NordVPN's Update Now is absolutely broken and has been for a long while

VPN
1

EDIT: Dec 17, 2021 update to this process. See bottom of post.

Every time I click Update Now to update NordVPN, the result is a broken installation of NordVPN that leaves me having to uninstall NordVPN, download the setup file, and re-install manually to fix the problem.

It is December 15, 2021. I just clicked the “download latest version” on the NordVPN website. I uninstalled my current installation of NordVPN (which was v6.39.6). The reason I did that is because I have always had nothing but bad results when NordVPN tries to update itself. I don’t do it that way anymore. Now I download the new version, uninstall the current version, and then install the new version from the new NordVPNSetup.exe file.

I installed the NordVPNSetup.exe that I just downloaded, and it installed NordVPN v6.40.5. Within minutes, my new installation of NordVPN told me there was an update available, that I should click UpdateNow to update to NordVPN v6.41.10. I think that is just terrible. I think the way NordVPN handles updates is terrible. Why does a company that is a merchant of something as serious as a VPN take this so lightly? NordVPN should post current, clear and thorough release notes for each update complete with the date that the update was released, all the changes that the update will make, and an appropriately named setup.exe file that includes in the name the version number of the update. Instead, we get a truly half-assed method where the “download latest version” button links you to an old download, the Update Now feature of NordVPN is absolutely broken, the latest release notes page on their website dates back to October 6 and version 6.40, and the information found on that page is limited to flippant and juvenile remarks such as “We’ve tweaked things here and there” and “A few tweaks under and above the hood”.

If this VPN company cannot do something as basic as providing setup files with proper version numbering, and is so lackadaisical and unserious about the information given in the release notes, how are we expected to trust them to take things seriously behind the scenes? I have a year left on my account. I will spend the time looking for another VPN service.

By the way, trying to browse to the link - “https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/windows/10/NordVPN/6.41.10/NordVPNSetup.exe” results in a 404 Not Found error, and I’m not updating until I can download the actual setup file, which obviously Nord has not posted yet. This is just absolutely terrible management on the part of Nord. Truly, truly terrible.

EDIT: Dec 17, 2021 update to this process.

It is Dec 17, 2021. I found a link to the most recent version of NordVPN setup file (6.41.10) and I will post it below. I downloaded it. Before I installed it, I decided to give my installed version of NordVPN (6.40.5, which is the version currently linked to the “Download latest update” on Nord’s home page) a chance to see if its “Update Now” has fixed this broken update process. I closed all running apps. I disconnected the VPN. I clicked on “Update Now”. It appeared to download and update itself. It reported that the update was successful. It connected the VPN. I could see that I have the new blue NordVPN icon in my system tray. I checked the NordVPN settings and it says I am updated to 6.41.10 and up to date. Browsing works fine. I can disconnect the VPN, browse just fine. Re-connect the VPN, all appears to be working. Shut down the pc. Turn it back on. NordVPN launches. It does not connect and gives me an error window that says the background process is not running, click here to try again. I click, it takes a minute, it finally connects. I shut down the pc, I start it back up, same NordVPN error. So, I’m back to having to uninstall and re-install manually. Again.

Here’s the link to most recent version of NordVPN setup as of this moment (6.41.10) –

https://downloads.nordcdn.com/apps/windows/NordVPN/6.41.10/NordVPNSetup_x64.exe

2

I’m guessing this means the Linux update doesn’t work yet either?

3

I am not reading all that but just wanted to ask if you disconnect the vpn before clicking update? Also if your using a real time virus scanner did you shut down that and close any browsers and other applications that use networking.

4

I (mostly) agree with you. Until pretty recently, the “Update Now” function within NordVPN was completely broken for me, too, just as you described. I always had to D/L the full install, then close Nord (including manually stopping services), reinstall, and reboot. The last few months, though, the update function has worked for me… finally. I’ve got about a year left on my current subscription, and I’ll probably be looking elsewhere when the time comes.

5

I completely agree with you. In fact I found this post through Google while searching for wth is wrong with nordvpn updates.

This is big issue that popped up suddenly and has been persistent for a couple of updates for me as well.

Like you I don’t trust the auto update anymore and wait for the current version to be posted.

I get that the subscription is not a lot, but like you said, this is a serious service. I for one would be willing to pay 100% more subscription to see this fixed. Not that I want to. Just putting a number on how important this is to me.

6

Yes. I had to do an iptables -F to restore network access.

7

I can’t speak for the OP but I’ve been having the same problems and:

  1. I have been relying on auto update for a long time and didn’t change anything about how I installed it. The issue showed up nonetheless.
  2. I tried doing an update with the vpn both on and off, closing down all other applications, doing it after a reboot, reboot after cleaning, various other methods. Result is the same: broken installation and I need to do a clean install manually
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9

Sorry to hear that I have had no issues in couple of years now. Wonder why certain people are having issues. Did you change any security settings in windows such as UAP where you click yes to allow updates.