Introduction
In this article, you will learn how to start a wireless or wired Windows hotspot and share a NordVPN connection to devices connected to it. This is an ideal solution for providing VPN protection to devices that do not support native VPN apps.
Before you start
A VPN connection using a third-party OpenVPN service cannot be established if the NordVPN app is installed. If the NordVPN app is installed, the TUN/TAP interface will not initialize, and the connection attempt will fail.
Here's what to do:
Windows 10/11 mobile hotspot
NOTE: A mobile hotspot will not work with the NordLynx protocol. Please enable OpenVPN UDP or OpenVPN TCP instead.
- Open the NordVPN app and change the protocol to OpenVPN (TCP) or OpenVPN (UDP) in the settings.
- Use the Windows search and type "Settings."
- Open the Settings app and click "Network & Internet."
- Click "Mobile hotspot."
- Select the button near Share over and set it to "Wi-Fi."
- Turn on "Mobile hotspot."
- Go back to "Network & Internet."
- Scroll down to the "OpenVPN Data Channel Offload for NordVPN" adapter.
NOTE: If this guide does not work, try using the "TAP-NORDVPN" adapter. - Click "Edit" near more adapter settings.
- Click "Sharing."
- Check the checkbox "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection."
- Select your newly created hotspot from the dropdown menu. Most of the time, it will be named "Local area connection."
- Connect to the hotspot with the device that you would like to connect to NordVPN, and connect to a NordVPN server.
Setting up Nord Account credentials
If you are manually configuring a connection, you will need your service credentials from the Nord Account dashboard.
- Log in to your Nord Account.
- Navigate to the NordVPN section on the left and click "Manual setup."
- Under the "Service credentials" tab, you will find your username and password. Use these instead of your regular email and password for manual setups.
- Under the "Server recommendation" tab, you can find the best server for your location.
- If you are happy with the recommended server, simply note the server hostname provided.
- In case you wish to select a specific server, use the country dropdown menu to filter by location.
NOTE: The "Security protocol" filter is no longer present in the current version.
Windows 7/8.1/10
NOTE: Recent Intel Wireless Adapters don’t support the wireless hosted network feature on Windows 10. For more information, visit Intel's support page.
- Connect your Windows PC to your network via Wi-Fi.
- Change the protocol to OpenVPN TCP or OpenVPN UDP in the NordVPN app.
- Search "Command Prompt" in the Windows Search bar, right-click it to run as administrator.
- In Command Prompt, type the following:
netsh wlan show drivers
If the "hosted network supported" line says "no," look for a newer version of your adapter drivers and install them.
- Type in the following command:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=NetworkName key=NetworkPassword
- To activate this virtual network, type:
netsh wlan start hostednetwork
If you get the message "The hosted network couldn't be started. The group or resource is not in the correct state to perform the requested operation" after performing "netsh wlan start hostednetwork," try the following:
- Press the Windows key + R.
- Type:
mmc devmgmt.msc
- Once the device manager is open, navigate to "Network Adapters" and right-click "Microsoft Hosted Network Virtual Adapter."
- Select "Enable."
- Type the following command again:
netsh wlan start hostednetwork
- Right-click the network icon in the system tray and click "Open the Network and Sharing Center."
- Click "Change Adapter Settings."
- Right-click the "TAP-NordVPN Windows Adapter V9" adapter.
- Select "Properties."
- Click "Sharing."
- Check the checkbox "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection."
- Select your newly created hotspot from the dropdown menu. Most of the time, it will be named "Local area connection."
- Connect to the hotspot with the device that you would like to connect to NordVPN, and connect to a NordVPN server.
- To check the status of your virtual adapter, type the following:
netsh wlan show hostednetwork
To stop the virtual interface, type:
netsh wlan stop hostednetwork
After completing the steps, your NordVPN connection will be successfully shared via Wi-Fi.
Sharing a NordVPN connection through an Ethernet cable
NOTE: If you're using an Ethernet cable to connect your PC to the network, you'll need a second Ethernet port to share your NordVPN connection with another device.
Laptops should connect to the network via Wi-Fi, leaving their Ethernet port free for the device without the NordVPN connection.
- Open the network and sharing center by right-clicking the network icon in the system tray.
- Click "Open Network & Internet settings."
- Click "Change adapter options."
- There should be at least three interfaces:
- Your internet connection.
- The interface you will use to connect the device without a NordVPN connection.
- The NordVPN app uses the TAP adapter to establish a NordVPN connection.
- Right-click the "OpenVPN Data Channel Offload for NordVPN" adapter.
NOTE: If this guide does not work, try using the "TAP-NORDVPN" adapter. - Click "Properties."
- Open the "Sharing" tab.
- Tick "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection."
- Choose the network interface that you will share the connection with.
- Click "OK."
- Switch to the UDP or TCP protocol in the NordVPN app.
- Connect the desired device to your PC using an Ethernet cable.
- Once you see the Ethernet interface trying to identify the connection, connect to NordVPN using the NordVPN app.
Once you have followed these steps, the NordVPN connection will be shared with the device.
Additional tips
- After completing these steps, test the connection on the connected device using the NordVPN DNS Leak Test.
- Ensure that all connected devices are successfully using the shared VPN connection by checking their IP address.
