Introduction
In this article, you will learn how to connect to your NordVPN Dedicated Server on a Windows laptop or desktop device.
Before you start
Before connecting, make sure your Dedicated Server has been purchased and activated in your Nord Account. Activation might take a few minutes. Once the server status shows Active, you can initiate the connection on the application side.
Here's what to do
On Windows 10 and 11:
- Open the NordVPN application.
- Click your Dedicated server, pinned at the top of the recent connections list under the "Secure my connection" button.
Alternatively:
- Click "Search all locations" at the top.
- Click on the Dedicated servers section.
- Your server will be listed with the country flag, a Dedicated server icon, and the country and city name. Click it to connect.
You can also type your Dedicated server address directly into the search bar at the top to quickly find your server.
Once connected
- Your Dedicated server IP address and server type (Dedicated Server) will be displayed on the connection card.
- The connection uses the NordLynx protocol exclusively — no manual protocol selection is needed.
- You can connect up to 10 devices to your Dedicated Server simultaneously.
Setting your Dedicated Server as preferred connection
You can set your Dedicated Server as the default for Secure Connection and Auto-Connect:
- Open the NordVPN app and click the profile icon in the top-right corner, then click "Settings."
- Click "Connection and security."
- Under Preferred location, select your Dedicated Server from the list.
When set, the app will always connect to your Dedicated Server when you use Secure Connection or Auto-Connect.
Can't connect?
If the connection fails:
- Make sure your server status is Active in your Nord Account dashboard.
- If you see a "Too many sessions" error, disconnect one of your other devices and try again.
- Restart the NordVPN app and try again. If the issue persists, contact our support team.
