The NordVPN Windows app lets you fine-tune your VPN experience by selecting your VPN protocol. This tutorial teaches you how to change the NordVPN protocol to OpenVPN UDP or TCP. Before you begin, we encourage you to read our article on thedifference between TCP and UDP.
On Windows 7 and 8.1:
- Open NordVPN the app and click on the cog (gear) icon in the bottom-left corner.
- Click “Auto-connect” on the left side of the settings and make sure to disable "Choose a VPN protocol and server automatically." Next to “VPN protocol,” select “OpenVPN (UDP)” or “OpenVPN (TCP)” from the drop-down menu.
On Windows10 and 11:
- Open NordVPN the app and click on the cog (gear) icon to access the app settings.
- Click on “Connection.”
- Under “VPN protocol,” select “OpenVPN (UDP)” or “OpenVPN (TCP)” from the drop-down menu.
FAQs
OpenVPN's default is to use UDP simply because it is faster. Our smart protocol selection feature will always attempt to establish a connection using UDP first. But you can also switch between UDP and TCP manually in our app or command line tool.
Which is the best VPN protocol UDP or TCP? ›
UDP (user datagram protocol)
The advantage is that UDP is much faster than TCP, especially over long distances, and is also more data-efficient. The downside is that if the receiver is overwhelmed or if there is an outage, the data will simply be lost.
Should I use OpenVPN TCP or UDP for Torrenting? ›
For torrents, TCP is generally the preferred protocol, but UDP may be a better option if you are experiencing problems with TCP. Overall, using a special torrent server from your VPN is a good way to improve the performance, security, and reliability of your torrent downloads.
Which protocol is better, TCP or UDP? ›
TCP is best used for direct communication in which a reliable connection is needed, such as web browsing, email, text messaging, and file transfers. UDP is best used for live and real-time data transmission when speed is more important than reliability.
When should I use UDP instead of TCP? ›
Typically, applications that transfer data files will use TCP since the protocol's latency and performance issues are not that critical. UDP benefits applications that need to receive data quickly even if accuracy suffers. This is why real-time applications like audio and video streaming will often use UDP.
Is there an advantage of using UDP over TCP? ›
UDP is faster, simpler, and more efficient than TCP. Retransmission of lost packets is possible in TCP, but not in UDP. There is no retransmission of lost packets in the User Datagram Protocol (UDP).
What is the most efficient VPN protocol? ›
OpenVPN is the most secure VPN protocol and the safest choice thanks to its near-unbreakable encryption, which keeps users' data private even when using public Wi-Fi. Because it's open source, users can check the source code for vulnerabilities and reassure themselves that there are no weaknesses in its security.
Why is UDP preferred to TCP? ›
UDP is preferred when applications do not depend on any reliability, which would be provided by TCP. In such cases, UDP is more efficient and thus faster than TCP. Some common internet tools use UDP, including the system for assigning domain names, and that for assigning internet protocol numbers.
Why is TCP safer than UDP? ›
TCP is more reliable and provides error-checking to ensure that data packets are delivered in the correct order. TCP is also slightly more secure than UDP because it tracks all data packets, making it more difficult to insert malicious data.
What is the best TCP port for OpenVPN? ›
The most common VPN ports include 1194 for OpenVPN UDP and TCP port 443, 500 for IPsec/IKEv2, and 1723 for PPTP.
One factor that affects speed is the VPN protocol, which defines how secure and fast a VPN tunnel is. Based on our tests, OpenVPN and WireGuard are the most secure protocols for torrenting, but IKEv2 is the fastest, followed by WireGuard, and then OpenVPN.
What is the difference between Surfshark OpenVPN UDP and TCP? ›
In the drop-down menu, there are OpenVPN (UDP) and OpenVPN (TCP) – choose the one you prefer more: TCP is slower but more reliable when transferring data; UDP is faster, but the data transfer is not guaranteed.
Which is better, OpenVPN TCP or UDP? ›
By default, you will experience faster speeds over UDP. On unreliable networks, however, you may have a better experience switching to TCP.
Under which condition is TCP preferred over UDP? ›
UDP is used when low latency is optimal, and TCP is used when latency is tolerable.
In what situations would UDP be better than TCP? ›
Final answer: UDP is preferred over TCP when a faster delivery mechanism is needed and when applications do not need to guarantee delivery of the data.
Is TCP or UDP better for streaming? ›
User Datagram Protocol (UDP) is the superior choice for online streaming videos. UDP emphasizes speed and efficiency, making it exceptionally well-suited for real-time data transmission, including video streaming. It delivers data with minimal latency and without burdening your network's resources.
What is the best service port for OpenVPN? ›
The preferred port for an OpenVPN tunnel is the UDP port, but the TCP 443 port serves as a fallback method due to restricted internet connectivity on some networks, such as public networks.
Should I use UDP or TCP for router? ›
TCP is more reliable, but less speed. UDP is faster but less reliable. If you need a fast and constant data transmission for an application to work properly, UDP is a better choice. Otherwise, TCP is a stable and reliable protocol for transferring data and not losing any of it along the way.
Which protocol does OpenVPN use? ›
The OpenVPN tunneling protocol uses the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption protocol to ensure data shared via the Internet remains private using AES-256 encryption.
