NordVPN Obfuscated Servers are getting an upgrade - what changed?

Introduction

In this article, you will learn how NordVPN is upgrading the Obfuscated Servers category to run on the NordWhisper protocol instead of OpenVPN. The Obfuscated category stays right where you expect it - it simply connects in a faster, more reliable way on restrictive networks.

What is NordWhisper?

NordWhisper is a NordVPN protocol designed specifically to help you connect to VPN servers from networks that usually limit or block traditional VPN traffic. It works by making your VPN traffic resemble regular web traffic, which helps it avoid detection by network filters and firewalls. With this upgrade, the Obfuscated Servers you already use are now powered by NordWhisper, giving you stronger obfuscation, faster speeds, and access to more server locations.

Why is NordVPN upgrading Obfuscated Servers to NordWhisper?

Previously, the Obfuscated Servers category relied on the OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) protocol to bypass VPN blocks. While effective, OpenVPN-based obfuscation could be slower and was limited to a smaller set of servers.

NordWhisper achieves the same goal - bypassing VPN blocks on restrictive networks - but does so more effectively. By moving the Obfuscated Servers category to NordWhisper, NordVPN delivers faster connection speeds, a wider choice of server locations, and improved reliability on networks where traditional protocols struggle.

How do I connect to a restrictive network now?

You connect the same way as before - select the Obfuscated Servers category and connect to any available server. Behind the scenes, NordWhisper now automatically bypasses the restrictions, so there's nothing extra you need to do.

What changed in my NordVPN app?

The Obfuscated Servers category looks and works the same in your server list - no design changes. The only difference is what powers it: instead of OpenVPN, the category now uses the NordWhisper protocol. As a result, being connected to the Obfuscated servers brings you faster speeds, more locations to choose from, and better reliability on restricted networks, with no changes to how you connect.

NOTE: This also means you will not be able to connect to our obfuscated servers via the OpenVPN manual connection method.

Additional tips

Check out our guide on using NordWhisper with NordVPN.
Not sure which protocol to use? See our guide on which NordVPN protocol you should choose.

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