5 Ways You Can Set Up A VPN On Your Smart TV

Given a VPN allows you to access geo-restricted websites, the next thing you need is a big screen to watch your shows for the complete cinematic experience. But before you do that you better not be looking up “how does a VPN work”, because that’s something for the beginners, and you should certainly know better.
Now, on the other hand, to be able to set up a VPN on your Smart TV is a blessing or it can be a headache if you’re unable to figure out how. Let us be of service and suggest a few ways of setting up a VPN on your Smart TV so you can have the best binge-watch experience. In fact, you can have a binge-watch party so invite all your friends over!
Let’s get into it.

1: Using an Ethernet Connection

Sharing your VPN connection through an ethernet cable from your device and into your Smart TV may not be the most practical thing however as long as it gets the work done. If you’re using Windows 10, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings and open Network and Internet settings.
2. Select Change Adapter options.
3. Look up the word “TAP” and select “TAP- YourVPNProviderName Windows Adapter.”
4. Right-click and choose Properties.
5. Select the Sharing tab and check mark the box: Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.
6. Select Ethernet from the drop-down menu and click OK to implement changes.
7. Turn on your VPN, and connect the two devices using your Ethernet cable.
8. The VPN should connect automatically and work on your device and Smart TV.

If you’re using macOS, follow these steps:

1. Go to System Preferences, and click on Sharing.
2. Check the box that says Internet Sharing.
3. Select the internet connection of your device that’s running the VPN in Share your connection from, if it’s Ethernet or select Wi-Fi.
4. In the To computers using box, check Ethernet.
5. Close and save your changes.
6. Connect your device to VPN and then plug in the Ethernet cable to both devices.
7. The VPN should begin working automatically on your device and Smart TV.

2: Sharing a VPN wirelessly

If you’d like an alternative option then perhaps this one should do the trick for you. Specifically, if you stream frequently and can’t be running cables all the time. So how about you establish a VPN connection over Wi-Fi? Follow the steps given below:

1. Open Network and Internet settings.
2. Choose Mobile hotspot from the list given on the left hand.
3. Turn on the Mobile hotspot and in the dropdown select Share my Internet connection from.
4. Edit the network credentials if you’d like.
5. Click on Change adapter options, right-click “TAP-YourVPNProviderName” and select Properties.
6. In the Sharing tab, enable Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection.
7. In the drop-down menu, select the network created by you and click OK to save changes.
8. Connect to the VPN on your primary device and it should automatically connect to your Smart TV as well.

3: Sharing a VPN connection through a router

To opt for a more complicated option you can establish a VPN connection using a router. However, you’ll have to ensure the VPN you’re using supports connecting to a router otherwise, you’ll have to buy a compatible router, which can be a bit pricey, costing up to $100 to $150 or so.
Keep in mind though there’s a huge risk involved with this method; you could potentially damage the router if the installation doesn’t go as planned. Some VPN-compatible routers come with a step-by-step guide on how to install the VPN so you don’t need to worry much.
Once you’ve installed the VPN successfully on the router, configure it with the servers you plan on using through the router firmware’s dashboard. Now, connect your Smart TV with the VPN you just installed and you should be good to go! Although make sure you’re keeping your TV’s viewing activity private.

4: Using Amazon Fire TV

If you’ve spent your money wisely all year long, you can gift yourself a new Amazon Fire TV from your savings, especially if you have a thing for streaming websites. An Amazon Fire TV allows you to download a VPN directly on it. However, you’ll have to check for compatibility with Fire TV. Some VPNs may not be gracious enough.
So, subscribe to any of the trustworthy VPNs you find that offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, and download the VPN through Amazon Appstore. Once you’ve downloaded the VPN, sign in to your account and connect to the desired VPN.
When your Fire TV successfully connects, you should be able to unblock every geo-restricted site and watch your favorite shows.

5: Substituting Smart TV

In case you don’t own a Smart TV at all, you have plenty of options you can explore and use an alternative way to replace the Smart TV. For instance, streaming devices like Roku, Google Chromecast, and Amazon Firestick have the ability to turn any TV into a Smart TV as long as it has an HDMI port.
You can download Google Chromecast through the Play Store or the Amazon Firestick from the Amazon Appstore. The only difference is instead of using your TV’s interface, you’ll be using the interface of your streaming device to connect to the VPN. Once the connection is established you can watch most of the unblocked content in HD on your makeshift Smart TV.

Wrap up

There you have it. You can utilize any of these methods to set up a VPN on your Smart TV. Just make sure the VPN you’re using is trustworthy and compatible with your Smart TV. Also, if you run into any issues, get help, don’t try troubleshooting your way through all by yourself. Have fun streaming!