I haven’t been able to upgrade Nord since 7.3.10.0 - any version after this flashes up the logo and then nothing, and the service doesn’t start. I know there’s a thread on here from a couple of years ago, but it was never resolved. I have an ongoing support call, where they throw seemingly random ideas at me (latest one - please send Winver output, which is already in their diagnostics) and it’s pretty clear they don’t have an idea.
I’m 10 days away from my subscription expiring and I guess at that point, I’ll explore other options. I’ve been using it happily for years, though, so I’d like a resolution.
That’s frustrating! Sounds like NordVPN might have a compatibility issue with the new Windows 11 (23H2) update. I had something similar where Nord just refused to launch after an update. I rolled back the app to the older version, and it worked temporarily, but yeah… not sustainable.
I feel ya, man. Windows updates break everything. If Nord isn’t working, try reinstalling TAP drivers. I had to do that when the VPN refused to connect properly after an update. Nord relies on these drivers for tunneling, and sometimes Windows messes them up. You can do it from Device Manager.
I’ve had issues with Nord too after 23H2. It seems like something to do with Windows Defender blocking part of the VPN’s service. Try whitelisting NordVPN in the Defender firewall and antivirus settings.
Also, make sure Secure Boot isn’t interfering—it sometimes prevents VPN drivers from loading.
Yo, same here. I couldn’t get Nord to open, so I switched to WireGuard instead. It runs perfectly with 23H2 and is less bloaty. I think Nord’s trying to do too much with their app these days.
Good call! I’ll try that. Also, I noticed Nord doesn’t play well with Fast Startup. I disabled it from Control Panel > Power Options, and that fixed some launch issues. Might be worth a shot?
Fast Startup is always the culprit, lol. Another thing: are you running the app as admin? Sometimes these VPN clients need elevated permissions, especially after a Windows update.
Alternatively, you could try NordVPN’s OpenVPN setup. It’s not as sleek as the app, but at least it’ll keep you connected while you sort things out. I had to use that workaround for a couple of weeks once.
I hate how Windows updates break VPNs. Happens with almost every provider. If all else fails, try reinstalling Nord from scratch—clean the registry keys too. Or maybe give ExpressVPN or Mullvad a shot if you don’t find a solution by the time your sub expires.
Yeah, or threaten to cancel your subscription and see if Nord support magically finds a solution. Companies tend to get way more helpful when they think you’re about to jump ship.
Sounds like NordVPN might have a compatibility issue with the new Windows 11 (23H2) update. I had something similar where Nord just refused to launch after an update. I rolled back the app to the older version, and it worked temporarily, but yeah… not sustainable.
If Nord isn’t working, try reinstalling TAP drivers. I had to do that when the VPN refused to connect properly after an update. Nord relies on these drivers for tunneling, and sometimes Windows messes them up. You can do it from Device Manager.
Another thing: are you running the app as admin? Sometimes these VPN clients need elevated permissions, especially after a Windows update.
If all else fails, try reinstalling Nord from scratch—clean the registry keys too. Or maybe give ExpressVPN or Mullvad a shot if you don’t find a solution by the time your sub expires.
