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The Complete Beginner‘s Guide to Installing NordVPN on Ubuntu

Hi friend! Do you use the Ubuntu operating system and want an easy way to boost your online privacy and security?

If so, you’ve come to the right place!

In this detailed guide, I’ll be sharing step-by-step how to install and configure NordVPN on Ubuntu.

Even if you’re not tech savvy, just follow along and I’ll make sure you get NordVPN up and running smoothly.

Here’s a quick overview of what I’ll cover:

  • What is NordVPN and why is it essential for Ubuntu users
  • NordVPN installation prerequisites for Ubuntu
  • A beginner-friendly walkthrough of installing NordVPN
  • Optimizing and customizing your NordVPN settings
  • Troubleshooting help for any issues
  • Tips for staying secure with NordVPN

So if you’re ready to take control of your online privacy, let’s get started! This entire process should only take about 10-15 minutes.

Why NordVPN is Essential for Ubuntu

Before we dive into installing NordVPN, I wanted to quickly explain what exactly a VPN (virtual private network) is and why NordVPN in particular is so important for securing any Ubuntu-powered device.

VPNs encrypt all of the data you send and receive while connected to public Wi-Fi hotspots, cellular networks, and your internet provider. This prevents snooping entities like cyber criminals, tech companies, and even government agencies from being able to see your online activity.

NordVPN is my top recommendation because of its industry-leading security, ease of use, and budget-friendly pricing. Specifically, here’s why NordVPN is the best VPN for Ubuntu:

  • Next-gen encryption – NordVPN uses AES-256, some of the strongest encryption possible, to lock down your data.

  • Zero data logging – NordVPN adheres to a strict no-logs policy and does not keep any records of your online activity while connected.

  • 5400+ servers worldwide – No matter where you’re located, you can route your traffic through servers across 60 countries to unlock region-blocked content, bypass censorship, and more.

  • Up to 6 simultaneous connections – Share NordVPN protection across all your Ubuntu PCs plus mobile devices, routers, and beyond.

  • Lightning-fast speeds – Cutting-edge technology like NordLynx protocol offers higher VPN speeds for smooth 4K streaming and gaming.

  • 24/7 customer support – Friendly experts are available around the clock if you ever need technical assistance.

So in a nutshell, installing NordVPN on Ubuntu gives you private, fast, and truly unlimited access to the internet – no snooping or restrictions!

Next up, I’ll quickly cover the Ubuntu and account prerequisites you’ll need before we dive into the installation steps.

NordVPN Installation Prerequisites

Here’s what you’ll need in place on your Ubuntu device and NordVPN account before starting the installation process:

1. Supported Ubuntu Versions

NordVPN is compatible with Ubuntu versions 18.04 and higher, including desktop, mobile, and server installations.

Popular Ubuntu flavors like Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Xubuntu etc. are also fully supported.

2. Minimum Hardware Requirements

Your Ubuntu device should meet these minimum hardware specs for good NordVPN performance:

  • CPU – Dual-core 2GHz processor or better
  • RAM – 2GB minimum (4GB+ recommended)
  • Storage – 300MB free disk space
  • Internet – 10Mbps broadband recommended

Faster multi-core CPUs and more RAM will give you better connectivity speeds. But NordVPN can run even on modest hardware for basic web browsing.

3. Valid NordVPN Account

You’ll want an active NordVPN subscription logged into your account before starting the install process.

Signing up takes just minutes. NordVPN plans start from just $3.29 per month.

I suggest going with their 2-year deal which brings the monthly cost down to only $2.99.

👉 Grab NordVPN’s Limited Time New Year Deal Here

Once subscribed, be ready with your NordVPN username and password.

4. Basic Terminal Knowledge

We’ll be using Ubuntu‘s built-in Terminal app to run all the NordVPN installation and configuration commands.

The Terminal lets you access Ubuntu’s powerful command line interface and automation capabilities.

Ubuntu Terminal app

While no coding skills are needed, having some basic Terminal knowledge will be helpful.

I’ve included a quick NordVPN Terminal tutorial below to cover the key concepts:

  • Opening Terminal – Find Terminal under your applications list or search for it
  • Running commands – Copy-paste or type commands into Terminal, hit Enter to run
  • Sudo prefix – Commands with sudo run with admin rights. Enter your user account password when prompted
  • Output messages – Follow any on-screen installation instructions or error messages
  • Restarting Terminal – New VPN commands won‘t run until Terminal restarts

That covers the key prerequisites! As long as you have Ubuntu 18.04+, an active NordVPN subscription, and the hardware/Terminal basics above, you’re all set.

Let‘s jump into actually installing NordVPN.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing NordVPN on Ubuntu

Follow along with the step-by-step instructions below and I’ll walk you through installing and setting up NordVPN on Ubuntu.

The entire install process should take around 5-10 minutes depending on your device and internet speeds.

1. Add the NordVPN Package Repository

First, we’ll add NordVPN’s package repository to Ubuntu so we can easily install NordVPN directly from their servers:

Launch the Terminal app and run the following 3 commands to add the repository:

sudo wget -qO - https://repo.nordvpn.com/gpg.key | gpg --dearmor > nordvpn_gpg.gpg
sudo install -o root -g root -m 644 nordvpn_gpg.gpg /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/
sudo sh -c ‘echo "deb https://repo.nordvpn.com/deb/nordvpn/debian $(lsb_release -cs) main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/nordvpn.list‘

Breaking down what each command does here:

  1. Downloads NordVPN‘s GPG key for verifying signatures
  2. Installs their key into apt‘s trusted keys list
  3. Adds their repository to your package sources

After adding the repository, NordVPN packages can now be installed directly using apt.

You should see a "OK" success message for each command.

Adding NordVPN repository outputs

2. Update Package Index and Install

Next, run an apt update to refresh your local package list and grab the latest package info:

sudo apt update

Then install the NordVPN package itself:

sudo apt install nordvpn

The nordvpn package contains the custom NordVPN client and networking backend for Ubuntu.

Accept any prompts during install to agree to the Terms of Service and select your preferred NordVPN subscription plan.

After a minute or two, NordVPN will finish installing to your Ubuntu system.

3. Log In and Activate Your Account

Nearly there! With NordVPN now installed, we need to log in and activate our account:

sudo nordvpn login

Enter your NordVPN username and password when prompted to authenticate your account with the client.

Logging into NordVPN

The client will now verify your account has an active subscription and retrieve recommended server data in the background.

4. Connect to the Best NordVPN Server

Okay! We’re ready to turn on encryption and route our traffic through NordVPN’s worldwide servers.

Use the connect command to instantly connect to NordVPN’s recommended fastest server: 

sudo nordvpn connect

This auto-connects you to NordVPN‘s fastest server based on your location. It typically selects a location geographically near you.

Wait a few seconds for the connection process to complete. Once connected, you‘ll see "Connected to" plus details about your assigned server.

Congratulations! You now have full security and privacy benefits of being connected to NordVPN 🎉

Successfully connected to NordVPN

Notice the NordVPN icon in the top menu bar turn blue to indicate your active encrypted session. Your internet traffic is now flowing safely through an encrypted tunnel to the VPN server.

Plus with no activity or connection logs recorded by NordVPN, your online identity is now anonymized behind a shared IP address for maximum privacy!

Validate Your NordVPN Installation

To confirm everything got setup correctly:

  • 👉 Open DNSLeakTest in your browser
  • 👉 Click Extended Test
  • 👉 Check under the DNS Server section – you should only see DNS addresses pointing to NordVPN

Additionally, sites like IPLocation will now show your IP address pointing to the country of whatever NordVPN server you connected to rather than your true location.

Optimize Performance

To squeeze some extra speed out of your new NordVPN encrypted tunnel, try these tweaks:

  • Change protocols – Use NordLynx or OpenVPN UDP for faster throughput. Select different options and run speed tests to determine the best.
  • Pick nearby servers – Manually connect to NordVPN servers geographically closer to you when speed is critical.
  • Enable CyberSec – Turns on firewall-level ad, tracker, and malware blocking for safer, faster web browsing.

Experiment to optimize your setup for each use case like streaming, torrenting, gaming and so on.

Configuring and Customizing NordVPN

Now that you have NordVPN installed and active, let‘s go over some key configuration options to customize your VPN setup:

Auto-Connect on Boot

To have NordVPN automatically turn on whenever you restart your Ubuntu device:

sudo nordvpn set autoconnect true

This way privacy protection starts immediately when you power on your device without needing to run the connect command manually.

Select Specific Servers

To route your traffic through a particular country or city:

sudo nordvpn connect us6939

Replace us6939 with your desired server. Get server numbers from the Server List tab in the NordVPN desktop app.

This allows you to geo-shift your location or connect to less congested servers.

Share Across All Your Devices

Install the NordVPN native app on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android to sync your account login across platforms.

You can have up to 6 simultaneous connections protected by NordVPN.

So secure your whole digital ecosystem – desktops, laptops, tablets, phones, and more!

Connect Router for Whole Home Coverage

For VPN protection across all your WiFi connected smart home devices, setup NordVPN on your router.

This tunnels ALL the traffic flowing through your router securely through an encrypted VPN pipe.

Enable Specialty NordVPN Modes

Beyond standard VPN access, unlock next-level privacy and security with NordVPN‘s unique modes:

  • Onion Over VPN – Chain VPN encryption with Tor anonymity network traffic routing.
  • Double VPN – Encrypt through two distinct VPN servers for double-layer obfuscation.
  • Obfuscated Servers – Hide the fact you‘re using a VPN to bypass deep packet inspection blocks.
  • Dedicated IP – Get a static single endpoint IP on all connections for consistent identification.

Take a look under Settings > Specialty Services to enable these modes.

That covers most of the key configuration options to help customize your NordVPN setup!

The NordVPN Ubuntu client makes it super simple to tweak your virtual private network preferences for any use case or circumstance.

I highly recommend playing around with different protocols, connection modes, and specialty servers once up and running.

Troubleshooting NordVPN Install Problems

Hopefully you were able to follow along and get NordVPN successfully installed without any major issues.

However, sometimes little problems can come up. Here’s help fixing the most common errors:

Couldn’t validate NordVPN account – Double check your subscription is active and be careful when typing your NordVPN login details during account verification.

Command not found – Close then reopen your Terminal window. VPN commands rely on specific environment data and may not work across sessions.

Various permission errors – Restart by prefixing all commands with sudo to run them with elevated access if needed.

Still running into trouble installing or logging into NordVPN? Contact their 24/7 live support. Their experts can help diagnose any issues and will create a debug log to investigate problems if needed.

NordVPN offers outstanding Ubuntu platform support with their custom Linux VPN client. So don’t hesitate to ping their customer service who are very responsive to getting your system working properly!

Uninstalling NordVPN from Ubuntu

If you ever need to uninstall NordVPN, just use: 

sudo apt remove nordvpn

To purge all user data files and cached logs too:

sudo apt purge nordvpn

And NordVPN will be cleanly removed from your Ubuntu setup 👍

Wrap Up and Next Steps

Congrats friend! Getting NordVPN installed on your Ubuntu device was a huge win for taking back control of your security and privacy.

You now have a commercial-grade encrypted tunnel shielding your online activity from prying eyes – whether that’s overloaded public WiFi, nosy ISPs, or rogue eavesdroppers.

Plus you can tap into NordVPN’s 5400+ worldwide VPN servers to bypass internet censorship and content geo-blocks anytime.

Here are a few parting tips I recommend after getting setup:

  • Try out different connection protocols and specialty servers
  • Setup VPN auto-connect at boot
  • Install NordVPN apps across all your devices
  • Contact support if any issues come up

To lock-in the latest discount before this New Year deal ends, visit:

NordVPN 63% Off Limited Time New Year Offer

Or feel free to drop any questions you still have down in the comments section below and I’ll help out!

Stay secure out there and have fun exploring the internet freely and privately!