My internet is slow when using VPN on Linux

Problem

Your internet is slow when connected to a VPN server on NordVPN’s Linux app. 

Common symptoms

• Your download and upload speed test results are lower than usual.
• Websites and streaming videos take longer than usual to load.

Troubleshooting steps

NOTE: Check your connection speed on speedtest.net after each step.
NOTE: It is possible to experience an increase in ping when connecting to a country far away from your physical location.

• If you used the “Quick Connect” button to connect to the VPN, try manually selecting and connecting to countries closest to your physical location instead.
• Change the VPN protocol:
  
  
  1. Open the NordVPN app.
  2. Click “Settings” on the left side of the app.
  3. Click “VPN connection.”
  4. Try connecting with all available protocols.
     
     
• Connect to an obfuscated server:
  NOTE: Obfuscation is only available with the OpenVPN protocol.
  
  
  1. Open the NordVPN app.
  2. Click “Settings” in the left-side column.
  3. Click “Security and privacy.”
  4. Enable “Obfuscation.”
  5. Click the “VPN” tab in the upper-right corner.
  6. Click “Specialty servers.” 
  7. Connect to an obfuscated server.
     
      
• Clean all firewall rules from your device by entering these commands into the terminal one by one:
  NOTE: Resetting the rules may affect DNS traffic.
  
  

  sudo iptables -F INPUT
  sudo iptables -F OUTPUT
  sudo iptables -P INPUT ACCEPT
  sudo iptables -P OUTPUT ACCEPT
  sudo iptables -F -t mangle
  sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

Additional tips

• If the issue appeared after you tried to connect to the same VPN server multiple times, wait a few minutes before attempting to connect again.
• Check if the issue occurs on other devices connected to the same network. If it does, try switching to a different network.
• Check your internet connection without connecting to the VPN.