Complete NordVPN Reviews: How to Use NordVPN on All Devices in 2026

How to Use NordVPN on All Devices in 2026, t’s finally time for the ultimate NordVPN tutorial! I’m going to cover all operating systems and browser extensions in one article . There’s going to be a lot of wholesome handholding, straightforward explanations, and clear guidelines. This is the only step-by-step NordVPN tutorial you’ll ever need. Let’s jump in!

Getting Started with NordVPN Subscription

Before we learn how to use NordVPN, you need to get a NordVPN subscription. The best way is to use the discount link in the description or the QR code on the screen. That’ll chop some of the price off the top. There are three NordVPN subscription plans for your consideration:

• Basic: Includes all VPN features and a light version of the Threat Protection feature.
• Plus: Offers full protection against malicious links, websites, or files.
• Ultimate: A big bundle including everything from previous plans, plus NordPass password manager, NordLocker encrypted cloud storage, and identity protection tools with included identity theft insurance.The Best VPNs for Android Reviews 2026.

In my experience, the Plus plan is the most convenient one. You won’t have to worry about additional security like with the Basic plan or manage multiple apps like with the Ultimate. That said, if you want a password manager and encrypted storage, it’s hard to find a better value bundle than the Ultimate plan.

Once you’ve chosen the plan, finalize your purchase by filling out the form with payment details and your email address. Congratulations, now you have an account! The next step is app installation, and I’ll cover it separately for each operating system.

NordVPN on Windows

Windows users, rejoice! I’ll begin with teaching you how to use NordVPN first. Installation on Windows is as straightforward as ever.

Installation

1. Make sure you download the app from the official NordVPN website, the same one where you registered your account.
2. After you download the .exe installation file, run it and follow the installation steps. There isn’t much to set up here, so once the installation is finished, let’s just move on.

Logging In

Once you open the app for the very first time, you’ll have an option to log in or sign up. Since you’ve already signed up, you can use the account you created earlier to log in. The login process is going to happen in the browser. This is totally normal; don’t panic. NordVPN uses this for additional security. Once you’ve input your login details on the website, you’ll be returned to the app.

Dashboard Overview

Let’s start with the NordVPN Windows tutorial for real with the main app screen, aka the dashboard. A few points of interest here:

• Top Right: Statistics on your connection times with and without VPN.
• Threat Protection: A feature responsible for filtering out ads, trackers, malicious files, and even app vulnerabilities.
• MeshNet: A feature for secure and private file sharing with other NordVPN users. MeshNet is actually free, so if you need to send files securely to another user, they can download the same app for free and use MeshNet to receive your files.
• VPN Connection: The most important part is on the left. You can see it’s currently not connected, but not for long. You can easily click Quick Connect to have NordVPN automatically choose the best server for you.

Connecting to a Server

How does Quick Connect work? NordVPN will check your current location and determine the server with the best performance close to you. Connecting to it ensures your security thanks to encryption while swapping your IP address for privacy. If that’s all you need, Quick Connect is a very handy button to have.

Alternatively, you can:

• Use the alphabetical list of countries on the left.
• Click on the second icon from the top on the left navigation tab to access a graphical map interface. There are a lot of countries and servers to choose from here. Using the map, you can connect to a specific country in one click. Plus, I find it useful that I can see the distance with my own eyes, which helps to predict how fast the connection is going to be.

If you use the list on the left, the result is going to be the same, so don’t hesitate to use whichever method you prefer. After you’ve connected to the server for the first time, it’s going to get added under the Recent Connections drop-down menu. It holds only three latest connections for you, though, so if you keep hopping between countries, you’ll have to use the country list again eventually.

To disconnect, the little power button on the top left will do that for you. Right next to it, you can also choose to reconnect if you’re experiencing connection issues or even pause if you need to do something without a VPN for a while.

Settings Menu

For specialty servers, I’ll explain them right after covering some of the settings. To start, the cog wheel button on the bottom left will lead us to learning how NordVPN works. Go ahead and click it.

General Tab

• Launching the App at Windows Startup and Launching Minimized: These are rather straightforward. I have both disabled since I already have way too many auto-launch apps, but if you plan to use NordVPN every day, this is a good setting to enable.
• MeshNet Integration: Allows you to right-click on any file on your device and see an option to securely send it with MeshNet right away. Entirely a convenience feature; you can disable it and still use MeshNet manually.
• Allow Background Processes: I advise keeping this on since if you disable it, you won’t be able to stay connected or use certain features after closing the app, and this could jeopardize your security.

Connection Tab

• VPN Protocol: Governs how fast and how secure your connection is going to be. OpenVPN is a bit older, so it’s slower but uses a golden encryption standard. NordLynx is the fastest protocol on the market right now, and the encryption is very strong as well. You can leave it on Auto and have NordVPN use the appropriate protocol automatically.
• Auto-Connect: Choose in referees which cases to auto-connect to the VPN. For me, it makes total sense to use VPNs on all Wi-Fi networks. You can specify which server type and location to use for this automatic connection. You can also set a trusted Wi-Fi network where auto-connect won’t trigger, meaning you won’t be connected to a VPN at all.
• Background Processes: If enabled, you can keep the VPN connection running even after closing the app, as long as this setting is activated.

Kill Switch

Don’t be scared; the only thing this switch is killing is your internet access, and only if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. This protects your real IP address from leaking out and your location from being exposed online. Additionally, you can select apps that are going to quit automatically once the kill switch triggers, for instance, torrenting or file-sharing apps.

Split Tunneling

This feature is simple. It lets you disable or enable a VPN connection only for specific apps. So, let’s say you want to browse from your usual location, but your streaming app requires a different one. In this case, just set your app to use a VPN and keep browsing locally at the same time.

Profile Tab

This one is mostly straightforward. That’s where you can check the details of your subscription, manage your password, enable multifactor authentication for additional security, or connect additional devices to your account, desktop or mobile.

Specialty Servers

Back to the servers tab, it’s time to talk about specialty servers:

• Dedicated IP: An extra feature for a small monthly price. You can set a stable IP address that will belong only to you. Considering that ISPs often blacklist IP addresses used by a lot of people, this is a way to get a more stable connection.
• Double VPN: A security option that chains two servers together, essentially doubling your security and privacy, making the connection significantly harder to track but also a little bit slower.
• Obfuscated Servers: Important when you don’t want anyone to know you’re using a VPN. For instance, some ISPs tend to throttle or even terminate the connection if they detect VPN traffic. VPNs could also be completely banned in some countries, but obfuscated servers will prevent you from getting in trouble in both options.
• Onion over VPN: A rare option that pairs the NordVPN server connection with the Onion Router (also known as Tor). This is similar to Double VPN, just even more private due to the security nature of Tor, but such a connection is going to be very slow.
• P2P Servers: For torrenting. They don’t cover all the same countries but boast better connectivity and speeds. It’s a decent compromise.

Threat Protection

Finally, I am finished with this menu, so let’s click on the next tab to the left: the Threat Protection tab. As I briefly mentioned before, Threat Protection filters out trackers, ads, and malware online, so it’s like a mini antivirus built into the app, which is something only a few of the best VPN options can offer. Here’s a breakdown:

• Web Protection: Responsible for weeding out ads and trackers.
• File Protection: Scans each file you download in real-time and deletes them if they contain malware. You’ll get notified if that happens, but it won’t do anything against threats already on your PC.
• Vulnerability Detection: Scans the apps you use for reported vulnerabilities and patches them. These checks happen multiple times per day, but you can run one of your own at any moment.

MeshNet

Next is the MeshNet tab. I mentioned it briefly at the start, so let me refresh your memory. MeshNet is a tool for sending and receiving files securely, with the only caveat that both sides have to have a NordVPN app. You can use this feature through the app even without a subscription, and there are no size restrictions or loss in quality over transfer. It’s a very convenient feature.

The next tab is also for MeshNet, but the other half of it. Besides simply sharing files, you can reach a different device through the encrypted connection. This will essentially become an encrypted LAN network that can be used for work, games, or other entertainment. That’s up to you.

Dark Web Monitor

One last tab is the Dark Web Monitor. This is an important feature as it can detect if there are any leaks associated with your email address. So, it’s handy to know whether or not some of your accounts are breached, and Dark Web Monitor will send out a notification if it detects a data leak.

Customer Support

If you get any issues with NordVPN, this small bubble logo above the settings cog wheel is where you can report a problem or share feedback with the developers.

NordVPN Browser Extension

This concludes the NordVPN Windows tutorial, but I’m not completely done with this operating system since I will use it to showcase the NordVPN browser extension. If you don’t want to install the standalone app, an extension is the way to go. But first, let’s keep one thing in mind: it works as a proxy, meaning that you only get browser-level encryption, unlike the one inside the app. For security’s sake, chances are you should stick to the app, but I know that a lot of people use the extension for streaming or casual browsing.

It works on all mainstream browsers; you just need to install the extension through the dedicated store. Taking the Chrome extension as an example, you’ll see it in the upper right corner. If you have other extensions, you might need to look for the NordVPN under that puzzle icon.

Once you log into your extension, you’re going to notice how small this user interface is. Despite that, the main menu is as useful as in the app. You can either use the Quick Connect button to automatically connect to the best server nearby or choose from the country list. Clicking on any location instantly connects me to it, updating my information in real-time as well. Just like in the app, there’s an option to disconnect, reconnect, or pause the connection.

Not everything is identical. You’re not going to find as many features in the settings. Starting with the general tab, there are only options to change appearance, language, or log out. No protocol choice since it’s a proxy. Still, there is a way to configure the kill switch just like the main app, so you can be sure that your information is not leaked in case of VPN disruption.

It’s still possible to enable auto-connect on browser start, and the split tunneling is there to exclude certain websites from the VPN connection. Streaming platforms are a great option to use this feature, or alternatively, choose websites that don’t need the VPN treatment.

Notably, the Threat Protection feature in the NordVPN browser extension is downgraded to the light version. Despite that, it still blocks all the same ads and trackers; only malware files are no longer scanned on download, but it will still warn me if I try to visit a possible malicious website. You also have to be connected to the VPN server for the feature to work. There are additional tabs allowing me to receive notifications or contact customer service.

NordVPN on Mac

It’s time for the NordVPN Mac tutorial to begin. Keep in mind that you can choose between two different NordVPN apps: one from the provider’s website and the other from the App Store. They have minor differences, which I will point out, but for now, the important part is the installation. The App Store version needs a single click, while for the website version, manual installation is required.

Installation and Login

After you install the app, go ahead and log in. Once you input your account and password, I’m ready to proceed.

Main Menu

Welcome to the main menu. Here, you can choose a server to connect to. The easiest option is to use Quick Connect. This button is going to hook you up with the optimal server, meaning the fastest, closest server to you specifically. While this is the easiest way to use NordVPN on Mac, nothing is stopping you from finding a server from the list, and there are a lot to choose from. The graphical map interface is also here, so you can pick a server from that, giving a good distance perspective.

Once you’ve connected to a server, NordVPN will automatically tell you where you’ve connected to, as well as the IP address. If you click on this part at the top, the little power button terminates the connection, and the one next to it pauses the connection. After you’ve connected to any server at least once, it will show up under the Recent Servers tab, so you won’t have to look for it the next time.

Presets Feature

Right after that tab, I can see why the macOS NordVPN app is different from the Windows app: the Presets feature. With presets, I can set up a VPN connection with the settings I need. For instance, I’ll create a new preset here, choose a name, set a protocol (more on that later), and choose the server I need, let’s say Japan for now.

All that’s left to do is add a link to the website; let’s put a certain streaming platform here. Now, once I click this new preset I’ve just created, I’m automatically connected, and this tiny button on the side opens the website that I’ve chosen.

Specialty Servers

Besides presets, you can see specialty servers in this tab. These are the same servers that I’ve covered in the Windows part, but if you want a quick overview:

• P2P Servers: For torrenting.
• Obfuscated Servers: Bypass censorship and VPN restrictions.
• Double VPN and Onion over VPN: Add additional stops for your connection for extra security at the cost of performance.

Settings Menu

Now, time for the NordVPN Mac tutorial to get to the settings menu. This cog wheel button on the bottom left will take you there. Compared to the Windows UI, some features are structured differently, so let’s take a look.

General Tab

• There’s an option to enable startup launch.
• Choosing the tunneling protocol is right there as well. Automatic is fine, but you can always just set it to NordLynx for the fastest performance.

Threat Protection

Remember how I’ve said that NordVPN on Mac has two different apps? This is where the differences start appearing. In the App Store version, the Threat Protection Lite tab barely has anything to configure. This feature blocks ads, trackers, and malicious links but only when you’re connected to the VPN. In the website app, Threat Protection is at full capacity, allowing it to also block malware in downloads. You can also see the statistics and adjust usage, the classic stuff.

Auto-Connect

Auto-connect on Mac has a separate tab here. You can set up trusted networks where VPN will not activate automatically. For any other network, auto-connect will kick in, connecting to a specific server you choose in the same tab. Absolutely vital if you find yourself on public Wi-Fi a bit too often.

Kill Switch

When configuring the kill switch, I’ll run into app differences once again. The website version has an app-based kill switch that only disables internet connection for specific apps if the VPN connection breaks. The App Store version is system-wide instead, so it’ll disable the internet completely.

MeshNet

Another feature worth mentioning is MeshNet. Not long ago, it was only used to create secure LAN connections between multiple devices with NordVPN installed, but today, there’s also an additional feature of secure file transfer through MeshNet without any limits on file size. Furthermore, the feature is free, so you don’t even need a subscription to use it, and the feature is mostly straightforward to use.

Customer Support

These two buttons right here are for showing more detailed VPN statistics and contacting customer support if you have any troubles. The NordVPN live chat replies almost instantly, but I kind of like to browse the knowledge base for the solutions as well. It’s full of useful info.

NordVPN on Mobile (iOS and Android)

And now I welcome those who skipped everything else to get to the NordVPN mobile tutorial because here it is. I’m going to cover both iOS and Android apps together for a very simple reason: they are almost identical. I’ll point out a few differences as I go, such as the download process. NordVPN on iOS is downloaded through the Apple App Store, while on Android, you’ll get the app from the Google Play Store. One click for installation in both cases, though.

Keep in mind you can buy NordVPN’s subscription from inside the mobile apps, but it’s going to be more expensive than if you do that from the link in the description below or use this QR code that you see on the screen.

Installation and Login

Once you finish installation, tap the icon and log in with your account.

Main Menu

Welcome to the main page of the NordVPN mobile app. The first thing catching my eye here is the Quick Connect button. Tapping it is going to connect you to the closest server with the best performance automatically. If you tap right here, you can immediately disconnect when needed. You can also notice that there’s a green line signifying your connection and this button with a circular arrow for reconnecting, useful if you have a connection issue.

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No need to use the Quick Connect, though. If you tap here, you can either use the map or the scroll-down menu to look for the country that you need. There are a lot to choose from, though, so I recommend using the search feature.

Settings Menu

But how can you configure your connection? The answer lies in the settings section. Compared to the desktop apps, settings are all in one place here; no need to look through separate tabs.

Tunneling Protocol

To begin with, tunneling protocol: just like I mentioned earlier, automatic is totally fine to keep because it’s going to default to NordLynx in most cases anyway, but you can also set it to use NordLynx at all times as well since it has the best performance.

Split Tunneling

Split tunneling is a bit less effective on mobile devices in my opinion. First of all, it’s completely missing from the iOS apps because Apple is a party pooper. Secondly, even on Android, there’s very little use for this feature. Sure, you could try to exclude delivery apps and such from your VPN connection, but most of the apps that worry about your location use GPS to locate you, which is not affected by a VPN.

Read more: Proton VPN Worth It in 2025? Privacy and Performance

Local Network Discovery

Just like split tunneling, local network discovery is also an Android-only feature. If you enable it, this lets you connect to devices like printers, TVs, Bluetooth speakers, and so on, despite using a VPN connection.

Auto-Connect

Moving on, auto-connect: this feature is located differently in the iOS and Android apps, so just focus on the screen here to find exactly where it is on each phone type. As for functionality, I think it’s self-explanatory here. You can specify on which networks to auto-connect to a VPN server of your choice. Useful, really useful when you end up using a lot of public Wi-Fi.

Custom DNS

I’ll skip over custom DNS here since it’s a very advanced configuration. My rule for those: only use them if you 100% know you need them, and for most people, including me, this is overkill.

Threat Protection

Don’t skip Threat Protection, though. This feature blocks ads, trackers, and malicious websites when enabled. Now, compared to the same feature of the desktop, it only works when you’re connected to the VPN, and it can’t remove malware in your downloads, but a built-in ad blocker, hey, that’s nothing to scoff at.

Kill Switch

The kill switch is one of the most important features. Enabling prevents any leaks in case of VPN disconnection.

Dark Web Monitor

Dark Web Monitor is also a feature that looks for data leaks, just the ones that occur from websites, and you can’t do anything about except change your password and details once you’re notified about the breach.

Specialty Servers

They’re exactly the same as on desktop devices. P2P servers are for torrenting, obfuscated bypass censorship and VPN restrictions, and Double VPN with Onion over VPN add additional stops for your connection for extra security at the cost of performance.

MeshNet on Mobile

Previously, MeshNet was not very useful on mobiles since you rarely want to establish LAN networks with your phone, but now that it can transfer files, it becomes a useful tool for secure information sharing. Notably, that part still doesn’t work on iOS as it still lacks a file manager. Seriously, Apple, it’s been decades.

iOS Exclusive: Siri Shortcuts

But I’ll give iOS credit where it’s due. Siri Shortcuts are a pretty useful exclusive feature. No need to open the app and connect to a server; you can ask Siri to do that for you. Ah, it’s a future without file management on iOS, but hey, it is what it is.

Final Thoughts

I hope you managed to get through this very long NordVPN tutorial and learn how to use NordVPN. Remember, practice makes perfect, though, so grab the discount from this QR code or the description to get a NordVPN subscription with a massive discount. You can also go ahead and watch this article you see on the screen. Tons of best VPN review article and tutorials await you on my channel, so definitely check those out. I even do some infotainment content now, so maybe that’ll strike your fancy.