VPN connection infinite login loop XS Max

Just upgraded my phone, and am restoring from a previous back up. It took a while to bring all the apps up on the new device, and then without running the Nord VPN app, the device gets stuck in a password request loop. There is no way of cancelling it; it just keeps coming back, and the phone is basically useless.

I have gone into recovery mode - I couldn't even access it in iTunes as I couldn't enter the passcode for it to trust the computer. At the moment, I am doing a full reinstall, and intend to delete the app before it gets a chance to load - but am wondering if the carrier settings will transfer over in any case? If they do, is there a way of stopping this, or am I stuck with it?

Advice please?