How to Use NordVPN on Android? – Step-By-Step Guide
NordVPN is a must-have VPN app on your Android device. This VPN is user-friendly, reliable, and provides impeccable security and privacy.
Its fully-fledged VPN features offer a seamless Android VPN experience and excellent value for your money. NordVPN subscriptions carry a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can connect up to 6 devices on a single subscription.
This guide will show you how to set up and use NordVPN on Android. You will also learn about notable NordVPN Android features and why you need NordVPN on Android.
Continue reading below!
- Subscribe to a suitable pricing plan on the NordVPN website.
- Open the Play Store on your Android, search NordVPN, and tap Install.
- Wait for the installation to complete, and then open the NordVPN app.
- On the screen that opens, tap LOG IN to sign in to your NordVPN account. Tap SIGN UP to create a new account if you skipped step one.
- Select a server or use the QUICK CONNECT button to connect to the closest server.
- Enjoy a secure and private internet connection.
You can also download and sideload the NordVPN APK file from the NordVPN website. Ensure you enable installation from unknown sources in your Android settings.
Check out also my guide on other good Android VPNs for further recommendations.
NordVPN Features on Android
NordVPN offers a comprehensive and user-friendly VPN experience across its apps. The NordVPN Android app includes most features found in its desktop counterparts.
Here are some notable features:
1. Standard and Specialty Servers
NordVPN offers over 5,400 servers in 60 countries worldwide. The Android app provides access to both standard and specialty servers.
- Standard Servers: Ideal for everyday tasks like browsing.
- Specialty Servers: Designed for specific purposes, including:
- P2P Servers: Perfect for torrenting and downloading files securely and privately.
- Onion over VPN Servers: Use the Tor network without needing the Tor browser, ideal for avoiding surveillance.
- Obfuscated Servers: Make VPN traffic appear as regular internet traffic, useful for bypassing censorship and VPN blocks.
- Double VPN Servers: Provide extra security by routing traffic through two VPN servers.
- Dedicated IP Servers: Offer a unique IP address not shared with other users, suitable for services that might ban shared VPN IPs.
2. Server Connection Options
The NordVPN Android app allows for manual connection to servers or using the Quick Connect and Auto-connect options.
- Quick Connect: Connects to the fastest, least congested, and nearest server for everyday tasks.
- Auto-connect: Automatically connects to a server whenever there’s an internet connection, with options to use Wi-Fi, mobile networks, Ethernet, or any available method. You can auto-connect to the fastest server, recent connections, or specialty servers.
3. Meshnet and Traffic Routing
This feature enables secure connection and traffic forwarding to any device while connected to the VPN. It’s essential for file sharing, remote device access, remote work, and multiplayer gaming. Meshnet allows linking up to 10 devices with your NordVPN account and up to 50 external devices.
4. VPN Connection Options
The NordVPN app supports OpenVPN (TCP and UDP) and NordLynx protocols. NordLynx is recommended for its speed and reliability.
- OpenVPN TCP: Offers reliability.
- OpenVPN UDP: Provides speed.
- Obfuscated Servers: Available when using the OpenVPN protocol.
The app also includes options like split tunneling, DNS servers, local network discovery, and metered connection to control your connections.
5. Additional Features
The NordVPN Android app includes several additional features to enhance online security and privacy:
- Dark Web Monitor: Scans the dark web for credential leaks and other data associated with your NordVPN email address, alerting you to take protective actions.
- Tapjacking Protection: Prevents accidental VPN disconnections by requiring two steps to disable the VPN.
- Threat Protection: Blocks phishing links, malware sites, intrusive ads, and other threats. Note that the Play Store app offers lite threat protection due to Google policies; for full protection, the app must be sideloaded.
With these features, NordVPN ensures a secure, private, and efficient browsing experience on Android.
Why Use NordVPN on Android?
NordVPN’s top-tier service delivers various benefits you can reap on your Android device. Popular uses for NordVPN on Android include:
Security and Privacy
NordVPN uses its next-gen AES 256-bit encryption to protect your online traffic from prying eyes such as hackers, ISP, the government, and other parties.
Its specialty servers, such as double VPN and onion over VPN, offer extra protection and privacy for sensitive tasks.
As a no-log VPN, NordVPN doesn’t monitor, store, or track what you do online. Its jurisdiction is also away from the influence of the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance.
Unblocking Capabilities
NordVPN’s extensive network of 5400 servers ensures you can access content worldwide. These servers offer fast speeds coupled with unlimited bandwidth.
The servers incorporate Smart Play (Smart DNS) which boosts NordVPN’s unblocking abilities. NordVPN bypasses various geo-restrictions and can unblock content from Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, HBO, Disney Plus, and sporting activities.
Its obfuscated servers allow you to bypass VPN blocks, including heavy censorship in some countries. This VPN helps you reclaim your digital freedom.
Besides the above uses, you can also use NordVPN on Android for other tasks, such as avoiding price discrimination, bypassing ISP throttling, and overall cyber protection.
Wrap Up
NordVPN is a high-quality, feature-rich VPN known for its advanced security and privacy measures. With its strong unblocking abilities, robust security protocols, and an extensive network of servers, NordVPN provides an exceptional VPN experience on Android devices.
