NordVPN works with Virgin Media, and it’s one of the best VPNs to keep the ISP’s bandwidth throttling attempts and P2P crackdowns at bay.
Thanks to NordVPN’s 5800+ servers in 60 countries, you also get Netflix US, Crave TV, Peacock TV, and other geo-blocked content from the UK.
On top of that, the throttling-free support brings you any streaming service in premium HD or 4K.
I’ll show you how to use NordVPN with Virgin Media on every device connected to its broadband network. I’ll also throw in NordVPN discounts to make it worthwhile.
How to Use NordVPN With Virgin Media on Mobile & PC?
You can install NordVPN apps on your smartphones and PCs to enjoy the VPN’s offerings on Virgin Media.
Here’s a simple guide to help you with the setup:
- Get your NordVPN account. Grab these discounts if you like savings.
- Download and install the NordVPN app for your smartphone or PC. I’ll get the Windows PC app, but the steps are similar across other devices.
- Launch the app and log in with your account email and password. These should be the same as the registration details from Step 1 above.
- Click Settings > Connection.
- Select “NordLynx” under protocol. This should give you the closest to your base Virgin Media speeds, even with the VPN enabled.
- Go to Settings > Kill Switch.
- Toggle the Kill switch ON to ensure Virgin Media doesn’t see your P2P or other sensitive online activities if the VPN connection randomly drops.
- Tap the locations icon, then click “Quick Connect.” I recommend this if you want the VPN’s encryption to play games or securely use the internet.
- Alternatively, tap the locations icon, then click the dropdown menu.
- Search for a preferred server, or explore the specialty server folders to choose one that suits you best. Follow this NordVPN specialty server guide to know what each one does.
- Wait for the connection confirmation. Then, test for leaks to ensure you’re using the VPN-assigned IP address and DNS servers.
- Unblock US content, bypass geo-blocking to other global content like Crave TV, play P2P games without DDoS attacks, and enjoy secure torrenting over Virgin Media.
How to Setup NordVPN for Gaming Consoles & Smart TVs on Virgin Media?
Gaming consoles (like PlayStations and Xboxes) and smart TVs (like Samsung Smart TVs) connected to Virgin Media Broadband hubs can’t download a native NordVPN app.
That makes installing the VPN on them challenging but not impossible.
Follow the methods below to get NordVPN to work with your gaming consoles and smart TVs.
Method #1 – Virtual Router Setup
For this setup, you’ll need a PC to share a VPN-encrypted hotspot connection to the smart TV or gaming console. I’ll use Windows in my example, but the setup also works with macOS and IKEv2.
Here are the steps:
- Buy a NordVPN subscription (get discounts).
- Follow steps 2-11 in the PC installation guide shared above. However, choose the “OpenVPN (UDP)” or “OpenVPN (TCP)” protocol this time.
- Set up your Windows PC to allow hotspot sharing. The video below shows you the exact steps to take.
- Connect your gaming console or smart TV to the virtual router/hotspot network you just created.
- Unblock geo-restricted content on your smart TV, join foreign bot lobbies on your gaming console, and keep your data from Virgin Media on both units.
Method #2 – Smart DNS
Smart DNS involves changing your DNS servers to spoof content platforms into thinking you’re outside the UK. In this case, NordVPN Smart DNS will convince the services you access on your gaming consoles and smart TVs that you’re in the US.
Hence, you’ll have unfettered access to MLB TV, NFL, NHL, Peacock TV, Netflix US exclusives, and related content.
To set it up, buy a NordVPN account cheaper with these discounts and follow the video guide below.
However, this is the poorest approach if you want to keep your online activities private from Virgin Media. That’s because Smart DNS doesn’t encrypt your internet activity like the VPN servers do.
So, you’ll get faster unblocking speeds, but at what cost?
Remember that before committing to this method.
Method #3 – TV Micro-Consoles
This method only works for smart and non-smart TVs using micro-consoles like Roku and Amazon Fire TV sticks.
NordVPN has native apps for these units. So, all you must do is:
- Get your NordVPN account handy. New users can grab these discount offers while they last.
- Set up your TV micro-console (Nvidia Shield, Roku, Amazon Fire TV stick, etc.).
- Download NordVPN on these consoles. The video guide below shows NordVPN downloaded on an Amazon Fire TV stick.
- Launch the app and log in to use NordVPN.
- Connect to a VPN server. For example, you can connect to Japan to unblock Netflix Japan exclusives like Gin Tama over your Virgin Media network.
- Enjoy unlimited content on your Smart TV over Virgin Media without throttling issues.
Can You Access the NordVPN Website on Virgin Media?
You can access NordVPN’s website on Virgin Media using your PC, smartphone, or other internet-enabled devices with a browser. However, some Virgin Media users are usually blocked out of the NordVPN website, making it challenging to reach NordVPN support, buy an account, or log in to their online accounts.
If this happens, check that your Virgin Media Web Safe settings aren’t the culprit. Sometimes, they may incorrectly identify the NordVPN site as unsafe and keep you from accessing it on your network.
Alternatively, change your device’s DNS to Google’s or Cloudflare’s.
I’ve included a video guide that gently breaks the process down below.
How to Solve NordVPN Virgin Mobile Throttling & Connection Issues?
Does your Virgin Media connection grind to a halt once you enable NordVPN?
Do you experience severe throttling when using the VPN?
Does the NordVPN server connection randomly drop on Virgin Media?
No matter what issue you’ve been facing on the connection front, these troubleshooting tips should help.
Switch Away From the VM Hub
Virgin Media Hubs 3, 4, and 5 are notorious for dropping NordVPN connections or seriously throttling it.
Fortunately, you can start getting close to the ISP’s speeds by setting your VM Hub to modem mode and using it with a third-party router.
You can follow the helpful video guide below to complete this in minutes.
Most success is found with ASUS or TP-Link routers, but you can test your third-party model.
Change Protocol
NordLynx is the best NordVPN protocol with Virgin Media, especially if you want to perform high-speed activities like torrenting, gaming, and streaming.
But I’ve also noticed that this protocol sometimes gets caught in the web of ISPs like Virgin Media. When that happens, use NordVPN’s OpenVPN protocols.
I agree that they cause a bigger speed hit than NordLynx.
However, getting 400Mbps on a 1Gbps network from OpenVPN is better than suffering the slower 1% speeds on NordLynx throttling.
Use Dedicated IP
NordVPN’s standard servers are designed to rotate your IP addresses (within the exact location), so you always connect to the best server.
The issue is your Virgin Media hub might not be configured to handle such IP changes. Hence, it’ll drop the server connection whenever the server IP address changes in the background.
In this case, I’ll recommend getting a NordVPN dedicated IP address.
Of course, they cost extra – but you’ll even get extra privacy and a massive speed boost compared to the standard servers.
For example, I prefer the US dedicated IP since it allows me to unblock a large content library and access most major gaming titles.
Change Router MAC Address
In some cases, Virgin Media Hubs 3, 4, and 5 only drop the VPN’s connection on the original IP address they issued you.
Fortunately, Virgin Mobile’s router manual states your express permission to create your own MAC address on the router, which gives you a fresh IP address.
I’ve attached a video guide you can adapt to your router below.
Once you’re done, VM should start associating your NordVPN connection with the new MAC address and its resulting IP address.
FAQs
Can You Install NordVPN on a Virgin Media Router?
You can’t install NordVPN on a Virgin Media router or hub since the ISP doesn’t support third-party apps or software installations.
However, you can set up the Virgin Media Hub to work in modem mode, plugged into a third-party router with NordVPN installed.
Hence, you get your internet from Virgin Media, passing through the NordVPN server encryption, before reaching your units.
Break the Virgin Media Garden With NordVPN
Virgin Media has been on record saying they’ll throttle traffic to streaming services that don’t pay them a premium. They also experimented with deep-checking user data for P2P activities and were caught collecting/selling user data.
That’s why you need NordVPN’s AES 256-bit encrypted servers to bypass this throttling, download torrent files securely, and keep your data anonymized.
On top of that, NordVPN expands your content reach to Disney+, NRK TV, CBC, Crave TV, Hulu, and much more.
So, grab these NordVPN discounts to improve your experience with Virgin Media.
