I can’t connect from a country with internet restrictions

Problem

You can’t connect to NordVPN while being in a country with VPN restrictions, such as Egypt, Iran, and Russia, or a restrictive network environment.

Common symptoms

  • You get error notifications.
  • The app is stuck on the “Connecting” status.

Troubleshooting steps

NOTE: Make sure to check your connection after each step.

  • Use NordWhisper:
     
    1. In the NordVPN application, click on the cogwheel on the bottom left to open the settings.
      NOTE: For mobile devices, this is accessed by tapping the Profile button on the bottom right of the application.
    2. Click on “VPN protocol.”
    3. Change the protocol to “NordWhisper.”
       
  • Connect to obfuscated servers.
  • Connect via a manual connection:
     
    1. OpenVPN:
       
    2. IKEv2/IPsec:
       

Additional tips

  • Restart your device.
  • Reset your network either via the router or the device itself.
  • Check if the issue persists on different devices in the same network.
  • Check if the issue persists on other networks.
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