NordVPN obfuscated servers not working [4 easy methods]

June 2024 · 4 minute read

If you notice NordVPN‘s obfuscated servers stopped working, don’t fret. It’s quite a common issue, especially among novices, that can be fixed easily.

NordVPN’s obfuscated servers are an important component, since they enable you to further decrease your chance of being detected.

Obfuscated servers, also called stealth servers, cloak VPN traffic and make it appear as regular traffic.

Therefore, any online service that might apply restrictions to VPN users won’t be able to detect that you’re using a VPN.

They are crucial for users who try to access geo-restricted content in certain countries that ban VPN usage (such as China).

BEST VPNS WE RECOMMEND

How can I fix NordVPN’s obfuscated servers not working?

  • Uninstall NordVPN completely from your PC
  • Download the last version of NordVPN
  • Right-click the installer executable
  • Select Run as administrator
  • Proceed through the installation
  • Once it’s done, launch NordVPN
  • Make sure you’re using the OpenVPN protocol (check the first method above)
  • Click the Obfuscated servers folder or select a specific server
  • NordVPN usually performs version checks and applies updates automatically.

    However, if you didn’t launch the app in a long time, you may be running an outdated version.

    There’s a good reason why developers can’t stress enough that we keep programs and drivers up-to-date.

  • Disconnect from NordVPN’s server, if necessary
  • Right-click the NordVPN tray icon
  • Select Quit App
  • Press the Win key on your keyboard
  • Type services and select the Services app
  • Locate nordvpn-service in the large section of the window
  • Right-click it and select Properties
  • Make sure that Startup type is set to Automatic
  • Close the Properties window
  • While nordvpn-service is highlighted click the Restart hyperlink (check screenshot below)
  • Close the Services window
  • Re-launch NordVPN
  • Make sure you’ve enabled obfuscated servers (check Method 1)
  • Click the Obfuscated servers folder or choose a specific country/server combo
  • Services can sometimes affect the functionality of certain apps on your PC.

    Although NordVPN’s service is there to make sure that the app runs as intended, it doesn’t hurt to give it the old restart treatment.

    It might kickstart the Obfuscated servers functionality back to life.

  • Buy another VPN subscription plan (we recommend Surfshark)
  • Download and install the VPN on your PC
  • Launch the VPN client
  • Log in to your account
  • Access Surfshark’s Settings screen
  • Go to the Advanced section
  • Choose OpenVPN (TCP or UDP) from the Protocol dropdown menu
  • Connect to any Surfshark server
  • If nothing seems to do the trick, you may want to try another VPN.

    However, it’s of utmost importance that this other VPN you may try also has obfuscated servers.

    One such VPN that we wholeheartedly recommend is Surfshark.

    Not only can Surfshark mask VPN traffic with its Camouflage Mode (which is essentially the same thing as obfuscated servers), but it also has GPS spoofing.

    Note that Surfshark’s Camouflage Mode doesn’t need to be enabled to work.

    It is enabled automatically whenever you connect to one of Surfshark’s servers using the OpenVPN (TCP or UDP) protocol.

    Check out Surfshark’s main features:

    Surfshark

    Surfshark

    Looking for a great VPN with obfuscation support? You should definitely check out Surfshark.

    Conclusion

    All in all, if your NordVPN obfuscated servers don’t seem to work, it’s usually caused by the NordLynx protocol.

    Simply switching to OpenVPN should let you enable obfuscated servers once more and use them without significant effort.

    Ultimately, if nothing works, you can try switching to another VPN service that has obfuscation support, such as Surfshark.

    Your connection is not secure - websites you visit can find out your details:

    Companies can sell this information, alongside your location and internet provider name, and profit from it by serving targeted ads or monitoring your data usage.

    We recommend Private Internet Access, a VPN with a no-log policy, open source code, ad blocking and much more; now 79% off.

    ncG1vNJzZmivmaOxsMPSq5ypp6Kpe6S7zGilqKqUq72vec6bna6rk5bBprCMrJyrrpWnwG66zq1ksKeioLavs44%3D