut.
  5. Click browse and find the NordVPN directory:
  6. Select the NordVPN executable file (.exe).    
  7. Name the shortcut and click Finish.

Alternatively, you can try reinstalling the NordVPN Windows app:

  1. Uninstall the NordVPN application.
  2. Restart your device.
  3. Install the latest version of the NordVPN Windows app.
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