NordVPN Background Process is Not Running – Easy Fix in Sep 2026

“NordVPN Background Process is not Running” – Seen this error before?

Don’t you just have it? No matter how many times you click on the “Start process” button, nothing seems to work

As annoying as this error really is, it is actually quite simple to fix. Now the easiest option you have is to just uninstall the NordVPN app and then reinstall it back to see if that fixes the issue.

However, if you’re still encountering connectivity issues, you can try a couple of easy troubleshooting steps.

To make your life easier, I’ve listed down a couple of common troubleshooting steps to help you solve the connectivity issues of NordVPN.

Let’s start with clearing NordVPN’s application cache to fix the NordVPN background process is not running error.

How to Fix NordVPN Background Process is Not Running

Here are some of the methods to fix NordVPN’s background process not running:

Step#1- Clear NordVPN App Cache

In order to clear NordVPN’s app cache, just follow the quick steps below. This should take less than five minutes max.

1. First, open up the task manager by hitting Ctrl+Alt+Del at the same time and then clicking on the processes tab.
2. Now, you should see a list of processes running. Just find “nordvpn-service.exe” and “NordVPN.exe” from the list, right-click on it, and then click on the End process tree for both of them.
3. Now that you’ve all the background processes associated with NordVPN, go ahead and close your task manager and open up the “Run menu” by hitting the “Windows” (Start) key and “R” simultaneously.
4. Now when the tiny little window pops up, type in %localappdata% and click on “OK”.
5. Now you should see a rather lengthy list of application folders currently installed on your computer. From this list, look for the NordVPN folder and delete it. This will not harm the app and will only clear up the app cache.
6. Now just restart your NordVPN app and hopefully, it should fix the problem.

Step#2 – Connected to the VPN Server but Still No Internet Access

Another issue that you might come across is no internet access despite being connected to NordVPN servers. This issue is also rather easy to fix. Just follow the steps below and you should be done in no time.

1. Start by selecting a specific server location rather than just connecting to a certain country. So instead of just connecting to the United States and letting the app pick a city, you can specify it from the list. This should help with the issue of no internet access.
2. If that didn’t work, maybe the security software installed on your computer is messing with NordVPN. Try disabling or uninstalling your antivirus or firewall apps to see if that helps.

Step# 3 – Change DNS Server when Connected to the NordVPN App

If that didn’t work either, try changing the DNS server you are using when connected to NordVPN. To do that, just follow the steps below.

1. Click on the Settings tab of the NordVPN application.
2. Scroll down and click on “Advanced settings” and “I know what I’m doing”.
3. Next, look for Custom DNS, and turn it on.
4. After that, click on “Add another DNS” and type in 8.8.8.
5. Next, click on “Add another DNS” once again and type in 8.4.4.
6. Finally, try connecting to a server location and check if you can access the internet now.

If the above-mentioned steps don’t work, follow these steps:

1. Launch the NordVPN application.
2. Head into the Settings menu.
3. Scroll down a bit and click on Show Advanced Settings.
4. Next, scroll down a bit again and run the Diagnostics tool.
5. Now, when a window pops up, select Network Flush.
6. Finally, restart your PC and try connecting to the NordVPN servers again.

If still, nothing seems to work, contact NordVPN’s customer support. You can talk to their support representatives who are available 24/7 and get your issue resolved that way.

Step# 4 – Reinstall NordVPN App

If you’re experiencing issues with NordVPN running in the background, reinstalling the application may help resolve the problem. Follow these simple steps to reinstall NordVPN on your Windows 10 device:

1. Right-click the Windows Start button and select Apps & Features from the menu.
2. Scroll through the list and locate NordVPN.
3. Click on NordVPN and select Uninstall. Confirm the uninstallation when prompted.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to completely remove NordVPN from your computer.
5. Once uninstalled, go to the official NordVPN website to download the latest version of the app for Windows 10.
6. After downloading, install the new version of NordVPN and log in using your premium credentials.

Step#5 – Remove Other VPNs on Your PC

If you have multiple VPN applications installed on your Windows 10 device, they may interfere with NordVPN’s functionality. Conflicts between different VPNs can cause performance issues or prevent NordVPN from working altogether.

To resolve this, uninstall any other VPNs completely from your computer. Simply closing the application or ending the process is not sufficient—ensure that the software is fully removed. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open Apps & Features in the Windows settings (by right-clicking the Start button).
2. Find the other VPN applications and select Uninstall for each one.

If, after following these steps, the issue persists, it’s recommended to reach out to NordVPN’s support team. They can provide more advanced troubleshooting steps to help resolve the problem.

As a last resort, you simply consider switching to a different VPN service altogether. ExpressVPN is a good option to go for. You may notice its performance to be marginally better than NordVPN.

It offers 3000+ servers and top-notch security features such as a Network lock (kill switch), powerful VPN protocols, 24/7 support, and plenty of other features.

If you’re interested in ExpressVPN, you can purchase it right now for just $2.49/mo (Save 84% and get 4 extra months FREE with 24-month plan). Their regular plan without the exclusive discount costs $12.95/mo.

Conclusion

Resolving issues with NordVPN background process not working on your device is usually a straightforward process. Whether it’s reinstalling the app to fix background-related problems or removing conflicting VPN software to eliminate software conflicts, these simple steps can help restore NordVPN’s performance.

If the issue persists after trying these methods, contacting NordVPN’s support team can provide you with personalized assistance to resolve more complex issues.