How to Install NordVPN on Any Device (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)

You just subscribed to NordVPN and now you’re staring at a dashboard wondering where to start. Knowing how to install NordVPN on one device is simple enough — but what about your phone, your TV, your router, or your game console? The official help center sends you to a dozen different pages, and half of them assume you already know what you’re doing.

This guide cuts through all of that. Every platform NordVPN supports is covered here, in one place, with numbered steps you can follow right now. From a Windows .exe to a Fire Stick app to a manual router config, you’ll find exactly what you need below. If you want a deeper look at the service itself, read our full NordVPN review first.

NordVPN supports up to 10 simultaneous connections per subscription. That means you can protect your laptop, phone, tablet, and partner’s devices all on one account. The install process takes under two minutes on most platforms.

One account. Every device. Let’s get everything set up.

Before You Begin: Create Your NordVPN Account

Before you install NordVPN on any device, you need an active subscription. Here’s how to get set up in under five minutes.

1. Go to nordvpn.com and click Get NordVPN. You’ll see three plans: Basic, Complete, and Prime. Basic covers the full VPN. Complete adds Threat Protection Pro, NordPass, and 1 TB of cloud storage. Prime adds identity theft insurance (US only). The 2-year plan starts from around $3.49/month — check the live pricing page for the current rate, as promotional prices change frequently.
2. Pick a plan and click Continue. You’ll be prompted to enter your email address. This becomes your NordVPN account login.
3. Choose a payment method. NordVPN accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and cryptocurrency. If privacy matters, paying with Bitcoin or Monero removes the identity-to-payment link.
4. Check your inbox for a verification email from NordVPN. Click the link to verify your address and activate your account.
5. Access your Nord Account at my.nordaccount.com. This dashboard shows all your active subscriptions, connected devices, and download links. Bookmark it — you’ll return here to manage your account.

Once your account is active, you’re ready to install on any device. Head to the section below that matches your platform.

Install NordVPN on Windows 10 & 11

NordVPN has a native Windows app that works on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Installation takes about two minutes. You have two options: download NordVPN from the NordVPN website or install via the Microsoft Store.

Option A: Install from nordvpn.com (Recommended)

1. Open your browser and go to nordvpn.com/download. Click Download NordVPN under the Windows section. This downloads a file called NordVPNSetup.exe.
2. Once the download finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click NordVPNSetup.exe.
3. Windows will show a User Account Control prompt asking if you want to allow the app to make changes to your device. Click Yes.
4. The installer will run automatically. It creates a desktop shortcut and a Start menu entry by default. NordVPN launches automatically once installation completes.
5. Click Sign In and enter your NordVPN account email and password.
6. Once logged in, click Quick Connect. NordVPN picks the fastest server automatically and connects within seconds. You’ll see a green shield icon in your taskbar confirming the connection is active.

Option B: Install from Microsoft Store

1. Open the Microsoft Store from the Start menu.
2. Search for NordVPN and click Install.
3. Once installed, open the app and sign in with your NordVPN credentials.

Both installation methods deliver the same app. The website version is often slightly more up to date, so it’s the preferred choice.

How to Install NordVPN on Mac

NordVPN supports macOS 12 Monterey and newer. As with Windows, you can install either from the website or the Mac App Store.

Option A: Install from nordvpn.com (Recommended for Full Features)

1. Go to nordvpn.com/download and click Download NordVPN under the macOS section. This downloads a .dmg file.
2. Open the .dmg file and drag the NordVPN icon into your Applications folder.
3. Open Applications and double-click NordVPN. macOS may show a security prompt — click Open to confirm.
4. Sign in with your NordVPN email and password.
5. macOS will ask for permission to add a VPN configuration. Click Allow. You may need to enter your Mac login password to approve this.
6. Click Quick Connect to connect to the nearest fast server.

Option B: Install from Mac App Store

1. Open the Mac App Store and search for NordVPN.
2. Click Get then Install. You may need to enter your Apple ID password.
3. Once installed, open NordVPN from your Applications folder and sign in.

Install NordVPN on iPhone & iPad (iOS Setup)

NordVPN requires iOS 16.0 or later on iPhone and iPadOS 16.0 or later on iPad. Installation is straightforward through the App Store. If you want to compare the top mobile VPN options before committing, see our best mobile VPN apps guide.

1. Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the Search tab and type NordVPN. Tap the official NordVPN app (blue shield logo).
3. Tap Get then confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple ID password. The app downloads and installs automatically.
4. Open NordVPN from your home screen. Tap Sign In and enter your account email and password. Alternatively, tap Log in with Nord Account if you want to authenticate via a browser link.
5. NordVPN will ask for permission to add a VPN configuration to your iPhone. Tap Allow. You’ll see a VPN icon appear in your status bar when connected.
6. Tap Quick Connect to connect instantly, or scroll the country list to pick a specific server location.

How to Install NordVPN on Android

NordVPN supports Android 8.0 and above. The Android app is one of the most feature-complete versions NordVPN offers — including split tunneling, which isn’t available on iOS or macOS.

Install via Google Play Store

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Android phone or tablet.
2. Search for NordVPN and tap the official result (blue shield logo, by Nord Security).
3. Tap Install. The app downloads and installs in under a minute.
4. Open NordVPN and tap Sign In. Enter your account credentials. If you’re new, you can also sign up here.
5. NordVPN will request permission to set up a VPN connection. Tap OK to allow this.
6. Tap Quick Connect to connect to the fastest available server. The key icon in your status bar confirms the VPN is active.

APK Sideload Option (for non-Play Store devices)

If your Android device doesn’t have access to the Google Play Store (some tablets, TV boxes, or devices from certain regions), you can install NordVPN via APK sideloading. Go to nordvpn.com/download, scroll to the Android section, and download the APK file directly. You’ll need to enable Install from unknown sources in your device’s security settings before the APK will install. This method gives you the same full app — no functionality is removed.

How to Install NordVPN on Linux

NordVPN added a full graphical user interface (GUI) for Linux in 2026 — a major upgrade over the CLI-only approach that previously required terminal commands for every action. Both the GUI and CLI are still supported.

Supported distributions include Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Elementary OS, and RPM-based systems (Fedora, CentOS, RHEL, openSUSE).

Install on Debian / Ubuntu / Linux Mint (apt-based)

1. Open a Terminal window.
2. Add the NordVPN repository by running the installation script. Go to nordvpn.com/download → Linux → and follow the instructions to add the NordVPN apt repository and import the signing key. NordVPN’s official support page at support.nordvpn.com has the exact current commands — always use the official source to get the right version.
3. Run sudo apt update to refresh your package list.
4. Run sudo apt install nordvpn to install the package.
5. To launch the GUI, open NordVPN from your application menu (on distributions with a desktop environment). To use the CLI, open a terminal.
6. Log in with your Nord Account credentials using either the GUI or by typing nordvpn login in the terminal and following the browser-based authentication flow.
7. Connect with nordvpn connect for the fastest server, or nordvpn connect US to connect to a US server. To disconnect, run nordvpn disconnect.

Install on Fedora / CentOS / RHEL (rpm-based)

1. Go to nordvpn.com/download → Linux → and select the RPM package option.
2. Download the .rpm installer file.
3. Install using sudo dnf install nordvpn-[version].rpm (adjust the filename to match the downloaded file).
4. Log in and connect as described above.

Useful CLI Commands

How to Install the NordVPN Browser Extension

NordVPN offers extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. These are available in each browser’s respective extension store and take under a minute to install.

Chrome

1. Open Chrome and go to the Chrome Web Store.
2. Search for NordVPN and click on the official extension (by Nord Security).
3. Click Add to Chrome then Add extension to confirm.
4. The NordVPN icon appears in your Chrome toolbar. Click it and sign in.

Firefox

1. Open Firefox and go to addons.mozilla.org.
2. Search for NordVPN and click Add to Firefox.
3. Click Add at the permission prompt. Sign in once installed.

Microsoft Edge

1. Open Edge and go to the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store.
2. Search for NordVPN and click Get then Add extension.
3. Sign in once the extension is active.

NordVPN Fire Stick & Fire TV: Full Setup Guide

NordVPN has a native app for Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV — no sideloading required. This is one of the cleanest TV installations NordVPN offers.

1. On your Fire Stick or Fire TV, go to the Home screen and select Find → Search.
2. Type NordVPN using the on-screen keyboard or voice search.
3. Select NordVPN from the search results and click Get (or Download).
4. Wait for the download and installation to complete, then click Open.
5. You have two options at the login screen:
   • Scan QR code — scan with your phone camera to open the Nord Account login page on your mobile browser. Faster and easier than typing.
   • Enter credentials manually — type your email and password using the Fire TV remote.
6. After logging in, NordVPN may ask you to approve a VPN connection. Select OK or I trust this application when prompted.
7. Tap Quick Connect to connect, or browse the server list to pick a country. NordVPN will now encrypt all traffic from your Fire device.

How to Install NordVPN on Android TV & Google TV

Most Android-based smart TVs (including Sony Bravia, Philips Android TV, and TCL Android TV) and Google TV devices (Chromecast with Google TV, some Sony models) support native VPN apps via Google Play.

Install via Google Play on Android TV / Google TV

1. On your Android TV or Google TV, open the Google Play Store from the home screen or app drawer.
2. Search for NordVPN using the remote or a linked phone.
3. Select the official NordVPN app and click Install.
4. Once installed, open NordVPN and sign in with your Nord Account credentials.
5. Approve the VPN configuration request that appears on screen.
6. Click Quick Connect or choose a specific server to start protecting your TV traffic.

How to Install NordVPN on Apple TV

NordVPN launched a native tvOS app for Apple TV, available through the App Store. This is the easiest and most secure method — you get full VPN encryption rather than just DNS-based unblocking.

Method 1: Native App (Recommended)

1. On your Apple TV (4th generation or later running tvOS 17+), open the App Store.
2. Search for NordVPN and select the official app.
3. Click Get to download and install.
4. Open NordVPN and sign in with your Nord Account. You can use the Apple TV remote or open a QR code link on your phone for faster login.
5. Approve the VPN configuration request.
6. Click Quick Connect — Apple TV traffic is now fully encrypted and routed through NordVPN’s servers.

Method 2: SmartDNS Setup on Apple TV

If you want streaming access without installing the app, NordVPN’s SmartDNS service changes your apparent location through DNS alone. Follow these steps:

1. Log in at my.nordaccount.com → Services → NordVPN → SmartDNS tab → click Enable then Activate SmartDNS. Activation can take up to 10 minutes.
2. On your Apple TV, go to Settings → Network → Wi-Fi and select your network.
3. Tap Configure DNS and switch from Automatic to Manual.
4. Enter the NordVPN SmartDNS addresses. The current DNS values are listed in your Nord Account dashboard and at support.nordvpn.com (they can change, so always use the latest values from the official source).
5. Restart your Apple TV and open your streaming app. Geo-restricted content should now be accessible.

How to Install NordVPN on Smart TV (Samsung & LG)

Samsung TVs run Tizen OS and LG TVs run webOS. Neither supports VPN apps natively. The best approaches are SmartDNS (easiest) or the router method (most complete).

SmartDNS Setup — Works on Samsung and LG

First, enable SmartDNS in your Nord Account (follow step 1 from the Apple TV SmartDNS section above). Make sure your smart TV is on the same Wi-Fi network as the device you used to activate SmartDNS. Then:

Samsung Smart TV — DNS Setup

1. Press the Menu button on your Samsung remote. Navigate to Network → Network Status.
2. Wait for the TV to check your connection, then select IP Settings.
3. Click DNS Setting → Enter Manually.
4. Enter NordVPN’s primary SmartDNS address (get the current address from your Nord Account dashboard).
5. Select OK. The TV re-checks the connection. If successful, you’ll see a confirmation message.
6. Click Close. Open Netflix or another streaming app — geo-restricted content should now load from the region NordVPN’s SmartDNS routes you to.

LG Smart TV — DNS Setup

1. Press the Settings button on your LG remote. Go to Network → Wi-Fi Connection.
2. Confirm your LG TV is connected to the same network you used to activate SmartDNS.
3. Select Advanced Wi-Fi Settings. Turn off IPv6, then scroll down and click Edit.
4. Disable Set Automatically and enter NordVPN’s SmartDNS primary address in the DNS Server field.
5. Press Connect. The TV will apply the new settings.

How to Install NordVPN on a Router

Installing NordVPN on your router is the most powerful option. Every device that connects to your home Wi-Fi — smart TVs, game consoles, IoT devices, guest devices — gets VPN protection automatically. No individual app installs needed.

Setup time is approximately 10 minutes once you have your router’s admin panel open.

Option 1: FlashRouters (Easiest)

NordVPN is partnered with FlashRouters, which sells routers pre-configured with NordVPN. If you buy from FlashRouters, the VPN is already set up — just plug in the router and connect. No manual configuration required. This is the best choice if you’re not comfortable with networking.

Option 2: Manual OpenVPN Setup (ASUS, DD-WRT, Tomato)

If your existing router supports OpenVPN — common on ASUS routers running stock firmware and routers running DD-WRT or Tomato firmware — you can configure NordVPN manually. The broad steps are:

1. Log in to your router’s admin panel (typically at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in your browser).
2. Find the VPN section (usually under Advanced Settings or WAN).
3. Download the NordVPN OpenVPN configuration files from nordvpn.com/servers — filter by country and protocol (UDP for speed, TCP for stability), and download the .ovpn file for your chosen server.
4. In your router’s VPN settings, import the .ovpn configuration file.
5. Enter your NordVPN service credentials (not your login email/password — find these in your Nord Account under Services → NordVPN → Manual setup). These are separate credentials specifically for OpenVPN/manual configurations.
6. Save the settings and enable the VPN connection. Your router will connect to NordVPN’s server.

NordVPN maintains detailed step-by-step guides with screenshots for over a dozen router models at support.nordvpn.com. If your specific router model isn’t on that list, it may not support VPN client mode.

Option 3: NordLynx on Supported Routers

Some newer routers and firmware versions (particularly on ASUS and certain DD-WRT builds) support WireGuard natively, which means you can configure NordLynx for better speeds than OpenVPN. Check NordVPN’s router support documentation for your specific model.

How to Install NordVPN on PlayStation, Xbox & Nintendo Switch

PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch don’t support VPN apps natively. You have two options: SmartDNS (for streaming only) or the router method (for full VPN protection).

SmartDNS Method (PlayStation, Xbox, Switch)

First, enable SmartDNS in your Nord Account as described in the Apple TV section. Then configure DNS manually on each console:

PlayStation (PS4 / PS5)

1. Go to Settings → Network → Set Up Internet Connection.
2. Choose Wi-Fi or LAN Cable depending on your setup, then select Custom.
3. Keep the default settings for IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Default Router, but on the DNS Settings screen, select Manual.
4. Enter NordVPN’s primary SmartDNS address as the Primary DNS, and the secondary address as the Secondary DNS. Find current values in your Nord Account dashboard.
5. Select Automatic for MTU and Do Not Use for Proxy Server. Click Test Internet Connection to verify.

Xbox (Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S)

1. Press the Xbox button to open the guide. Go to Profile & system → Settings → General → Network settings.
2. Select Advanced settings → DNS settings → Manual.
3. Enter NordVPN’s SmartDNS primary and secondary DNS addresses.
4. Press B to save. Select Test network connection to confirm everything works.

Nintendo Switch

1. Go to System Settings → Internet → Internet Settings.
2. Select your Wi-Fi network and tap Change Settings.
3. Scroll to DNS Settings and change from Automatic to Manual.
4. Enter NordVPN’s primary and secondary SmartDNS addresses.
5. Save and run a connection test.

Troubleshooting NordVPN Installation Issues

Most installation problems have straightforward fixes. Here are the most common issues and what to do about them.

If none of these fixes resolve your issue, NordVPN offers 24/7 live chat support at nordvpn.com. A human agent typically responds within 30 seconds after the initial chatbot screen.

How to Install NordVPN: Frequently Asked Questions