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How to Reset a Failed VPN Connection on Privacy Hero

Dave · Oct 24, 2026 ·

If your Privacy Hero VPN connection shows Failed, you can use the new Reset button to clear the saved third-party VPN settings and return the router to its available default connection. This is useful when a VPN setup is stuck or you want to start again without manually removing the existing third-party VPN configuration.

Important: A VPN reset removes all saved third-party VPN settings from Privacy Hero. You will need to configure that provider again if you want to use it later. The connection Privacy Hero uses after resetting depends on your subscription plan.

When Should You Use the VPN Reset Button?

Use Reset when the current VPN connection is in a Failed state and you want to remove the third-party VPN setup and restore a working default connection. It is a more complete action than simply retrying the same VPN server.

Use it if the third-party VPN settings are no longer working and you want to start over.
Use it if you no longer want the saved third-party VPN configuration.
Do not use it if you need to preserve the existing VPN configuration. First try reconnecting or choosing a different VPN server or protocol.

The Reset action addresses the VPN configuration. It does not repair a disconnected WAN cable, an ISP outage, or a router that cannot reach the Privacy Hero cloud.

How to Reset a Failed VPN Connection

Open app.privacyhero.com in a browser and sign in to your Privacy Hero account.
Select your Privacy Hero router, then open its VPN settings.
Confirm the existing VPN connection is showing Failed.
Find the new Reset button in the failed VPN connection area. Before clicking, be aware that this action will remove all third-party VPN settings saved on the router.
Click Reset. If a confirmation message appears, review it before confirming. Allow the dashboard to apply the reset and update the VPN connection status.
Check the resulting connection using the subscription comparison below, then verify internet access from a device connected to Privacy Hero.

Dashboard access during a Kill Switch block: Privacy Hero permits access to app.privacyhero.com over its WiFi or LAN even when the VPN Kill Switch blocks ordinary internet traffic, as long as the router maintains its upstream/cloud connection. You can also manage the router from cellular data or another working internet connection.

What Happens After Reset? Privacy Premium vs. Privacy Core

VPN Reset: Side-by-Side Plan Comparison
Privacy Premium Active subscription	Privacy Core
Third-party VPN settingsRemoved	Third-party VPN settingsRemoved
Connection after resetBuilt-in Privacy Hero VPN	Connection after resetNormal ISP internet
VPN protection afterwardYes, when the built-in VPN is connected	VPN protection afterwardNo router VPN is active

Privacy Core users: After resetting, your normal internet access is not VPN-protected by Privacy Hero. If you want a third-party VPN again, you must configure it again in Privacy Hero.

Privacy Premium users: Check that the built-in Privacy Hero VPN shows Connected before assuming your traffic is going through the VPN. A working upstream internet connection and active Premium subscription are still required.

What Information Does the Reset Remove?

The VPN Reset button clears the third-party VPN configuration stored in Privacy Hero. This means any saved third-party provider details will need to be entered or imported again before that provider can be used.

Depending on the provider and protocol you had configured, this may include the saved VPN provider selection, server details, credentials or tokens, and custom OpenVPN or WireGuard settings. Have your provider login or configuration materials available if you plan to set up that VPN again.

This is a VPN configuration reset, not a request to cancel your third-party VPN subscription. It should not be confused with a full router factory reset.

How to Verify Internet and VPN Status After Reset

Refresh the Privacy Hero dashboard and reopen VPN.
If you have Privacy Premium, verify that the built-in Privacy Hero VPN is selected and shows Connected.
If you have Privacy Core, verify that the third-party VPN configuration is gone and ordinary internet access is available through your ISP connection.
Connect a computer or phone to the Privacy Hero WiFi or LAN. To test the router by itself, turn off any VPN application running directly on that device.
Load a regular website, then check your public IP address using ipleak.net. Premium should show a VPN IP if its built-in VPN is connected; Core will normally show your ISP public IP.

If you have Streaming Relocation enabled, some streaming services may use their separately selected location; that is not necessarily the same location shown by a general public IP check.

Reset Complete but Still No Internet?

Check the VPN Kill Switch. If it is still enabled while there is no working VPN connection, it may block ordinary internet traffic. Review the Kill Switch setting before assuming the router has lost WiFi.
Check the connection status. A router listed as Offline may have a WAN, ISP, or cloud-communication problem. The VPN reset cannot fix an upstream internet outage.
Check the network wiring. Confirm your main router or ISP gateway has internet access and the cable is connected to the Privacy Hero WAN/Internet port.
Check a device on Privacy Hero WiFi or LAN. Make sure you are testing the Privacy Hero network rather than another WiFi or cellular connection.
Check your subscription. An active Privacy Premium subscription is required for the built-in Privacy Hero VPN fallback described above. Privacy Core returns to ordinary ISP internet access.

For Kill Switch behavior and restoring internet, see Privacy Hero VPN Kill Switch: No Internet or WiFi Troubleshooting. To learn when to enable the feature, see Privacy Hero VPN Kill Switch Setup.

NordVPN Setup for AsusWRT: Token, WireGuard & OpenVPN

TeamFlashRouters · Oct 15, 2025 ·

Set up NordVPN on an ASUS router using AsusWRT VPN Fusion. Supported ASUS firmware offers three different VPN types: NordVPN (access-token integration), WireGuard (downloadable .conf file), and OpenVPN (manual service credentials plus an .ovpn file). Choose the method that matches your needs and your router’s available options.

All configuration is completed directly through your ASUS router’s administration interface using VPN Fusion. Before starting, make sure your router is connected to the internet, your firmware supports VPN Fusion, and you have an active NordVPN subscription.

Which NordVPN Option Should You Choose?

1. NordVPN

NordVPN access token and a country/region dropdown. The built-in ASUS/NordVPN integration is the simplest approach if you only need a country, not an exact server file.

Follow token setup →

2. WireGuard

Import a NordVPN .conf configuration file for a server selected in Nord Account. Useful when you want a downloaded profile for a particular server.

Follow WireGuard setup →

3. OpenVPN

Import a NordVPN .ovpn server file and enter your separate manual service username and password. Also used for NordVPN Dedicated IP.

Follow OpenVPN setup →

Option 1: NordVPN Dropdown — Token-Based NordLynx

Select the NordVPN type inside VPN Fusion. This is the integrated token-based setup and offers a country/region selection, rather than a manually imported server file.

In Nord Account, open NordVPN Access Tokens and complete email/account verification if requested.
Generate an access token, choose an expiry period if NordVPN offers that setting, and copy the token immediately (it may only be displayed once).
On your ASUS router, open VPN > VPN Fusion > Add profile.
Set VPN Type to NordVPN. Name the profile, select your preferred Region, and paste the token.
Choose Apply to all devices if you want it as the default route, or assign only selected devices (see the VPN Fusion guide below).
Click Apply and Enable / Apply all settings, as shown in your firmware, and verify the profile connects.

ASUS VPN Fusion NordVPN VPN type with Region and Token fields — Keep: existing ASUS NordVPN region/token form (remove any private token before publishing).

Need a specific server? Use the separate WireGuard file method below or the OpenVPN configuration-file method. Do not expect the token-based country dropdown to accept a .conf or .ovpn file.

Option 2: WireGuard Dropdown — Import a NordVPN .conf File

NordVPN now provides downloadable WireGuard configuration files through its manual server recommendation page. This is different from the built-in NordVPN token option in VPN Fusion.

Sign in to Nord Account and open NordVPN Server Recommendation.
Choose your preferred country and server; use the available filters if you need to narrow the list. Select a currently available server.
Choose Get setup configuration, select WireGuard from the protocol menu, and click Download config. Save the downloaded .conf file.
In your ASUS router settings open VPN > VPN Fusion > Add profile, then set VPN Type to WireGuard (not NordVPN).
Use the ASUS Import configuration / file-import control to select the NordVPN .conf file. Confirm the imported parameters and save the profile.
Choose the target devices or enable the default/all-devices route. Click Apply and Enable, then check the VPN status and your public IP.

NordVPN’s official instructions: How to download WireGuard and OpenVPN configuration files.

Option 3: OpenVPN Dropdown — Credentials + .ovpn File

OpenVPN requires two separate items: the configuration file for your desired server and NordVPN’s manual service credentials. Your normal Nord Account email/password is not the correct credential pair for this method.

Open NordVPN Manual Service Credentials and copy the service username and service password after any required verification.
Open NordVPN OpenVPN Configuration Files and choose a server/location. Download its UDP .ovpn file, or TCP .ovpn if UDP does not work on your network.
On ASUS, go to VPN > VPN Fusion > Add profile and set VPN Type to OpenVPN.
Enter a connection name, Import .ovpn file, and paste the NordVPN manual service username and password in the corresponding fields.
Choose devices or Apply to all devices, then click Apply and Enable. Confirm VPN Fusion shows a successful connection.

ASUS VPN Fusion OpenVPN VPN type with OVPN import and username password fields — Keep: existing ASUS OpenVPN profile form. New screenshots should use a larger clean capture if available.

Server selection: The location is controlled by the server named in the imported .ovpn file. To switch locations, import another server file or use a separate OpenVPN profile.

NordVPN Dedicated IP — OpenVPN Only

If you have purchased and activated the NordVPN Dedicated IP add-on, use your specific Dedicated IP OpenVPN configuration file. Do not select the ordinary NordVPN token integration or a regular shared server.

In your Nord Account, open the Dedicated IP details and download the assigned server’s OpenVPN UDP or TCP configuration file, following NordVPN Dedicated IP manual configuration instructions.
Open NordVPN Manual Service Credentials and copy the manual username and password.
In ASUS VPN Fusion > Add profile, choose OpenVPN.
Import the Dedicated IP .ovpn file, enter manual service credentials, save, enable, and verify the public IP matches your assigned Dedicated IP.

Assign Devices, Verify the VPN, and Troubleshoot

One VPN for everyone, or different VPNs for different devices?

VPN Fusion lets you use a VPN profile as the default connection for all devices or assign specific client devices to different profiles. Some supported ASUS models can maintain one WireGuard tunnel alongside multiple OpenVPN profiles, but the number of simultaneous tunnels is model/firmware dependent; creating multiple profiles does not mean all can be active simultaneously.

For step-by-step device assignments, default routing, profile conflicts, and bypassing the VPN, see How to Use ASUS VPN Fusion and Assign Devices to VPN Profiles. For a dedicated WiFi network with VPN or ISP routing, see ASUS Guest Network VPN / No-VPN Setup.

Verify the IP of the actual device

Confirm your chosen profile shows Connected in VPN Fusion.
Join the ASUS WiFi or LAN using a device that is actually assigned to that VPN profile.
Open NordVPN IP Address Check and compare the public IP/location with the intended server or Dedicated IP.
If the device shows an ISP IP, first check Apply to all devices and the per-device assignments in VPN Fusion.
Disconnect a NordVPN app, Apple iCloud Private Relay, browser VPN/proxy, or other device-level network service during testing. Follow Router VPN Shows Wrong IP? Check Device Settings.

If VPN Fusion will not connect

Temporarily disable the failing profile and confirm the ASUS router works using its normal ISP internet connection.
For NordVPN type, check that the access token is valid and hasn’t expired; regenerate if needed.
For WireGuard, import a fresh .conf from the Nord server recommendation page and make sure the profile is enabled.
For OpenVPN, double-check manual service credentials (not website credentials) and try a different server file or TCP instead of UDP.
Check that device-assignment rules point to the intended active profile, then retest with one clean device.

Upgrade your ASUS router

Explore the Latest WiFi 7 ASUS FlashRouters

Looking for a newer ASUS router? Browse WiFi 7 models available from FlashRouters and compare features to find the right fit for your home or office. VPN Fusion and other features vary by router model and firmware.

Shop ASUS WiFi 7 Routers →

ExpressVPN Setup for Privacy Hero

TeamFlashRouters · Aug 14, 2025 ·

Privacy Hero supports ExpressVPN using OpenVPN. To connect, you need your ExpressVPN Manual Configuration username and password and an OpenVPN (.ovpn) configuration file for your preferred server location.

Important: In Privacy Hero, choose Custom as the VPN provider. Upload the ExpressVPN .ovpn file and enter your separate Manual Configuration credentials, not your regular ExpressVPN website login.

Privacy Hero is cloud-managed, so you can complete setup from any computer, smartphone, or tablet with an internet connection. You do not need to be connected to Privacy Hero WiFi while changing the settings.

Get Your ExpressVPN Manual Configuration Credentials

ExpressVPN provides separate credentials for manual OpenVPN connections. These are different from your normal ExpressVPN website email and password.

Open ExpressVPN Set Up Devices and sign in to your ExpressVPN account.
In the left navigation, select Set Up Devices.
Under Applications, expand Advanced setup and choose Manual Configuration.
Find your unique Username and Password under Manual Configuration. Keep this tab open so you can copy them into Privacy Hero.

Important: Do not use your regular ExpressVPN account password, and do not share your manual configuration credentials publicly.

Download Your ExpressVPN OpenVPN Server File

Each available ExpressVPN location has its own OpenVPN configuration file. The file determines the server location used by Privacy Hero.

On the same Manual Configuration page, locate the server regions, such as Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, or Middle East & Africa.
Expand your preferred region and download the UDP .ovpn file for an available location. Save it to the device you are using to configure Privacy Hero.

Only locations offered on your ExpressVPN Manual Configuration page can be used for this setup. To change locations later, download the corresponding .ovpn file and upload it to Privacy Hero.

Add ExpressVPN to Privacy Hero as a Custom VPN

ExpressVPN uses Privacy Hero’s Custom VPN configuration rather than a dedicated ExpressVPN provider option.

Upload the OpenVPN File and Enter Credentials

Open app.privacyhero.com and sign in to your Privacy Hero account.
Open the VPN section.
Click Change beside the VPN provider and choose Custom.
Choose OpenVPN if prompted, then upload the UDP .ovpn file downloaded from ExpressVPN.
Copy the separate ExpressVPN Manual Configuration Username and Password into the corresponding Privacy Hero fields.

Privacy Hero Custom OpenVPN configuration showing file upload and manual username and password fields

Check the UDP Configuration and Connect

If Privacy Hero displays the OpenVPN configuration in an editor, confirm that the downloaded UDP configuration specifies proto udp. If the directive is missing, add proto udp at the beginning of the configuration. Do not add a conflicting second protocol directive.
Click Save to apply the configuration and establish the VPN connection.
Confirm Privacy Hero displays Connected for the Custom OpenVPN connection.

Privacy Hero Custom OpenVPN configuration editor with proto udp directive

Verify Your ExpressVPN Connection

After Privacy Hero reports Connected, check that devices on the Privacy Hero network are actually using the VPN.

Connect the testing device to the Privacy Hero WiFi or LAN network.
Disconnect the ExpressVPN app or any other VPN application running directly on that device.
Open a fresh private/incognito browser window.
Visit ExpressVPN What Is My IP.
Confirm the public IP address and approximate location correspond to the ExpressVPN server selected in your .ovpn file.

Important: You can manage Privacy Hero’s VPN settings from another network or cellular data. However, to verify the router’s VPN IP, the testing device must be connected to the Privacy Hero network. Running another VPN app on the device can produce double-VPN results.

Streaming Relocation and VPN Location

If Streaming Relocation is enabled for a supported streaming service, that service may use its Streaming Relocation region instead of the location defined in the ExpressVPN configuration file. See Privacy Hero Streaming Relocation.

ExpressVPN Not Connecting?

If Privacy Hero shows Failed, stays on Connecting, or displays a timeout error, try these checks:

Confirm your ExpressVPN subscription is active and you entered the separate Manual Configuration username and password.
Check that you selected Custom in Privacy Hero, rather than another VPN provider.
Download a fresh UDP .ovpn file for an available ExpressVPN server location and upload it again.
Check that the OpenVPN configuration uses proto udp without conflicting protocol directives.
Temporarily disable the VPN Kill Switch while testing whether normal internet access works without the VPN, then restore your preferred Kill Switch setting.
Try another ExpressVPN server location or reconnect the VPN.

No Internet After the VPN Disconnects?

The Privacy Hero VPN Kill Switch may intentionally block normal internet traffic when the VPN connection is unavailable. See Privacy Hero VPN Kill Switch: No Internet or WiFi Troubleshooting.

VPN Connected, but One Device Shows the Wrong IP?

If other devices show the correct VPN IP, check the affected device’s VPN apps, iCloud Private Relay, Private DNS, antivirus filtering, browser proxy/DNS settings, or other security software. See Device Settings That Can Interfere With Your Router VPN.