Nord VPN Not Logging In | NordVPN Login Not Working

If you are unable to log in to NordVPN right now (January 30, 2026), it is most likely due to the “Browser Redirect Loop” (where the website says you are logged in, but the app stays stuck) or a cached credential error.

Here is the step-by-step troubleshooting guide, ordered from the most common fix to the last resort.

1. The “Browser Redirect” Fix (Most Common)

NordVPN now forces you to log in via a web browser rather than directly inside the app. Often, the browser fails to “handshake” back to the app.

• The Fix: Change your default browser temporarily.

  1. Close the NordVPN app and your current browser.

  2. Set a different browser as your default (e.g., if you use Chrome, switch to Edge or Firefox).

  3. Open NordVPN and click Log In.

  4. It will open the new browser. Log in there.

  5. The browser should prompt: “Allow this site to open the NordVPN link?” Click Yes/Open.

• Alternative: If you can’t change browsers, copy the URL from the login page, open an Incognito/Private window, paste it there, and log in.

Also Read : Snipping Tool Not Working | Step-By-Step Fix

2. Clear the App Cache

If the app is spinning or giving a generic “Something went wrong” error, the local cache is likely corrupted.

• Windows:

  1. Close the app.

  2. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and end any “NordVPN” background processes.

  3. Press Win + R, type %localappdata%, and hit Enter.

  4. Find the NordVPN folder and delete it. (This resets settings but fixes login glitches).

• Android:

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > NordVPN.

  2. Tap Storage > Clear Cache (and Clear Data if cache doesn’t work).

• Mac:

  1. Open Terminal (Cmd + Space, type “Terminal”).

  2. Run this command to reset defaults: defaults delete com.nordvpn.osx-apple (for App Store version) or defaults delete com.nordvpn.osx (for website version).

3. The “Network Switch” Trick

If the login page fails to load entirely, your ISP or current network might be blocking the authentication server.

• The Fix:

  1. Disconnect your computer/phone from Wi-Fi.

  2. Connect to a Mobile Hotspot (or turn off Wi-Fi on your phone and use 4G/5G).

  3. Log in.

  4. Once logged in, you can switch back to your normal Wi-Fi. The authentication token usually sticks.

4. Command Line Login (Windows/Mac/Linux)

If the graphical interface is broken, you can bypass it using the terminal (Legacy method, may vary by version but worth a try):

1. Open Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac).

2. Type: nordvpn login

3. If it generates a link, copy-paste that link into your browser to authorize.

4. If it asks for credentials directly (rare in newer versions), enter them there.

5. Check Service Status

It is possible (though less likely) that the NordVPN authentication servers are down.

• Check here: DownDetector for NordVPN

• Symptoms: If you see a massive spike in reports in the last hour, stop troubleshooting. You simply have to wait for them to fix the server.

Summary:

The #1 fix is usually switching your default browser (e.g., from Chrome to Edge) just for the login step. This clears the “handshake” blockage.