Connect to NordVPN using Linux Terminal

Note: We have a separate set of instructions on how to set up the NordVPN application for Linux, and you can download NordVPN for Linux here.

Please note that since Linux has a lot of different distributions, the configuration interfaces may vary.

1. Open Terminal (keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Alt + T).
2. Disable IPV6.  Click here to learn how. 
3. Only after disabling IPV6, install the OpenVPN client by entering:
    
   • sudo apt-get install openvpn
     
     You may be asked to enter your user password to confirm your identity.
      
4. Navigate to the OpenVPN configuration directory with the command:
    
   • cd /etc/openvpn
      
5. Download the OpenVPN configuration files with the command:
    
   • sudo wget https://downloads.nordcdn.com/configs/archives/servers/ovpn.zip
     
     In case you get ERROR: The certificate of `nordvpn.com’ is not trusted., install the ca-certificates package with the command:
      
   • sudo apt-get install ca-certificates
      
6. If you do not have the unzip package installed, download it by typing:
    
   • sudo apt-get install unzip
      
7. Extract ovpn.zip with the command:
    
   • sudo unzip ovpn.zip
      
8. Remove the files you will no longer use:
    
   • sudo rm ovpn.zip
      
9. Enter the directory where the server configurations are located. These folders are named either ovpn_udp or ovpn_tcp:
    
   • cd /etc/openvpn/ovpn_udp/
   • cd /etc/openvpn/ovpn_tcp/
      
10. To see the list of all available servers, enter the following command:
     
    • ls -al
       
11. Choose a server to connect to.
    
    For this tutorial, we used us2957.nordvpn.com, but you should connect to the server suggested to you at the NordVPN server recommendation tool. You can find the server hostname right under the server title.

Follow the steps below to find the manual connection configuration files:

1. Log into your Nord Account, and click NordVPN.
   
   
    
2. Scroll down to Advanced Settings and click Set up NordVPN manually.
   
   
    
3. Select the OpenVPN configuration files tab.
   
    
4. Find the server you wish to connect to by using the Search bar or by scrolling down and download it by clicking Download UDP or Download TCP.
   
    
5. When connecting to OpenVPN & IKEv2 manually, you're going to need to use the Username and Password from the Service credential tab.
   

12. Start OpenVPN with a chosen configuration by entering one of the following commands:
     
    • sudo openvpn [file name]
    • sudo openvpn us2957.nordvpn.com.udp.ovpn
    • sudo openvpn /etc/openvpn/ovpn_udp/us2957.nordvpn.com.udp.ovpn
       
13. OpenVPN will ask you for your credentials. Enter your NordVPN service credentials.

14. You have successfully connected to VPN. To disconnect, open Terminal and press Ctrl + C on your keyboard.