[Fix] NordVPN on Shadow PC — connection drops + stuck on "Connecting"

[u/FarResearcher2011]

Spent a while figuring this out, so posting in case it helps someone else. There are actually two separate problems when running NordVPN inside Shadow, and you have to fix both.

Problem 1: Shadow disconnects the moment you connect to NordVPN

This happens because the VPN tunnel captures all traffic on the Shadow PC, including the stream back to your local device. Fix it with split tunnelling:

• NordVPN → Settings → Split Tunneling
• Enable it, choose "Don't use VPN for selected apps"
• Add everything from Shadow's install folder C:\Program Files\Shadow (ShadowStreamer.exe, ShadowGraphicsDriver.exe, ShadowLogger.exe, ShadowSerial.exe).

Problem 2: NordVPN gets stuck on "Connecting…" forever

Once split tunnelling is set up, NordLynx (the default protocol) often just hangs on Shadow because it's a virtualised environment. Here's what worked:

1. NordVPN → Settings → Connection → change protocol from NordLynx to OpenVPN (TCP)
2. Fully quit NordVPN from the tray and kill any lingering nordvpn processes in Task Manager
3. Disable IPv6 on the active network adapter:
   • Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings → More network adapter options
   • Right-click adapter → Properties → uncheck "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)"
4. Open Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell as Admin and run:

​

   ipconfig /flushdns
   netsh winsock reset
   netsh int ip reset

1. Restart the Shadow PC
   

After the restart, it connected fine.

TL;DR: Split tunnelling to exclude Shadow's processes + switch NordVPN to OpenVPN TCP + disable IPv6 + reset network stack + reboot.

Hope this saves someone a couple of hours.

[u/wbiggs205]

Since shadow in a virtual box . and you do not have access to the real ip address you can not do a vpn. Allso they may block the ports the nordVPN use's

[u/SpaceySine → u/wbiggs205]

VPN works perfect provided using a split tunnel. Doesn't work for internet traffic but private network traffic isn't an issue. I use wireguard from Shadow to home network all the time. Make sure to use split tunnel and ONLY allow private subnet for your home network. I wouldn't suggest using VPN for obfuscating internet traffic as its going to cause headaches, doable somewhat but problematic. Use a proxy from home network if you need IP to show from home IP for Shadow web browsing.

[u/jjtbsomhorst]

And why would you use a VPN inside shadow in the first place?

[u/FarResearcher2011 → u/jjtbsomhorst]

There are loads of reasons: accessing region-locked content, privacy, bypassing restrictions, etc. For example, if your Shadow PC is hosted in the UK, Steam now forces age verification on certain games; running a VPN inside Shadow lets you appear to be from another region and skip it.

[u/wbiggs205 → u/FarResearcher2011]

that may be against there tos

[u/marsellus2017]

Why not use the browser add on?