Troubleshooting VPN connection in a country with internet restrictions

Problem

If you are located in a country that actively restricts internet or VPN traffic, you may experience difficulty connecting to NordVPN servers.

NOTE: We have different steps to follow if you are connecting from China.

Common symptoms

  • The app gets stuck on "Connecting" status.
  • You receive "Timed out" or "Server unreachable" error notifications.
  • Once the connection to the servers is established, you experience a no internet connection issue.

Troubleshooting

NOTE: Check if the issue is resolved after each step.

  1. Switch to the NordWhisper protocol.
    1. Open the NordVPN app.
    2. Tap or click your Profile icon.
    3. Go to "Settings".
    4. Select "Protocol".
    5. Choose "NordWhisper".
  2. Use Obfuscated servers.
    1. On the main screen, open "All locations".
    2. Select "Obfuscated".
    3. Connect to one of these servers, which are designed to bypass network firewalls.
      NOTE: If you do not see the obfuscated servers, make sure your protocol is set to Auto or NordWhisper. Obfuscated servers are not visible with other protocol selections.
  3. Switch to OpenVPN (TCP).
    1. Go to "Settings".
    2. Select "Protocol".
    3. Choose "OpenVPN (TCP)", which is more resilient against blocks than UDP.
  4. Perform a network reset on your device.
  5. Try a manual IKEv2. This method can bypass blocks that affect the main application, since it runs outside the standard app connection process.
    Set up a manual connection using the configuration guide for your platform:

Additional tips

  • Check if the issue persists on a different device connected to the same network.
  • Check if the issue persists when you switch to a different network entirely.
  • Keep your NordVPN app updated, since server and protocol support improves with newer versions.
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