NordVPN: OpenVPN Connect FAQ Troubleshooting Guide
NordVPN: OpenVPN Connect FAQ Troubleshooting Guide
A common hurdle involves importing the NordVPN OpenVPN configuration files into OpenVPN Connect. First, ensure you've downloaded the correct .ovpn file corresponding to your desired server and protocol (UDP or TCP). NordVPN provides these files via their website; double-check you're using the most recent versions.
OpenVPN Connect can be picky about file formatting. Edit the .ovpn file using a text editor like Notepad++ (Windows) or Sublime Text (cross-platform). Verify the following:
Line Endings: Ensure line endings are in Unix format (LF) instead of Windows format (CRLF). Notepad++ allows you to change this via Edit -> EOL Conversion -> Unix (LF).
Certificate Blocks: The <cert> and <key> blocks, as well as any tls-auth or tls-crypt blocks, must be complete and correctly formatted. Missing BEGIN/END lines or corrupted keys will cause import failures.
Duplicate Entries: Remove any duplicate entries, especially remote directives. NordVPN configs usually have a single remote line pointing to the server.
If import fails repeatedly, try a simplified configuration. Create a minimal .ovpn file with only the essential directives:
client
dev tun
proto udpΒ # Or tcp
remote [nordvpn_server_address] 1194 # Or 443 for tcp
resolv-retry infinite
nobind
persist-key
persist-tun
remote-cert-tls server
auth-client-cert
<ca>
[CA CERTIFICATE CONTENT HERE]
</ca>
cipher AES-256-CBC
auth SHA512
verb 3
Replace [nordvpn_server_address] with the server address and [CA CERTIFICATE CONTENT HERE] with the contents of the <ca> block from a working configuration. Test this simplified configuration before adding more advanced options.
DNS leaks are a significant privacy concern when using any VPN, including NordVPN with OpenVPN Connect. OpenVPN Connect should automatically push DNS settings, but sometimes this fails.
Verify your DNS settings after connecting to NordVPN. On Windows, use ipconfig /all in the command prompt. On Linux, use resolvectl status or check /etc/resolv.conf. You should see NordVPN's DNS servers (typically in the 103.86.96.100 and 103.86.99.100 range) listed.
If your system isn't using NordVPN's DNS servers, manually configure them. In your OpenVPN Connect configuration file (.ovpn), add the following lines:
block-outside-dns
dhcp-option DNS 103.86.96.100
dhcp-option DNS 103.86.99.100
block-outside-dns (Windows only) prevents DNS requests from leaking outside the VPN tunnel if the VPN connection drops. The dhcp-option DNS lines specify the NordVPN DNS servers.
For Linux systems using systemd-resolved, edit /etc/systemd/resolved.conf and set DNS= to NordVPN's DNS servers. Restart systemd-resolved after making changes: sudo systemctl restart systemd-resolved.
Firewall rules can block OpenVPN Connect traffic, preventing successful connections to NordVPN. Ensure your firewall allows UDP or TCP traffic (depending on your OpenVPN configuration) on the port specified in the .ovpn file (typically 1194 for UDP and 443 for TCP).
If you're behind a restrictive firewall (e.g., in a corporate network), try using TCP port 443, as it's commonly open for HTTPS traffic. Modify the proto and remote lines in your .ovpn file accordingly.
NordVPN does not support port forwarding through their OpenVPN servers. Attempting to configure port forwarding will likely fail and might violate their terms of service. If you require port forwarding, consider alternative VPN providers or solutions.
OpenVPN performance can vary depending on several factors. Experiment with different cipher and compression settings in your .ovpn file.
Cipher: While AES-256-CBC is secure, it can be CPU-intensive. Try AES-128-CBC or AES-128-GCM for potentially better performance. GCM is generally preferred if your OpenVPN version supports it.
Compression: lzo compression was previously common, but is now considered less secure. Disable it with compress lzo no or compress off. Modern OpenVPN versions can use --compress lz4, which offers a good balance of speed and compression.
UDP vs. TCP: UDP generally provides better performance than TCP due to lower overhead. However, TCP might be more reliable in environments with packet loss or network congestion. Test both protocols to see which works best for you.
MTU: Adjust the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) to avoid fragmentation. Start with a value of 1400 and decrease it if you experience connectivity issues. Add fragment 1300 and mssfix 1300 to your .ovpn file.