How to log in to NordVPN without a GUI using a token

We offer .deb and .rpm packages compatible with Debian 11 or newer, Ubuntu 20.04 or newer, Linux Mint 21 or newer, Raspberry PI OS, and Fedora 32 or newer systems. Community-supported distributions may also work, but there is limited troubleshooting regarding distribution-specific issues. Moreover, we support GNOME and KDE desktop environments. 

Additionally, NordVPN Linux applications have multiple ways to log in, one of which is via a token generated from NordAccount. In this article, you will learn how to use a token to log in and log out of the NordVPN app on a Linux machine without a graphical user interface, and what to do if you lose your token.

Note: This login method is also suitable for headless (no GUI) devices.

Logging in

If you need an alternative way to log in to the Linux application, use the following command:

nordvpn login --token <token>

You’ll need to access the token number to use this login method.

To access the token:

  1. Login to Nord Account:

    Nord Account log in page with username or email address field and Continue button
  2. Click on NordVPN:

    Nord Account Services page with NordVPN selected and highlighted in the left sidebar
     
  3. Scroll down until you see the advanced settings tab. Click get access token:

    Nord Account Advanced settings section with 'Get Access token' link highlighted
     
  4. Verify your email by entering a code you receive to your registered e-mail.

    Nord Account 'Verify your email' screen with a six-digit verification code input field
     
  5. Click on generate new token tab.

    Nord Account Access token page with 'Generate new token' button highlighted

    You will be given two options: 
  • Create a temporary token, which will expire after 30 days.
  • Create a token which will not expire. We recommend enabling MFA if you choose this option.

    Generate new token dialog showing options to set the token to expire in 30 days or never expire, with Generate token button
  1. Click on Generate token.

    Generate new token dialog with the 'Generate token' button highlighted
     
  2. A window with a token number will pop up.
    Please note that the token number will only be shown once. Make sure you log in before you close the window.

    Copy access token dialog displaying the one-time token value with a 'Copy and close' button
     
  3. Once you copy the token number, paste it into the command:
nordvpn login --token your_token

Logging out

  • If you log out by using nordvpn logout command line, your token will expire, regardless of which token you created, and you won’t be able to log in again using it:

    Terminal showing nordvpn logout followed by nordvpn login --token with an invalid token error message
     
  • If you want to re-use your token and do not want it to expire, use the nordvpn logout --persist-token command line:

    Terminal showing nordvpn login --token succeeding, then nordvpn logout --persist-token, then re-login succeeding

What if the token number for NordVPN expires?

If you lost your token number for NordVPN, or it expired, revoke your token by clicking the Revoke button:

Nord Account Access token page showing an existing token entry with a 'Revoke' button highlighted

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