Learning about a safe and secure Internet browsing experience? Trying to escape surveillance? Or simply getting around country restrictions? Our guides will enable unlimited Internet.
In August 2018, NordVPN finally launched their native NordVPN Linux app. This now makes it easier than ever to install the top-tier NordVPN app on your Linux-based machine, regardless of whether you are using Ubuntu, Debian, or another distro.
Prior to this, those who wanted to install NordVPN on Linux had to go through a roundabout process of configuring NordVPN and OpenVPN independently. For those who aren’t particularly tech savvy—although most Linux users are quite tech savvy—this was an irritating and time-consuming process.
Now, it is easier than ever to get NordVPN on Linux with just a few clicks of a mouse and some command lines.
Installing NordVPN On Linux
For the best experience, it is recommended that you download NordVPN’s native app on your Linux device(s). With it, you will have access to the full suite of NordVPN features including CyberSec, an automatic kill switch, and the ability to switch servers and locations at will.
As a Linux user, you will probably know that installations are a little more involved, and NordVPN’s installation is no different.
Here’s how you do it.
1. Visit NordVPN and download the app from their downloads page
Alternatively, you can click this link for a direct download.
2. Open your Linux terminal and install the NordVPN repo:
When you do this, you will be asked to enter your machine’s root password. Once you have done this, wait for the package installation to finish and then update it.
3. Update the package list
You do this by running the command:
sudo apt-get update
4. Finally, install NordVPN and authenticate
Run the command:
sudo apt-get install nordvpn
and then log in to your NordVPN account using your authentication details—email address and password.
To connect to a NordVPN server, simply type:
nordvpn connect
in your Linux terminal.
Accessing NordVPN On Linux Settings
Because NordVPN on Linux is entirely terminal based (there is no graphical interface), you must run commands to access settings and other features.
Simply type nordvpn in your terminalto access NordVPN’s client settings. You can then run a whole range of different commands.
NordVPN On Linux Commands
This is the full list of commands available for NordVPN on Linux.
nordvpn login nordvpn logout nordvpn help---see the list of commands nordvpn settings---view your current settings nordvpn status---view current connection information nordvpn countries---see the list of available countries nordvpn cities---see the list of available cities nordvpn groups---see a list of available server groups nordvpn c---connect to a random NordVPN server nordvpn c <server number>---connect to a chosen NordVPN server nordvpn d---disconnect from NordVPN nordvpn s---set a configuration nordvpn s cybersec on/off nordvpn s killswitch on/off nordvpn s autoconnect on/off nordvpn s protocol tcp/udp nordvpn s obfuscate on/off nordvpn whitelist add port 22---open incoming port 22 nordvpn whitelist remove port 22---close incoming port 22
Why Use NordVPN With Linux?
NordVPN provides a line of defense between you and the internet. We have written extensively on this topic and we highly recommend reading our comprehensive NordVPN review to find out not only how you can use NordVPN on Linux (and any other device or OS for that matter), but why NordVPN is the best choice.
As hackers get smarter, governments step up their monitoring, and attacks become harder to spot, having a VPN is no longer an option—it’s a necessity. You need to be using one for all your internet activities, especially on public networks if you value your privacy.
Netgear is a very popular brand of router that is used by millions of people worldwide. In fact, they manufacture some of the best VPN routers.
Unlike Asus, however, Netgear routers do not support OpenVPN right out of the box. Without this OpenVPN support, Netgear routers cannot be used with NordVPN without some additional work being done first.
Check If Your Netgear Router Supports DD-WRT
If you have a Netgear router and want to use NordVPN with it, you may be able to depending on what type of Netgear router you have and whether you can “flash” it with DD-WRT firmware.
To find out whether or not your Netgear router is supported by DD-WRT, find out its model number and then cross-reference it with this list of routers.
Did you find your Netgear router on the list? Then let’s move on.
Flashing Your Netgear Router with DD-WRT
If your Netgear router is on this list, then this means you can “flash” it with DD-WRT and continue with this tutorial. If not, you will need to invest in a different router.
Follow this guide carefully. Once you have successfully flashed your router with DD-WRT, return here.
The main points of the DD-WRT installation guide are:
You need to first do some research and make sure you select the correct firmware.First steps are often the most difficult. This is an extremely important step which they emphasize as well.
They also mention that failure to do research and setting things wrong can brick your device (render it useless and unrepairable).
Prepare to go offline! Your router is the connection to the internet. During the flashing process, the router will not function. This means printing the instructions or using your mobile connection to troubleshoot.
Flashing through various methods. Usually the command line is the easiest but it is quite intimidating for those who have never typed a command line before.
Setting Up NordVPN With Your Netgear Router
When you have flashed your router with the DD-WRT firmware, you will be able to set up an OpenVPN connection to NordVPN.
Apple devices may be renowned for being inherently more secure than other devices, but that does not make them invincible.
In fact, when it comes to the security of your privacy and personal data, you are no more secure as a user of Apple products than a user of Windows or Android products.
Why Use a VPN on macOS and iOS?
If you want to ensure your anonymity and privacy, the best and simplest way of doing this is by using a VPN. With one installed, you protect your personal data, IP address, and browsing activity, among other things, from everyone trying to eavesdrop on it.
These people can include the government and surveillance agencies, your ISP, malicious hackers, advertisers, and law enforcement agencies.
In addition, a VPN makes torrenting a lot safer and, by spoofing your location, enables you to bypass geo-blocked content on streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Apple TV. Content problems? We don’t have any.
These are just a few of many reasons why people use VPNs on macOS and iOS.
Choosing a VPN
Personally, we recommend NordVPN. It is this service that is going to be the focus of this tutorial. And since you’re reading this, it means it’s also on your list. If you would like to learn more about NordVPN and why we recommend it, check out our comprehensive review of the service.
NordVPN recognizes this, too. As this is the case, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all their subscriptions. This lets you try out the VPN risk-free and get your money back if you don’t like it.
There are plenty of other VPNs that you can subscribe to. Most of these have undergone our comprehensive review service and the results can be found on our website.
Installing NordVPN on macOS
NordVPN offers a native app for macOS which makes the installation and use a breeze.
Here’s how you can install it for yourself.
1. Subscribe to a NordVPN plan
To download, install, and use NordVPN, you need to be subscribed to one of their plans.
We recommend their 3-year plan for the best value (remember, their 30-day money-back guarantee applies to it so there is no risk) at $2.99 per month.
Once you have chosen a plan and paid for it, activate your account via email. You will then be able to login to the NordVPN UCP and download NordVPN’s macOS app.
Once it has downloaded, head to your Downloads folder and launch the NordVPN.pkg file that has just been downloaded.
An installation window will then open and you will be walked through the NordVPN installation process. You don’t need to do anything; NordVPN does all the work for you.
2. Setting up the NordVPN app
Open your Launchpad and look for the NordVPN app icon. Double click it. A window will then appear asking you to give permission for NordVPN to install Helper, a tool that allows NordVPN to create a VPN tunnel.
This is a mandatory step; you must give it permission for NordVPN to work.
Simply enter your password and click ‘OK’. Once you have done this, authenticate with your NordVPN details.
Then you can log into NordVPN with details you signed up with.
3. Connecting to NordVPN
Once everything is installed and you have logged in, it is very easy to get connected to the NordVPN network and protect yourself. You can either use the “Quick Connect” function or choose a server yourself from the left-hand list.
Quick Connect is recommended by NordVPN because it automatically connects you to the best server for you based on “a complex formula with various server parameters” at that point in time.
Alternatively, click on the pin above a country to connect to the best server within that country or choose a specific server from the left-hand list by hovering over a country name and clicking the three dots (. . .).
You can also search for them.
There are also specialty servers that you can use that have specific functions and purposes.
You can learn more about these by reading the various articles that explain all of NordVPN’s special servers on our site—
If you so choose, you can configure the app’s settings to your liking. In the “Preferences” tab found in the bottom-left corner of the NordVPN app, you can change settings such as CyberSec and the NordVPN Kill Switch.
Auto Launch: Recommended—launches NordVPN when your computer starts. We recommend this option because you might forget to turn NordVPN on otherwise.
Connect on launch: Recommended—automatically connects when NordVPN starts.
CyberSec: Recommended—CyberSec blocks ads and protects against other threats.
Connection: UDP is faster whereas TCP is slower but more reliable.
Kill Switch: You must enable the kill switch. Without the kill switch turned on, you run the risk of having your data, information, and browsing activity exposed if your NordVPN connection drops (which does happen from time to time).
You can learn more about the NordVPN Kill Switch in our article covering it.
Installing NordVPN on iOS
Downloading and installing NordVPN on iOS is just as simple as it is for macOS devices. There’s a native app that can be set up and used in a matter of minutes, if that.
1. Head to the App Store and download NordVPN
You can find it by searching “nordvpn”—it is the first result.
Once it has downloaded, launch the app and sign in using your NordVPN email address and password. Once you sign in, tap “Agree & Continue”.
2. Allow NordVPN to create a new VPN profile
All you need to do is follow the steps, the app does all the legwork for you.
Without providing permission for NordVPN to do this, you will not be able to use the app or connect to any of their servers. Providing permission for NordVPN to add VPN configurations basically gives the app permission to manage your network activity.
3. Connect to NordVPN
That’s it! Once you have downloaded the app, signed in, and have provided NordVPN with the permissions it needs, you are good to go.
Just like on the desktop app, you can use “Quick Connect” to connect to your most optimum server. You can also filter servers by favorites, speciality servers (only P2P and Onion Over VPN are available on iOS at the time of writing) or search for specific ones.
By swiping from the bottom to the top of your screen, you can select specific countries. You can also tap on the pins hovering above each country to connect to the optimal server within that location.
When you click the three dots (. . .) next to a location, you see each server within that country and can choose which one to connect to. The app will also tell you your distance from the server and how full it is with a “Load…” percentage.
4. Configuring settings
The only settings you can choose with the NordVPN iOS app are CyberSec and the Kill Switch. The Kill Switch is enabled by default (leave it this way) and CyberSec is turned off.
We recommend enabling CyberSec.
Try Out NordVPN Today
As we mentioned above, you can try out NordVPN risk-free for 30 days thanks to their 30-day money-back guarantee. What have you got to lose?
After all, you need to be using a VPN service to protect yourself online. Today, the digital nature of our world means normal people such as you and I are susceptible to data theft, snooping, and other activities that could compromise us while online.
If you are going to use a VPN, you should be using the best one available. For macOS and iOS, the best VPN option is NordVPN alongside one or two other stand-out services.
If you are dissatisfied, you can always ask for a refund. It’s a no-brainer.
NordVPN is a leading service that is trusted by millions of people around the world to protect them online (and offline too with NordLocker).
There are lots and lots of reasons why this is the case and if you would like to learn more about NordVPN as a service, read our comprehensive review where we dive deep into their claims, the service’s features, and decide whether NordVPN is worth using.
In this guide, we are going to cover the creation of a NordVPN account and how you can start using it yourself.
We are using Windows 10 to do this, however, the instructions are transferable to other desktop devices and NordVPN’s range of native apps, e.g. for smartphones, make set-up and installation a breeze.
Why Should I Use NordVPN? What Does It Do?
With privacy concerns taking center-stage on the internet today, everybody should be using a VPN, especially if you are a regular user of public networks that are inherently insecure.
In short, a VPN works by hiding your real IP address and encrypting your internet traffic so that your ISP, hackers, and other third-parties such as snoopers and government agencies cannot see what you are doing.
Using a VPN, you can also benefit from—
Spoofing your location by connecting to other countries;
Protecting your entire home network with router installation;
Bypassing region-locked content on streaming services like Netflix;
Accessing websites that may be blocked or censored by your home country; and
Safely browsing the deep web,
amongst other things.
To ensure your privacy is never compromised, however, you need to use a VPN that’s tried, tested, and proven to be a good one.
That’s where NordVPN comes in.
Creating a NordVPN Account
Unlike some other VPN services, you need to create an account to use NordVPN. Registering is simple and takes a few minutes. You need to have an email address and payment method handy. You’re covered by a 30-day refund in case you’re wondering.
1. Choose a NordVPN subscription
There are four different plans available with NordVPN. Unfortunately, they no longer offer a lifetime subscription.
We recommend choosing their 3-year plan for maximum savings. $2.99 per month (billed as a single payment of $107.55) is an absolute steal for a level of service as high as NordVPN’s.
Again, all payments are backed by their 30-day money-back guarantee.
If you are dissatisfied with NordVPN for whatever reason, simply contact customer support and request a refund within 30 days.
There are no strings or usage limits attached to the NordVPN money-back guarantee.
2. Enter your email address
We recommend using an email address that you have full and routine access to. This is the email address that will be associated with your account for both customer support and password recovery purposes.
If you do not want to use your real, personal email address then create a throwaway that you can access as and when needed.
3. Enter your billing information
Using a throwaway email address is encouraged to protect your identity. You can even pay for your NordVPN subscription with cryptocurrencies (e.g. Bitcoin.)
NordVPN does not process payments via PayPal. You have a choice between credit/debit card, cryptocurrencies, Alipay, and a few other international payment methods.
Once you have entered your details and pressed ‘Continue’, you will be billed straight away, and your account will be created.
4. Activate your account via email
You will receive an email requiring you to activate your account before you can log in to NordVPN using your details. This is why it is important to use an email address to which you have access.
Simply click the link in the email—your account will be activated and you will automatically be redirected to NordVPN’s download page.
How to Set Up NordVPN
Once you have created and activated your account, it is time to install the software. We recommend installing on a desktop computer before any other device so you can get a feeling for how everything works.
Of course, setting up NordVPN on your smartphone is probably easier.
1. From the NordVPN download page, select your device
Since we are installing NordVPN onto a Windows machine, we’ll select the Windows option.
There are also options available for other supported devices such as macOS, Linux, and iOS.
Once you have selected your device’s download file, the download will begin. The download file is only 18 MB in size so it shouldn’t take a long time to download. This, of course, depends on your internet speeds.
When it has finished downloading, launch the installation wizard by clicking the .exe file from within your browser.
2. Wait for NordVPN to install
Again, this shouldn’t take too long. As if by magic, the NordVPN installation wizard will do all the work for you.
3. When NordVPN has finished installing, the main interface will load
It looks exactly like this—
You are now ready to start using NordVPN. Have an explore of all the different servers, locations, and features in ‘Settings’. We are going to go over these in detail below.
4. First of all, connect to a server
You can do this by either
clicking the ‘balloon’ icon above each country or
selecting one from the left-hand menu.
By clicking a ‘balloon’ icon, NordVPN will connect you to the most optimum server within that country and we recommend letting NordVPN do this for you.
If, however, you want to choose your own server within a specific country, you can easily do this by hovering over a country in the left-hand menu and click the three dots (. . .) to open the server selector.
The percentage value refers to how much of the server’s resources are currently being used.
Setting and Picking the Right Features
NordVPN isn’t a leading VPN just because it is fast, secure, and easy to use, it is their range of additional features that make the service what it is. Just look at all your options in the ‘Settings’ area of the app—
Let’s look at some of these in more detail!
CyberSec
CyberSec is NordVPN’s anti-malware and ad-blocking feature that steps in automatically when a malicious website is detected. NordVPN will block your connection to said malicious website that may be hiding malware, adware, or other nasty surprises. It blocks annoying ads, too!
CyberSec is kept constantly updated with the latest threats and is constantly scanning the internet for new, dangerous websites.
Auto-connect
Want to automatically connect to NordVPN when your computer starts (or re-connect if your connection drops)? Enable this setting to ensure you are always connected to NordVPN and don’t accidentally browse unconnected. You can choose where you want to connect to, too.
You may not want to auto-connect all the time, but most people do leave it on.
Internet Kill Switch
You absolutely must have this one enabled. A kill switch steps in and ‘kills’ your internet connection when your connection to NordVPN drops. Connection drops can and will happen no matter how good the VPN that you are using is, and it is important to have something to protect you if this happens.
Without a kill switch, your internet connection will remain active even if your VPN connection drops. This can expose your real IP address, location, and browsing activity to anyone or anything that is watching.
App Kill Switch
This works in the same way as the Internet Kill Switch, however, it applies to apps of your choosing (e.g. Skype, Google Chrome) rather than your internet connection as a whole.
If you want total control of your VPN, this is the feature to use.
Protocol
You can choose whether to use the OpenVPN tunneling protocol either over UDP or TCP.
UDP provides faster speeds and is better for activities such as streaming, however, UDP does not guarantee packet delivery so it can sometimes be less reliable. On the other hand, TCP is more reliable as it guarantees the delivery of packets, but this can result in slower speeds.
Personally, we recommend UDP.
NordVPN Server Types
NordVPN has 6 different server types that you can choose from within the app.
1. Dedicated IP Servers
With NordVPN, you can purchase your own dedicated IP for the Windows, Android, Linux, and macOS versions of NordVPN. Read more about NordVPN Dedicated IP Servers.
2. Double VPN Servers
Want ultimate privacy? Double VPN Servers route your traffic through two different servers on Windows, Android, Linux, and macOS for double the privacy and encryption. Read more about NordVPN Double VPN Servers.
3. Obfuscated Servers
Designed for users in censorship-heavy countries such as China, Obfuscated Servers can bypass government-operated firewalls. Read more about NordVPN Obfuscated Servers.
4. Onion Over VPN Servers
These servers route your traffic through the NordVPN server network first and then through the Tor Onion network. Read more about Onion Over VPN Servers.
5. P2P Servers
Torrent a lot or participate in P2P activities? Read more about NordVPN P2P Servers that are specially optimized to deliver the very best speeds, safety, and stability for data-heavy torrenting activities.
6. Standard VPN Servers
Your regular day-to-day VPN server—strong encryption, fast speeds, and lots of choice around the world.
You may be able to bypass geo-blocks without obfuscation, meaning services like Netflix may simply work without any further configuration.
Try Out NordVPN Risk-Free
You can try out NordVPN risk-free by taking advantage of their 30-day money-back guarantee. It applies to all NordVPN’s plans and if you are unsatisfied, simply ask for your money back within 30 days for a full refund, no strings attached.
NordVPN and torrenting are two things that go together perfectly.
In fact, any good VPN service is suitable, and necessary, for torrenting and other P2P activities, however, it is NordVPN that comes out on top (more on why later) of them all.
Do I Need a VPN for Torrenting?
If you regularly participate in torrenting or other peer-to-peer activities then you need to have a VPN behind you, and a good one at that.
Just like it is very easy to fire up torrenting software such as uTorrent and begin downloading video games, movies, TV shows, and music, it is very easy to get caught doing this.
After all, most cases of torrenting copyrighted media result in copyright violations and license holders can and chase people down to fine them.
Not only that, by not using a VPN you leave yourself, your identity, IP address, and data open to be intercepted and snooped upon by other third parties. In addition to license holders, these can include malicious hackers, government agencies, and law enforcement bodies.
How Torrenting Works
Torrenting relies on peer-to-peer networking. This is where multiple devices, usually PCs and laptops, are connected and share their resources with one another without having to go through a separate network or server, e.g. a website’s servers.
This is necessary because copyright holders quickly shut down websites that host pirated content.
A peer-to-peer network also hosts the files publically for all and therefore facilitates the distribution effort.
Law enforcement bodies will logically go after the individuals who are part of the peer-to-peer network who have not protected themselves with a VPN.
How a VPN protects you
When you are connected to a reliable VPN network—for example, NordVPN—your IP address, identity, and internet activities are encrypted and transmitted through one of the service’s secure VPN tunnels. This prevents third-parties, malicious or otherwise, from seeing who you are and what you are doing.
By encrypting your traffic and hiding your identity, hackers cannot compromise you, and nobody can see that you are participating in torrenting activities.
What Makes NordVPN the Best VPN for Torrenting?
It is very easy to say X VPN is the best for torrenting, however, there are a bunch of reasons NordVPN truly is the best. Here are three of them.
1. A vast and fast server network
With over 5,000 servers in over 60 locations, NordVPN boasts the world’s biggest VPN server network. In addition, all their servers are lightning-fast and don’t hinder your download speeds. This is very important for torrenting, something that is a data-heavy task that can be marred by slow internet speeds.
2. A proven zero-logs policy
NordVPN logs nothing about you or your usage activities. This means that they have nothing to hand over to the authorities in the virtually impossible situation—NordVPN is located in Panama, a country beyond the reach of Western governments—where they were legally compelled to. This zero-logs policy has been proven by an external PwC audit.
3. No IP or DNS leaks
In our comprehensive testing of NordVPN, we found that none of their servers “leaked” information such as our IP address or DNS traffic outside of the VPN tunnel.
Setting Up NordVPN for Torrenting
If you are wanting to give NordVPN a try for yourself and see that it truly is the best service for torrenting, here’s how you can set it up yourself. First of all, you will need to download and install NordVPN.
1. Purchase a NordVPN subscription
Before you can download, install, and use NordVPN, you need to purchase a subscription. While this may sound off-putting—it’s totally understandable that you want to try before you buy—NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all their plans.
If you aren’t satisfied after you have tested the service out, you can simply ask for a refund with no questions asked.
After purchasing a subscription, you will need to activate your account via email.
2. Download and install NordVPN from the UCP
In this example, we are using Windows. The .exe file only takes a couple of seconds to download (even with slow internet speeds!). Once it has, simply click on the .exe file to begin the installation process.
Then click install.
After the installation process—something that only lasts a few minutes tops—NordVPN will launch and you will be prompted to authenticate. Use the email address and password you signed up with.
Once you have logged in, you will see the main NordVPN screen.
3. Connect to a server
You can do this either by clicking “Quick Connect”, one of the pins hovering above a country or by using the left-hand server list. When connected, you will be good to go and protected while torrenting.
For extra privacy and security, we recommend setting up a SOCKS5 proxy with your P2P client, though.
Setting Up SOCKS5 for Torrenting
SOCKS5 is an internet protocol that routes packets between a server and client using a proxy server. In layman’s terms, your data is routed through a proxy server that generates a random IP address before reaching you reach your final destination.
The primary advantages of using SOCKS5 are:
Better performance with torrenting and P2P activity when compared to other proxies;
The ability to easily bypass geoblocking, firewalls, and censorship;
Enhanced security and encryption;
It works with all types of traffic, not just internet (HTTP) traffic; and
It is reliable and more efficient as it uses both UDP and TCP.
You can use any NordVPN P2P server even with SOCKS5 configured, you don’t have to use the same one all the time.
SOCKS5 with uTorrent
Launch uTorrent and head to “Options > Preferences”.
This will open a new window.
Click “Connection”. Set the “Type” to “Socks5” and then in the “Proxy” box type in a NordVPN server address that allows torrent traffic. You can put in the address of any server that says “P2P” under it. In the “Port” box type “1080”.
Finally, check all the boxes aside from “Randomize port each start” and “Add Windows Firewall exception” as above. Enter your NordVPN username and password in the “Username” and “Password” fields.
Press ‘OK’ and you are done.
SOCKS5 with BitTorrent
Fire up BitTorrent and head to “Options > Preferences“.
A new window will open.
Click “Connection”. Set the “Type” to “Socks5” and then in the “Proxy” box type in a NordVPN server address that allows torrent traffic. You can put in the address of any server that says “P2P” under it. In the “Port” box type “1080”.
This time uncheck all the boxes aside from “Enable UPnP port mapping” and “Enable NAT-PMP port mapping” and put your NordVPN username and password in the “Username” and “Password” boxes.
Press “OK”.
That’s it—BitTorrent is now good to go with SOCKS5 and NordVPN.
NordVPN P2P Servers
While the above is all you need to do to successfully use NordVPN while torrenting, there is something else that deserves a mention—NordVPN’s P2P Servers. It is these, among other specialist servers, that makes NordVPN not only the best VPN for torrenting but the best VPN all-round.
These P2P servers are dedicated and optimized for the sole purpose of torrenting and other peer-to-peer activities. This has been done to:
prevent other servers on the NordVPN network being hindered by torrenting activity; and
ensure that users who do participate in torrenting get a consistently reliable experience.
Only P2P servers can be used for torrenting with NordVPN.
If you try to participate in any P2P activity outside of these specialized P2P servers, NordVPN will automatically reroute your traffic through one of their P2P servers located in Canada or The Netherlands.
To connect to one of the P2P servers, simply click “P2P” in the left-hand column to connect to the most optimum one for you. If you want to choose, however, just hover over “P2P” and click the three dots (. . .) that appear.
Torrent Safely
If you are somebody who regularly torrents or carries out any other sort of peer-to-peer activity and you don’t use a VPN, you need to stop this right away!
Right here, right now, you should download NordVPN and begin using it not only while torrenting but at all times. In today’s uncertain digital world, using a VPN is becoming more and more commonplace. By not using one, you leave yourself vulnerable.
As we mentioned above, you can try out NordVPN risk-free for 30 days thanks to their 30-day money-back guarantee.
Apple TV is a pretty sweet device… that is if you are based in the US (access to the best content library) and have other Apple devices. Unfortunately, Apple TV suffers the same fate as other streaming services and tools such as Netflix and Hulu—content is geoblocked meaning you can only stream content from the library where you are physically located.
NordVPN, one of the best VPNs on the market, can solve this problem for you just like it does with other services.
Why Should I Use NordVPN with Apple TV?
Using NordVPN, you can spoof your location and make it look like you are physically located in over 60 different places. By doing this, you can trick Apple TV into giving you access to content you otherwise wouldn’t be able to view—this is great news for customers outside the US in particular.
In addition to this, using a VPN with Apple TV has several other benefits.
For instance, all traffic flowing into and out of your Apple TV device will be encrypted. This prevents third-parties and prying eyes from eavesdropping on what you are doing, such as your ISP who might see that you are streaming lots of content and then slow down (throttle) your connection.
Installing NordVPN on Apple TV
While NordVPN has native apps for several devices, Apple TV is not one of them. Furthermore, Apple TV devices cannot run NordVPN nor do they support OpenVPN.
This means using NordVPN with your Apple TV device is a little more involved than simply downloading an app. This is soon set to change though, so watch this space!
Right now, you can only use NordVPN with your Apple TV device by installing it on your router. By doing this, every single device on your home’s network will be secured by NordVPN and their traffic will all go to the same NordVPN server.
We recommend reading our article on installing VPN on a router.
If you’re here for a step-by-step guide specifically for NordVPN and (Asus) router, keep reading:
1. Go to your router’s control panel
You should be able to get here by typing 192.168.1.1 into your address bar. This is the default on Asus routers (what we are using) and most other ones, too.
By default, the username and password should both be “admin”.
2. Click ‘VPN’ in the dashboard
Then click ‘VPN Client’ on the screen that comes after.
3. Create a new OpenVPN profile
Do this by clicking ‘Add profile’ towards the bottom of your browser.
Then select the tab that says ‘OpenVPN’ and fill out the details:
Description: Your choice.
Username: Your NordVPN email address
Password: Your password
Import .ovpn file: This is in the next step.
4. Download the NordVPN server (.ovpn) file you want to use
Since you are manually setting up NordVPN and there is no app for router installation, you need to manually create a profile for the server you want to use. This is done with OpenVPN (.ovpn) files.
As a starting point, visit the NordVPN server recommendation page. This will tell you what your most optimum server is, however, you can choose different ones from the dropdown menu.
When you have settled on a server, click ‘Show available protocols’ and then download the OpenVPN UDP (faster than TCP) file by clicking ‘Download config file’.
5. Upload the OpenVPN file
Go back to your router’s control panel and upload the OpenVPN file you just downloaded. It goes in the same place as your username and password did.
Then click ‘Upload’ and ‘OK’.
6. Set up the NordVPN DNS servers
To do this, click ‘WAN’ (in the same menu where you found ‘VPN’), check ‘No’ next to “Connect to DNS server automatically” and enter this DNS information:
DNS Server 1: 103.86.96.100
DNS Server 2: 103.86.99.100
Then click ‘Apply’.
7. Activate the profile you just made
Exit ‘WAN’ and go back to ‘VPN’. If all is well, you will see the profile that you’ve just made. To set things in motion, simply click ‘Activate’.
If everything is working, ‘Connection Status’ will show a blue checkmark. To disconnect from the NordVPN server, click ‘Deactivate’.
8. Check it’s all working
You can double check that everything is working by visiting the NordVPN website and looking at the status bar at the top of your browser.
If you see “Protected” it means you are connected to NordVPN and you can start accessing geoblocked content with Apple TV.
Want to Find Out More?
If you would like to learn more about routers including which routers are best and what the difference between them is, check out our full-length guides:
