Did you know that over 65% of smart TV owners use their devices to stream content regularly? Whether you want to avoid ISP throttling, keep your streaming activity private or access geographically limited content, adding a VPN to your smart TV can reap some major benefits. And you can easily set up a VPN on your smart TV in just a few steps.
Virtual private networks can help in all of those situations, but most smart TVs aren’t compatible with VPNs right out of the box. That said, pretty much any smart TV can be hooked up to a VPN, and even if your TV isn’t of the smart variety, you still might be able to use a VPN with it — provided you have the right equipment. There are various ways you can set up a VPN to work with your TV. But which route you choose to take will depend on your personal preference, technical know-how, budget and the equipment you have access to.
Key Takeaways
- VPNs can help you access geo-restricted content, protect your privacy, and avoid ISP throttling on your smart TV.
- Most smart TV platforms, including Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and Google TV, support native VPN apps.
- You can also set up a VPN on your smart TV by connecting it to a VPN-enabled router or sharing your laptop’s VPN connection.
- Choose a reliable VPN provider with fast speeds, a global server network, and strong encryption for the best streaming experience.
- Using a smart DNS service like PIA’s is an alternative option for devices that don’t support native VPN apps.
Why Use a VPN on Your TV?
Today’s smart TVs offer a world of streaming possibilities beyond just local network programming or cable TV. With a vast array of on-demand content available from popular streaming providers, the options might seem limitless. However, some of that content may be geo-restricted, meaning it’s only accessible in certain regions. If you’re looking to unblock more streaming options or access programming that’s unavailable in your country, using a vpn on samsung tv or vpn on lg tv can be the solution.
Access Geo-Restricted Content
By connecting your smart TV to a virtual private network (VPN), you can spoof your location and bypass geographical restrictions to enjoy a wider selection of streaming vpn content. Whether you’re craving shows, movies, or live events that aren’t normally available in your area, a VPN can help you unblock geo-restricted content and open up a whole new world of entertainment options.
Protect Your Privacy and Avoid ISP Throttling
Even if unlocking more streaming content isn’t your primary concern, using a VPN on your smart tv vpn can still be beneficial. By establishing an encrypted secure tv connection between your device and the internet, a VPN can help protect your privacy and prevent your internet service provider (ISP) from monitoring your anonymous tv browsing habits or throttling your bandwidth. This can be especially useful if you want to keep your tv viewing activity private and avoid any bypass internet censorship on tv.
Smart TVs and VPN Compatibility
When it comes to setting up a VPN on your smart TV, the compatibility options can vary depending on the operating system your device runs on. Fortunately, there are several popular smart TV platforms that make it relatively easy to connect to a VPN, whether you’re using an Amazon Fire TV, an Android TV or something else.
Amazon Fire TV and Android TV
The most VPN-friendly smart TV operating systems are Amazon Fire TV and Google’s Android TV and Google TV platforms. If you have one of Amazon’s Fire TV devices, you can simply download your VPN provider’s app directly onto your TV, provided they offer a compatible app. And if your smart TV runs on the Android operating system, you can easily install your VPN’s app from the Google Play Store.
Even as Google transitions Android TV to the newer Google TV platform, the underlying Android architecture will remain, allowing you to access Android apps including VPN clients. This ensures a seamless VPN setup experience across both Android TV and Google TV devices.
Roku, Apple TV, and Built-in Smart TV OSes
While Amazon Fire TV and Android TV may be the most VPN-friendly options, that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck if your smart TV runs on a different platform. Roku, Apple TV, and the built-in operating systems found on smart TVs from brands like Samsung, Vizio, and LG all have VPN compatibility options as well.
The setup process may differ slightly compared to Fire TV or Android TV, but you can still get a VPN configured on these other smart TV platforms. Some may require you to set up the VPN on a separate device first, then share the VPN connection with your TV, but the end result is the same – secure, private, and unrestricted streaming on your big screen.
Set Up a VPN on Amazon Fire TV
If you have one of Amazon’s new Fire TVs, you’ll be able to download your VPN directly to your TV, provided your VPN offers a Fire TV app. Not all VPNs offer compatibility with Amazon Fire devices, so you’ll need to pick one that does if you decide to go this route. The VPNs we recommend that are compatible with Amazon Fire devices include Surfshark, NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
Download and Install a VPN App
Once you’ve downloaded the app and signed into your VPN account through your Amazon Fire TV, you can connect to a VPN server. As long as you’re connected to the VPN on your Fire TV, you can unblock streaming content and hide your viewing habits from your ISP.
Connect to a VPN Server
By setting up a VPN on your Amazon Fire TV, you can enjoy the benefits of a secure and private internet connection while streaming your favorite content. The process is quick and easy, allowing you to bypass geographic restrictions and protect your online privacy with just a few taps.
Set Up a VPN on Android TV or Google TV
If your smart TV runs on Google’s Android operating system, then you can set up a VPN on your TV by simply downloading your VPN’s app from the Play Store directly onto your TV. And even though Google is in the midst of rebranding Android TV as it transitions to a slicker, more user-friendly platform in Google TV, you’ll still be able to access Android apps in the Play Store after you’ve upgraded to Google TV since it still runs Android under the hood.
Install a VPN from the Play Store
What you’ll need to do first is to get a VPN that works on Android, if you don’t have one already. Then, navigate over to the Play Store on your Google TV, search for your VPN provider’s app and download it. This will give you the ability to connect your smart TV to a secure VPN network and enjoy unrestricted access to your favorite streaming content, all while protecting your online privacy.
Sign In and Connect to a Server
Once you’ve downloaded the VPN app to your TV, sign in and connect to a VPN server. As long as you’re connected to the VPN, you can unblock geo-restricted content and keep your smart TV browsing activities anonymous and private, shielded from prying eyes on the internet. Whether you want to bypass internet censorship on tv, unblock geo-restricted content, or simply protect your privacy on tv, setting up a VPN on your Android TV or Google TV is a smart and straightforward solution.
vpn on samsung tv vpn on lg tv
If your TV doesn’t run on the Android operating system, then one of the ways you can set up a VPN on your smart TV is by running a VPN connection through a router. But proceed with caution. Not all routers support VPN connections, so if you don’t already have one, you’ll need to purchase a compatible router — which can get pricey if you want a router that can handle the VPN connection and deliver a smooth streaming experience.
Also, installing a VPN on your router (even if it is compatible) won’t necessarily be plug-and-play, and you risk ruining your router or voiding its warranty if you botch the installation process. Fortunately, the best VPN providers on the market do offer step-by-step instructions for router installations for a variety of VPN-compatible router models in their help sections and have support staff on hand to help you.
Use a VPN Router for Smart TVs
Some VPNs, through a company called FlashRouters, are happy to sell you routers with VPN compatibility already preinstalled on them. This can be a convenient option if you want to set up a VPN on your smart TV but don’t want to deal with the hassle of manually configuring a router yourself.
Purchase a Pre-Configured VPN Router
By choosing a pre-configured VPN router, you can bypass the complex setup process and enjoy the benefits of a VPN-enabled smart TV right out of the box. This can be a great solution if you’re not particularly tech-savvy or simply want to get your VPN-protected smart TV up and running as quickly and easily as possible.
Share Your VPN Connection
If you don’t have a Google TV or a VPN-compatible router, and don’t intend to purchase either, you can use the equipment you have on hand to share your VPN connection with your smart TV.
You could accomplish this by running an ethernet cable from your computer to your smart TV. The simplest and most practical way to go about this would be to use your laptop or desktop as a Wi-Fi hotspot and connect your TV to your computer wirelessly.
Connect via Ethernet Cable
On Windows, you can go to Settings -> Network & Internet -> Mobile hotspot, click on Edit to set a network name and password for your hotspot, select Wi-Fi under Share my internet connection over, and toggle the Mobile hotspot to the On position. On Mac, you can connect your Mac to your Wi-Fi router using an Ethernet cable, go to System Preferences -> Sharing, click on Internet Sharing in the left panel, select your VPN connection from the Share your connection from dropdown, check Wi-Fi in the To computers using box, click on Wi-Fi Options, set a network name and password for your hotspot, and start the Internet Sharing.
Create a Wi-Fi Hotspot
The simplest and most practical way to go about this would be to use your laptop or desktop as a Wi-Fi hotspot and connect your TV to your computer wirelessly. This will allow you to share your VPN connection with your smart TV, enabling you to unblock geo-restricted content, protect your privacy, and bypass internet censorship on your TV.
Set Up a VPN on Streaming Devices
Even if you don’t have a smart TV, you’re in luck because you can set a VPN up on it if you’re able to connect a streaming device like a Roku, Amazon Firestick or Google Chromecast to the TV. These ingenious little devices allow you to transform a regular TV into a smart TV, and most of them are VPN-compatible.
Install a VPN on Roku or Fire Stick
The setup process is similar to what we covered for Fire TV and Android TV – you’ll just need to download your VPN’s app directly onto the streaming device and connect to a VPN server. This will then encrypt all the traffic from your streaming device to the VPN server, keeping your internet activity private and letting you bypass any geographical restrictions on content.
Connect to a VPN on Apple TV
The same principle applies to Apple TV. By installing a VPN app on your streaming device and connecting to a secure server, you can enjoy unrestricted access to geo-blocked content and maintain your privacy while streaming on your TV.
Using a Smart DNS Service
Smart DNS is a handy solution for accessing geo-restricted content on your smart TV, especially if your device doesn’t support native VPN apps. Unlike a VPN, which reroutes your entire internet traffic through an external server, Smart DNS simply disconnects you from your ISP’s DNS servers and connects you to a private DNS service that can unblock content.
What is Smart DNS?
Smart DNS works by redirecting your device’s DNS requests to a proxy server, allowing you to access content that would normally be blocked based on your geographical location. This means your internet speed won’t be affected, as your traffic isn’t being routed through a VPN server. Smart DNS is a great option for unblocking content on smart TVs, gaming consoles, and other devices that may not have robust VPN support.
Configure Smart DNS on Your TV
To get started with a Smart DNS service like the one offered by PIA, you’ll need to update your smart TV’s network settings. On an LG TV, for example, you’d open the launcher bar, tap Settings, select All Settings, find Network, click Wi-Fi Connection, go into Advanced Wi-Fi Settings, choose Edit, untick the automatic selection, and input the Smart DNS server address from your PIA account. This will route your TV’s DNS requests through PIA’s secure servers, giving you access to a world of content that may otherwise be geo-restricted.
VPN Provider |
Servers |
Encryption |
Simultaneous Connections |
|---|---|---|---|
PureVPN |
6,500+ in 78+ countries |
AES 256-bit |
10 |
NordVPN |
5,400+ in 59 countries |
AES-256-GCM |
6 |
ExpressVPN |
3,000+ in 94 countries |
AES-256 |
5 |
Choose a Reliable VPN Provider
If you need a good VPN for your LG TV or other devices, PureVPN is a reliable choice. PureVPN offers high-speed servers and a self-managed network to guarantee 99.99% uptime. With over 6,500 servers in more than 78 countries worldwide, you have plenty of options to find a server that works for you and bypass most geo-restrictions.
Fast Speeds for Streaming
PureVPN’s network is optimized for high-speed streaming, ensuring a seamless viewing experience on your smart TV. Whether you’re watching your favorite shows, movies, or live events, you can count on PureVPN to deliver the bandwidth and low latency you need for uninterrupted, buffer-free streaming.
Global Server Network
With PureVPN’s extensive global server network, you can easily bypass geographical restrictions and access a wide range of streaming content from different countries. This allows you to enjoy a diverse selection of shows, movies, and live sports, regardless of your location.
Strong Encryption and Security Features
PureVPN uses the highest encryption standard available – AES 256-bit – to keep your personal data secure. The service is also one of the few audited no-log VPN providers, so you can rest assured that your online activities won’t be tracked or shared. PureVPN’s robust security features help protect your privacy and ensure a safe, anonymous browsing experience on your smart TV.
