To begin using NordVPN on your Android device, all you need to do is to download theVPN for Android, sign in (or sign up), and then connect to a NordVPN server. As soon as you've successfully connected to a NordVPN server, your Android's internet connection will be secure and private.
To go through these steps with ease, check out the instructions we provide below. Additionally, you'll find the various ways in which you can adjust the NordVPN app for Android to suit your needs!
Table of contents:
How to download and install NordVPN for Android
How to set upthe NordVPN mobile app for Android
How to use NordVPN Android app
Choosing between different servers
- Connect to a specific country
- Connect to a specific city
- Connect to a specific server
Adjusting VPN settings
- VPN connection
- Tools
- General
- Auto-connect settings
(Optional) Sideload the NordVPN app
How to download and install NordVPN for Android
First, download NordVPN for Android and install theapp on your Android device.
- OpenPlay Store.
- EnterNordVPNin the search bar and select the NordVPN app. TapInstall.
How to set up the NordVPN mobile app for Android
- Once you’ve installed the application, tap to open it.
- In the main menu, tapSIGN UPto create a new account orLOG INif you already have one.
- Pressing on any of the two buttons above will open your browser and take you to ourNord Accountpage, where you can either proceed withlogging inorcreating an account.
Please note that in case you'resigning up, you will be askedtoget a subscriptionbefore you may begin using the service.
How to use NordVPN Android app
To make your connection to the internet secure and private, connect to a NordVPN server. This can be done in several ways: by pressing onthe QUICK CONNECTbutton, clicking on a country name withinthe Country List,or finding a server throughthe search bar.
Now you know how to set up a vpn on Android but there's a lot more NordVPN can offer to make your experience the best for you. Let's take a look at the different options and features that you can adjust according to your needs.
Swipe upon the main screen to find all server options and features.
- Quick Connect: connect to the closest and least loaded server. This connection method is useful when the specifics of server location or other settings aren't as important as getting lighting-fast service.
- Traffic routing: Traffic routing is one of the Meshnet features. It allows you to route all of your Internet traffic through your friends or your other device and use the IP address of that device to access the Internet.
- Specialty servers:NordVPN offers a variety of different types of servers, each with unique benefits. Learn more about them in our dedicated article:What do the different server categories mean?
- Search bar: use it to find specific servers. You can input the name of a country, city, server number, or even the name of the specialty category.
- All countries list: another method for connecting - simply scroll through the list for the country you would like to connect to, and then on the country name when you find it.
- Meshnet: this feature allows you to createa secure, privatenetworkfor many devices located anywhere in the world, access them remotely, andsend all your online traffic through another device.
- Notifications: here you can find all news about the latest updates and security tips.
- Statistics and Settings: by clicking here you can find your connection statistics and by pressing this cogwheel icon you will open the settings menu. There's a separate section below that explains all of the options found there.
Choosing between different servers
Connecting to aspecific country:Swipe up to see theCountry list. There, tap on the country you're looking for, and you will be automatically connected to a server in that location.
Alternatively,the pins on the world mapsignify where we have servers and the number of themin the country.Pressing on themwill show you the exact city servers we have. You can tap on different pins without a number andconnect to any desired city.
Finally, you can alsoclick on thesearch bar, and type in the country's name there.
Connecting to aspecific city:You can tap on the three dots next to a country to select a specific city.
The search bar can help here, too.Type in the name of the city, and it will appear as long as we have VPN servers in it.
Connecting to aspecific server: have a server number in mind that you want to reuse? Type it into the search bar, and you'll get it:
Adjusting VPN settings
- On the map screen, tap theuser profile iconin the bottom right corner to accessAccount Statistics and Settings.
- Tap on thegear iconat the top right corner to find all application settings.
VPN connection
Auto-connect: this option allows you to have the app automatically connect you to a VPN server the soonest there is access to the internet.Click here to learn moreabout this feature.
Protocol: here you can switch betweenTCP,UDP, andNordLynxconnection protocols. In short terms, the TCP protocol makes the connection slightly more stable, at the cost of speed. UDP, on the other hand, offers the opposite:a speedier, though less reliable connection. NordLynx has the best of both worlds, it provides speed and reliability.
Split tunneling:thisallowsyouto specify which apps go through the VPN connection.
DNS:specifies a particular DNS server for the NordVPN app.
Local network discovery:lets you stay invisible to devices on your local area network (LAN) whendisabled.
Metered connection: gives you more control over the data usage.
Tools
Threat protection (lite):protects you from intrusive ads, malware sites, phishing links, and other threats. Read more about it on our feature page:Stop intrusive ads with NordVPN’s ad blocker
Due to Google’s policies, Threat Protection no longer blocks ads for NordVPN apps downloaded from the Google Play Store. However, it still protects you from malicious websites and other cyber threats. You can download the NordVPN app with a working ad blocker directly from ourwebsite.
Kill Switch:cuts off your internet connection when you’re disconnected from secure NordVPN servers.
Tapjacking protection: keeps you safe from unintentional disconnects by requiring 2 steps to disableVPN.
General
Appearance:the go-to settings section for changing between light, dark and neutral display modes.
Help us improve:by turning on this feature, you can share your anonymous data to help us improve in the future.
Auto-connect
- Select which networks NordVPN can use to automatically establish a VPN connection on Android:mobilenetworks,Wi-FiandEthernet, orAlways(for any network).
- If you choose to automatically connect to theFastestavailable server, you will be able to choose one of the servers from yourRecent Connections, one of theSpecialty servers, ora server in aspecific country.
Please note:aTrusted networkssectionis visibleonly on lower versions than Android 10. It allows you to disable Auto-Connect on specific Wi-Fi networks. For example, you can make an exception for your home Wi-Fi if you trust it.Later versions do not allow this feature due to security changes in the Android OS.
(Optional) Sideload the NordVPN app
If you're unable to download NordVPN from the Google Play Store, you can get the.apkfilehere. These files allow users tobypass the Google Play Store if they are having technical issues.
To install the app, you will need to changethe security settings on your device. Go toSettings>Security & Privacy>More Settings>Install unknown apps. Select the browser you used to download the NordVPN .apk file and enableAllow from this source.
OnAndroid version 7.0 and below, you can find this option inSettings > Security > Unknown sources.
Looking for a tutorial on how to install and use NordVPN onAndroid TV? Readthisarticle.
