NordVPN on Linux: Install, Commands and GUI Setup (2026)

Yes, NordVPN has a native Linux app, and it now comes with a graphical interface as well as the terminal client. One command installs it on Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, Fedora and Raspberry Pi OS, NordLynx (its WireGuard-based protocol) is on by default, and Arch users can get it from the AUR. The current version, 6.0.1 from 21 October 2026, renamed several commands, so this guide uses the new ones and flags the old.

Below: four ways to install it, how to log in with a browser or a token, the commands worth knowing, the GUI, setups without the app, and fixes for the errors Linux users hit most, all checked on 22 October 2026. Still deciding? Our overview of what NordVPN is covers the service itself.

Get NordVPN for Linux

On a Chromebook, the Linux method is one of three ways in: see NordVPN on Chromebook.

NordVPN on Linux at a Glance

How to Set Up NordVPN on Linux

The quickest way is NordVPN’s install script, which works on every distro NordVPN supports. Here are all four options:

Whichever you pick, you need a NordVPN subscription first: plans start at $3.49 a month on the 2-year deal. Every plan includes the Linux app; to pay less for one, start with the latest NordVPN promo codes we’ve verified.

1. Install the NordVPN Linux App in 3 Steps

Step 1: Install the App

Open a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T on most desktops) and run NordVPN’s installer:

sh <(curl -sSf https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/linux/install.sh)

No curl on your system? Use wget instead:

sh <(wget -qO - https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/linux/install.sh)

The script finds your package manager (apt, dnf, yum or zypper), adds NordVPN’s repository and signing key, and installs the nordvpn package. Since version 5.3.0 (August 2026), the graphical app installs alongside it; to ask for it explicitly, add -p nordvpn-gui to the end of the command, as NordVPN’s Linux install guide shows. Prefer to fetch the package yourself? It’s also on NordVPN’s download page.

The installer also adds your user to the nordvpn group, which lets you control the app without sudo. If you later see “Permission denied accessing /run/nordvpn/nordvpnd.sock”, add yourself by hand and reboot:

sudo usermod -aG nordvpn $USER

Step 2: Log In to Your NordVPN Account

nordvpn login

The app sends you to your browser with a login link (it also prints the link in the terminal). Sign in to your Nord Account there, and the browser hands you back to the app. If it can’t reopen the app, copy the link behind the Continue button and pass it in quotes: nordvpn login --callback "LINK".

On a server, or any machine without a browser, log in with an access token instead. Create one in Nord Account under NordVPN → Advanced settings → Get access token (our NordVPN WireGuard and token guide walks through it), then run:

nordvpn login --token

Version 6.0.1 asks you to paste the token at a hidden prompt, which keeps it out of your shell history; older versions take it after the flag (nordvpn login --token YOUR_TOKEN), and 6.0.1 still accepts that. NordVPN’s own help text notes that token login doesn’t support multi-factor authentication. In the GUI, click Log in and finish in the browser.

Step 3: Connect to a NordVPN Server

nordvpn connect

With nothing after it, NordVPN picks the recommended server. Add a country, city or server to choose yourself: nordvpn connect Germany, nordvpn connect us, nordvpn connect Hungary Budapest or nordvpn connect jp35. Check the connection with nordvpn status and end it with nordvpn disconnect.

Other Ways to Install NordVPN on Linux

With the Repository Package (.deb or .rpm)

This does by hand what the script does. On Debian, Ubuntu or Mint:

wget https://repo.nordvpn.com/deb/nordvpn/debian/pool/main/n/nordvpn-release/nordvpn-release_1.0.0_all.deb
sudo apt install ./nordvpn-release_1.0.0_all.deb
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nordvpn

On Fedora:

wget https://repo.nordvpn.com/yum/nordvpn/centos/noarch/Packages/n/nordvpn-release-1.0.0-1.noarch.rpm
sudo dnf install ./nordvpn-release-1.0.0-1.noarch.rpm
sudo dnf install nordvpn

From the Snap Store

sudo snap install nordvpn

NordVPN publishes the snap itself, and it includes the GUI. On 22 October 2026 the stable channel had version 6.0.1 for 64-bit PCs and 64-bit ARM, while 32-bit ARM was still on 4.1.1. Snaps are sandboxed, so the app lists the sudo snap connect nordvpn:... permission commands it needs; run them before you log in. One limit: nordvpn diagnostics doesn’t work in the snap.

On Arch Linux and Manjaro (AUR)

NordVPN doesn’t package for Arch, but the community-maintained nordvpn-bin package in the AUR repackages NordVPN’s official Debian build, and it was updated to 6.0.1 on 21 October 2026. With an AUR helper such as yay:

yay -S nordvpn-bin
sudo systemctl enable --now nordvpnd
sudo gpasswd -a $USER nordvpn

Reboot so the group change takes effect. For the GUI, add nordvpn-gui-bin, which is also community-made. Because NordVPN doesn’t test Arch, its support team can only help so far.

On a Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi OS is on NordVPN’s supported list, and the install script works the same way. NordVPN builds the terminal app for both 32-bit and 64-bit ARM but the GUI only for 64-bit, so use 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS if you want the graphical app. On a headless Pi, log in with a token.

Which Linux Distros Does NordVPN Support?

NordVPN tests its app on five distros and calls the rest community-supported. Here’s where each stands:

On Ubuntu, our step-by-step NordVPN Ubuntu guide has a screenshot for every step.

How to Use the NordVPN CLI on Linux

Type nordvpn on its own for the list of commands, or man nordvpn for the full manual. These are the ones you’ll use most, checked against version 6.0.1:

Two of these interact: real-time protection works only with NordVPN’s own DNS, so setting a custom DNS turns it off. And the kill switch blocks all traffic whenever you’re disconnected, including after a manual nordvpn disconnect, until you switch it off. Our guides to the NordVPN kill switch, Meshnet and dedicated IPs explain those features in more depth.

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How to Use the NordVPN Linux GUI

NordVPN released a graphical Linux app in 2025, and since version 5.3.0 (August 2026) it installs with the regular app. Open NordVPN from your applications menu, click Log in, then pick a country from the list or click Secure my connection. The GUI is built on the same core as the terminal version and runs alongside it, so you can switch between the two; new to the service? Get NordVPN for Linux first.

Under Settings you’ll find most of the terminal features:

• VPN connection: auto-connect, the kill switch and the protocol (NordLynx, NordWhisper, OpenVPN TCP or UDP).
• Security and privacy: the allowlist, custom DNS, LAN discovery and the firewall, plus post-quantum encryption.
• Real-time protection, specialty servers on the home screen, a pause button (5 minutes to 24 hours) and dark mode under General.

Meshnet is the one feature still missing from the GUI, so use nordvpn set meshnet on in a terminal. The small tray icon (blue when connected) gives you quick connect, a server list and disconnect without opening the app; nordvpn set tray off hides it.

Is There Split Tunneling on Linux?

Not the app-based kind. Instead of choosing apps, NordVPN’s Linux allowlist lets ports, port ranges or subnets bypass the VPN. NordVPN warns that matching traffic skips both the tunnel and the kill switch, in both directions, so add only what you need, such as nordvpn allowlist add port 22 for SSH. On Windows, Android and Android TV, NordVPN’s split tunneling works per app.

Is NordVPN Good for Linux?

Yes. NordVPN’s Linux app now does nearly everything its Windows and Mac apps do, with a GUI for everyday use and a full CLI for servers and scripts:

For Linux, the Basic plan is enough: every feature in the Linux app, including real-time protection, comes with it. Complete’s extras, such as the next-gen antivirus, the NordPass password manager and 1 TB of cloud storage, aren’t part of the Linux app. A dedicated IP is an add-on you can buy at NordVPN’s checkout for $3.69 a month.

Those are NordVPN’s US Black Friday prices on 22 October 2026, before any sales tax. Our NordVPN price guide compares the plans in full, and the NordVPN Black Friday guide tracks the sale.

Get NordVPN for Linux

How to Use NordVPN on Linux Without the App

You can skip NordVPN’s software entirely and use Linux’s own tools, though you lose the kill switch, real-time protection and Meshnet. You still need an active NordVPN plan, and OpenVPN logins use your service credentials: a separate username and password in Nord Account (Set up NordVPN manually → Service credentials), not your email and password.

2. Set Up NordVPN on Linux via NetworkManager

1. Install NetworkManager’s OpenVPN plugin, for example on Ubuntu: sudo apt install network-manager-openvpn-gnome.
2. Download NordVPN’s OpenVPN configuration files and extract them, or download one server’s file from Nord Account (Set up NordVPN manually → OpenVPN configuration files).
3. Click the network icon in the top bar, then VPN Off and VPN Settings.

4. Click the + next to VPN.

5. Choose Import from file…

6. Pick a .ovpn file from the folder you extracted. Use the ovpn_udp folder unless UDP is blocked on your network.

7. Enter your service username and password, and click Add.

8. Switch on the new VPN toggle to connect, and switch it off to disconnect.

3. Connect to NordVPN From the Linux Terminal

With WireGuard (the fast option). Since October 2026, Nord Account offers WireGuard config files. Download one (Set up NordVPN manually → pick a server → WireGuard → Download config), install your distro’s wireguard or wireguard-tools package, and bring the tunnel up with wg-quick, as NordVPN’s Linux WireGuard guide shows:

Our NordVPN WireGuard guide covers the file in detail, including a kill switch for wg-quick and starting it at boot.

With OpenVPN. NordVPN’s terminal guide boils down to this (it also suggests disabling IPv6 first):

sudo apt install openvpn unzip
cd /etc/openvpn
sudo wget https://downloads.nordcdn.com/configs/archives/servers/ovpn.zip
sudo unzip ovpn.zip
sudo openvpn /etc/openvpn/ovpn_udp/us8660.nordvpn.com.udp.ovpn

Swap us8660 for the server you want (Nord Account’s Server recommendation tab suggests one), enter your service credentials when asked, and press Ctrl + C to disconnect. NordVPN also documents an IKEv2 setup with strongSwan if you’d rather use that.

Why Is My NordVPN Not Working on Linux?

Most problems come down to a handful of errors. Start with the one you see:

“Permission denied accessing /run/nordvpn/nordvpnd.sock”

Your user isn’t in the nordvpn group. Run sudo usermod -aG nordvpn $USER and restart your computer.

“Cannot reach System Daemon” or “nordvpnd.sock not found”

The background service isn’t running. Start it, and make it start at boot, with sudo systemctl enable --now nordvpnd. In a container or on a system without systemd, NordVPN says to use sudo /etc/init.d/nordvpn start instead.

NordVPN Unable to Log In on Linux

• The browser never hands you back to the app: copy the Continue link and run nordvpn login --callback "LINK".
• No browser at all: use nordvpn login --token with an access token from Nord Account.
• The kill switch is blocking the login: turn it off with nordvpn set killswitch off, log in, then turn it back on.
• An old guide says nordvpn login --legacy: that option isn’t in the current app; use one of the methods above.

NordVPN Not Connecting on Linux

1. Server or Protocol Problems

• Connect to a specific country rather than the recommended server, then try a second one.
• Switch protocols with nordvpn set protocol: try nordwhisper on networks that filter VPNs, or openvpn_tcp if UDP is blocked.
• If speeds are poor, pick a country closer to you; on Linux kernel 6.16 or newer, version 6.0.1 also speeds up OpenVPN with Data Channel Offload.

2. App or System Problems

• Close other VPN apps, and add NordVPN to your antivirus exclusions if you use one.
• Update the app, which doesn’t update itself on Linux. NordVPN says versions 3.12.0 and older can no longer connect at all.
• Still stuck? Run nordvpn diagnostics and send the file to NordVPN’s 24/7 support. It contains details about your system, so share it only with them.

No Internet After Disconnecting From NordVPN

That’s usually the kill switch doing its job: it blocks traffic whenever the VPN is off. Turn it off with nordvpn set killswitch off. If that doesn’t help, run nordvpn disconnect once more to clear leftover firewall rules, then reboot.

Printer, NAS or Chromecast Not Found

While you’re connected, the Linux app keeps your local network out unless you turn on LAN discovery. Run nordvpn set lan-discovery on, or allowlist just the subnet you need. Version 6.0.1 added multicast and SSDP support to LAN discovery, which casting and device discovery rely on.

How to Update or Uninstall NordVPN on Linux

NordVPN’s Linux app is the only one that doesn’t update itself, so check for new versions now and then:

# Debian, Ubuntu, Mint, Raspberry Pi OS
sudo apt update && sudo apt install nordvpn
# Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade nordvpn
# Snap
sudo snap refresh nordvpn

On Arch, update nordvpn-bin with your AUR helper. Our guide on updating NordVPN on Linux has more detail.

To remove it, run sudo apt-get --purge remove 'nordvpn*' on Debian-based systems, sudo dnf remove 'nordvpn*' on Fedora, sudo snap remove nordvpn for the snap, or sudo pacman -Rns nordvpn-bin on Arch. Our guide on how to uninstall NordVPN covers every device and what’s left behind. Removing the app doesn’t cancel your subscription.

Best NordVPN Alternatives for Linux

NordVPN is my pick for Linux, but these three are worth a look if you need something it doesn’t do.

1. Surfshark

Surfshark is the closest match, with a full graphical Linux app from Snapcraft, Flathub or its own Debian install script. It covers older releases NordVPN has dropped (Debian 11, Ubuntu 20.04 and Mint 20 or newer), on GNOME, KDE or XFCE and 64-bit PCs or ARM. You get a kill switch, CleanWeb ad blocking, MultiHop and auto-connect, though Surfshark publishes Bypasser (split tunneling) guides only for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.

It also covers unlimited devices, runs 4,500+ servers in 100 countries, and costs $2.49 a month on its 2-year plan during its Black Friday sale. Our Surfshark Linux guide shows the setup.

Get Surfshark – $2.49/mo

2. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN has no Linux app, but its help center has manual OpenVPN and WireGuard guides for Ubuntu, Fedora and Manjaro, plus a manual StealthVPN guide. It allows 10 connections at once, has servers in 63 countries and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. It suits you if you’re happy with NetworkManager or wg-quick and want a smaller provider; our PrivateVPN Linux guide has the steps.

Get PrivateVPN

3. Private Internet Access (PIA)

If you run Arch, Private Internet Access is the one to look at: its graphical app officially supports Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, Fedora and Arch, with a separate build for 64-bit ARM. Its apps are open source, it has servers in 113 countries, and it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. See our PIA Linux guide, or the ranked list of the best VPNs for Linux.

FAQ

The Bottom Line

NordVPN is my pick for Linux: one command installs it, NordLynx is on by default, and the GUI means you no longer need the terminal for everyday use. Update it by hand, use the 6.0.1 commands above, and log in with a token on servers and headless machines.

Get NordVPN’s 2-year deal – up to 78% off with 3 extra months in its Black Friday sale, and 30 days to change your mind. Need unlimited devices instead? Try Surfshark.