NordVPN Docker Container Keeps Restarting? Here’s the Fix

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Jake Colins

If you’re running a NordVPN Docker container and it keeps restarting, don’t panic. You’re not alone and it’s totally fixable. This issue can be annoying, but once you get the hang of what’s happening under the hood, the solution is actually pretty straightforward. Let’s break it down clearly and fix it fast!

TLDR

Your NordVPN Docker container might be restarting due to incorrect configuration, missing credentials, or poor network setup. Most of the time, it’s either a wrong environment variable or a missing file. Check the logs, make sure your config files are correct, and confirm your VPN login is working. Follow the steps below and get that container running for good!

Why Does It Keep Restarting?

When Docker containers restart often, it usually means something inside is failing at startup. With NordVPN containers, the most common causes are:

  • Incorrect login credentials
  • Missing or misconfigured environment variables
  • DNS or network access issues
  • Incorrect volume mounts

Let’s go through each cause and how to fix it.

Step 1: Check the Logs

This is your detective step. Open up a terminal and run:

docker logs [your_container_name]

Replace [your_container_name] with whatever name you gave your NordVPN container.

Look for anything like:

  • “AUTH_FAILED” – Your VPN login credentials are wrong.
  • “Cannot resolve host” – DNS issues or bad config file.
  • “Permission denied” – Files or folders missing.

This info will guide your fix. If you see AUTH_FAILED, skip to Step 2. If you see DNS-related stuff, go to Step 4. Let’s tackle things one by one.

Step 2: Fix Your VPN Login

This one’s super common. If your NordVPN container can’t log in, it’ll crash and restart endlessly.

You probably have a file like auth.txt mounted as a volume with your VPN username and password. Make sure it looks like this:


myusername
mypassword

Don’t add quotes, special characters, or spaces at the end of the lines!

Then in your Docker run command or docker-compose file, you should have something like:


-v /path/to/auth.txt:/etc/openvpn/auth.txt
--env "OPENVPN_USERNAME=myusername"
--env "OPENVPN_PASSWORD=mypassword"

Fix and save, then restart the container:

docker restart [your_container_name]

Still restarting? Let’s keep going.

Step 3: Validate Your Config File

NordVPN generally requires an OpenVPN configuration file. If you downloaded it manually, make sure it’s from the official source: nordvpn.com.

Use servers that support TCP or UDP depending on your preferences – some containers only work with UDP!

Check if you’ve mapped it properly in your container:

-v /path/to/config.ovpn:/etc/openvpn/config.ovpn

And make sure your container is actually referencing that config. If it expects a folder, map the whole folder instead:

-v /path/to/config/folder:/etc/openvpn

Step 4: Check Network and DNS Issues

Your container needs to resolve domain names to connect to VPN servers. If your DNS is wrong, it’s game over.

First, check if your DNS is set correctly. Some containers allow you to add this:

--dns 8.8.8.8 --dns 1.1.1.1

You can also try launching the container with host networking to see if that helps:

--network host

And if you’re using Pi-hole or other blocking tools, make sure they’re not nuking NordVPN’s domains accidentally.

Step 5: Permissions, Permissions!

Volumes must be readable by the container! A common pitfall is incorrect file or folder permissions. If your container can’t access its VPN config or auth file, it’ll crash and leave you crying into your coffee.

Run this inside your Docker host:

chmod 644 /path/to/auth.txt

And ensure the container’s user has access. Sometimes, using --cap-add=NET_ADMIN also helps when the container needs to change routes or DNS.

Here’s a common docker run structure with all the bells and whistles:


docker run -d \
  --cap-add=NET_ADMIN \
  --device /dev/net/tun \
  --name=nordvpn \
  -v /path/to/config.ovpn:/etc/openvpn/config.ovpn \
  -v /path/to/auth.txt:/etc/openvpn/auth.txt \
  --env "OPENVPN_USERNAME=myusername" \
  --env "OPENVPN_PASSWORD=mypassword" \
  --dns 8.8.8.8 \
  my-nordvpn-image

If You’re Using Docker Compose

Here’s a compose example that works for most:


version: '3.8'

services:
  nordvpn:
    image: my-nordvpn-image
    container_name: nordvpn
    cap_add:
      - NET_ADMIN
    devices:
      - /dev/net/tun
    volumes:
      - /path/to/auth.txt:/etc/openvpn/auth.txt
      - /path/to/config.ovpn:/etc/openvpn/config.ovpn
    environment:
      - OPENVPN_USERNAME=myusername
      - OPENVPN_PASSWORD=mypassword
    dns:
      - 8.8.8.8
      - 1.1.1.1
    restart: unless-stopped

Bonus Tip: Add a Health Check

Containers that restart without a clear reason might just be considered “unhealthy” by Docker. You can define a health check to give your VPN container time to establish the connection.

Here’s an example:


healthcheck:
  test: ["CMD", "ping", "-c", "1", "8.8.8.8"]
  interval: 1m
  timeout: 10s
  retries: 3

This pings Google every minute to check network health. If it fails repeatedly, Docker can alert you.

Still Having Trouble?

If your container is still doing jumping jacks, review the basic checklist:

  • ✔️ Correct username/password
  • ✔️ Valid and properly mounted config file
  • ✔️ DNS helps reach NordVPN servers
  • ✔️ Permissions are right
  • ✔️ Container image is up to date

If everything looks good, consider trying another NordVPN server, or even changing protocols (from UDP to TCP or vice versa).

Wrap-up

No one likes a container that restarts more than a microwave. But fixing a NordVPN Docker restart loop is totally doable — just go step-by-step, read those logs, and make sure the essentials are covered.

And hey — once you’re up and running, give yourself a little high-five. Running a VPN in Docker isn’t easy, but now you’ve got the power!

Happy VPN-ing!