Kill Switch controls what happens when traffic cannot use the VPN connection. Its behaviour differs between NordVPN applications, so choose the available mode and test it on the device where it will be used.
01 Enable and verify the intended protection
- Identify the operating system and exact NordVPN app edition. In particular, macOS distributions can have different Kill Switch behaviour.
- Review the available setting. Windows distinguishes an Internet Kill Switch from an App Kill Switch that closes selected programs. Save work before testing a mode that terminates applications.
- On a supported Android device, review the system's VPN controls as well as the app guidance. On Linux,
nordvpn set killswitch onenables the native client's setting andnordvpn settingsshows it. - Check the official behaviour for your iOS or macOS edition if there is no visible toggle. Some protection is built into the application rather than exposed as the same switch used on Windows.
- In a non-critical session, connect successfully and test the documented disconnection condition. Check whether ordinary internet access is blocked or the selected test application closes as expected.
- Reconnect and confirm normal access returns. Record how to recover connectivity locally before relying on the setting during travel or remote work.
Common questions
Why did internet access stop after I disconnected manually?
Some Internet Kill Switch implementations intentionally block that state. Reconnect or deliberately change the setting using the app's supported controls.
Will an excluded split-tunnel app always remain online?
Do not assume that. Nord documents interactions between these features, and behaviour depends on the platform and configuration. Test the combination you intend to use.
Is this a substitute for a managed company VPN?
No. Access to a company's private systems depends on its authorised network design and policy. Confirm those requirements with its administrator.