Smart TVs have emerged as the central hub for entertainment, and people gather together to watch their favorite movies or spend quality time binge-watching TV shows. On smart TVs, you can stream shows and movies and access a broad library of online content. However, security and privacy is a major concern, among other things.
Whether you want to keep your streaming habits private, avoid ISP throttling, or access geo-restricted content, adding a VPN to your smart TV is the way to go. This guide discusses the different ways you can set up and use a VPN on your smart TV.
Using A VPN For Your Smart TV
The first question on your mind might be what is a VPN and why use one for your smart TV. VPNs are an essential part of Internet security and privacy in today’s interconnectedness world. It helps to encrypt the Internet traffic and avoid ISP throttling. Furthermore, it has a vast network of virtual servers that users can connect to so they can overcome geographic restrictions and bypass censorship.
Although smart TVs offer a plethora of entertainment options, they come with security vulnerabilities. The following vulnerabilities can be overcome by using a VPN with your smart TV:
- Data collection – Smart TV manufacturers might collect data about your app usage, viewing habits, and browsing history. This data might be used for targeted advertising or even sold to third parties.
- Geo-restrictions – Streaming services often restrict access to certain content according to your geographic location. With a VPN, you can quickly bypass these restrictions and unblock content unavailable in your region.
- ISP throttling – When your ISP realizes you are streaming too much content, it may slow down your bandwidth and connection speed. This might result in a less-than-favorable streaming experience. A VPN hides your activities from your ISP and ensures you enjoy high speed.
Installing A VPN For Most Smart TVs
Install VPN app
Do you have a smart TV that runs on Google’s Android system? If so, you can set up a VPN by simply downloading your chosen VPN app from the Google Play Store onto your TV.
What you need to do is navigate to the Google Play Store on your TV, look for your preferred VPN provider’s app, and click download. Once the app is downloaded to your smart TV, you have to sign in and connect to a VPN server. Then, you can straight away watch your favorite movie or show from anywhere in the world and enjoy it.
If you are using the latest smart TVs running on Google’s Android system, the installation process should be as easy as installing apps on your phone or tablet.
Similarly, if you have an Apple TV, you can download and install a VPN just as you would on your computer or phone. As of 2023, Apple TV’s tvOS allows users to download and use a VPN application.
Additionally, if you have Amazon’s Fire TV, you can download a VPN directly to your TV if the VPN provider offers a Fire TV app. Please note that all VPNs are compatible with Amazon Fire devices. You have to pick one that does. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark are VPNs that are compatible with Amazon Fire Devices. So, if you are not already subscribed to these VPN providers, you have to go ahead and sign up with them.
Run a VPN connection on a router
If downloading and using a VPN app on your smart TV is not an option, you can try setting up a VPN connection on a router.
However, please note that not all routers support VPN connections. Hence, if you do not already have one, you need to purchase a VPN-compatible router.
When it comes to installing and running a VPN connection on a router, most VPN providers offer step-by-step instructions for router installations. So, you are not completely in the blind when you have to do this. You must, however, carefully go through the instructions so you don’t botch up the installation.
Once you have successfully installed a VPN on your router and configured it with the servers you wish to use, you can connect to a VPN server via your router firmware’s dashboard. You must make sure your smart TV is connected to the router so you can access unlimited content and have an excellent viewing experience.
Share a VPN connection over Ethernet
Another method of setting up a VPN on your smart TV is to use an Ethernet cable. This cable can be used from one device to another to share VPN connections. Although this is not the most practical method, it is the best option if you only use region-blocked applications occasionally.
On Windows, head to Settings > click Network & Internet > select Mobile Hotspot > click on Edit to set a network name and password for your hotspot > choose Wi-Fi under Share my Internet connection over > toggle the Mobile Hotspot to the On position > connect your smart TV to the hotspot > connect to your preferred VPN on your computer.
If you are using a Mac computer, connect your system to your Wi-Fi router using an Ethernet cable > head to System Settings > click Sharing > select Internet Sharing > choose your VPN connection from the Share Your Connection dropdown > check Wi-Fi under the To Computers Using box > click on Wi-Fi options > set a network name and password for your hotspot and choose WPA2 Personal > click OK > click on the box next to Internet Sharing > click Start > connect your smart TV to your Wi-Fi hotspot and connect to your preferred VPN on your Mac.
The Bottom Line
So, these are the different ways you can set up a VPN on your smart TV. The steps for setting it up largely depend on the type of smart TV you are using and the operating system it runs. If you are opting for the installation on the router route, you must ensure the router is VPN-compatible and then carefully follow the instructions offered by your chosen VPN provider to complete the installation.
How have you set up a VPN on your smart TV? Leave your comments.