How To Watch Netflix On A Smart TV Using A VPN Router
Using a VPN router is arguably the easiest way to watch US Netflix on your smart TV. Most decent routers these days can be configured to work with almost any VPN service. When You connect your smart TV to the router, assuming it has a Netflix app, it is possible to watch the US version of Netflix.
One of the most customizable types of firmware to install a VPN on a router is DD-WRT and we’ll be using it as part of our examples below.
Setup a VPN connection on your router which connects to a US VPN server.
On a DD-WRT router, PPTP and OpenVPN settings can be found under Services > VPN.
Need a VPN router? Take a look at our VPN routers page. Or, for an in-depth look at getting set up, check out our how to set up a VPN on a DD-WRT router guide.
Connect your Smart TV to the router on the same band as you set up the VPN connection.
We recommend setting up your VPN using the 5Ghz band, then ensure that any devices you want routing through your VPN connection also use this frequency.
Open your Smart TVs Netflix app and sign-in.
You can use your existing Netflix account to do this, there’s no need to sign up for a new one. It doesn’t matter if your account is not registered in the US, you should now see the full US catalog of Netflix titles. “Cheers” is a good indication that is has worked.
A VPN Can Unblock Videos Which Arent Usually Available To You We Explain How To Use One With Your TV
ByJim Martin, Editor| 08 Jan 2020
Although VPN services were originally designed for privacy and security, a side benefit of modern cloud-based services is that they can give you a virtual location. Thats especially handy if you want to access video thats only available, say, in the UK or US, but youre in another country.
VPNs are usually installed on your phone or computer, but apps are also available on many smart TVs and streaming sticks which means it can be surprisingly easy to get a VPN running on your TV.
While we cant provide specific instructions for your TV here , the general process is the same so you shouldnt have much trouble figuring it out on your model. Just bear in mind that if your smart TV is quite old or an obscure model, it may not have an app store and rely only on the apps it came pre-installed with.
But most Samsung, LG and Sony models should be suitable. Here we’re using a Philips TV which runs Android TV.
First, go to the main menu and look for the app store, or look for a button on the TVs remote control.
Next, use the search function to find VPN apps. Youll be somewhat limited on choice, but with a bit of luck youll see ExpressVPN, NordVPN, VyprVPN, Private Internet Access or CyberGhost in the list of results.
Simply select the one you want, then click the Install, Download or Get button to install the app. When its done, you should have a new shortcut in your TVs apps section, so find the VPN app and launch it.
Using Youtube Over VPN
Due to YouTubes advertiser programs, the website doesnt even show you the domain extension for the country you are, and just calls all of its subdomains YouTube.com, redirecting you based on your IP address.
And if you thought that Netflix catalogs change depending on the country, you havent seen the difference in YouTube. You will see completely different content depending on the server you connect, sometimes even varying by region as well as by country.
For many, a YouTube VPN will be used to unblock videos restricted for their country or to connect to a server from home if they are traveling, so as to see creators that they can understand.
For others, a VPN is an almost anthropological tool.
Ever wondered what are the hot new songs in Norway, or maybe Hungary? Connect to a server in those countries, and YouTube will put those to the front of your page as soon as you go to the website.
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Install VPN Server On The TV
If its an Android TV, you will get access to Google Play Store
- Select Google Play Store on your Smart/Android TV.
- Search for the best VPN provider app. Look for the one that has the highest ratings and install it.
- Create your VPN account in the app you installed.
- Connect to the VPN.
This is the quickest and easiest method to set up a banana a VPN on Smart TV. But, this method is applied only to Android TVs. If you have another Smart TV, you can opt for the next method.
How To Do That Follow The Guideline Given Below:
1. Install the VPN app on your PC.
2. Go to Settings and select the Network & Internet option.
3. In that, select Mobile hotspot and enable it.
4. Again, go back to Settings> Network & Internet.
5. Then go to the Change adapter option. Right, click on VPN> Adapter> Properties.
6. Go to the Sharing menu, then tick both the boxes.
7. From the drop-down menu, select your hotspot and click OK.
8. Connect to a new network from your Smart TV.
For some reason, if your PC does not support Hotspot connectivity, you can go for Windows Virtual Router Setup. Here are the steps
1. Connect the internet on your laptop or PC via Ethernet or WiFi.
2. Install your desired VPN.
3. Open the Command Prompt
4. Give command: netsh WLAN set hostednetwork mode = allow ssid= NETWORK NAME key= PASSWORD. In the place of the network, the name enters your name and password that you want to use for this particular network.
5. Press Enter.
6. On your keyboard, press Windows key + R to go running.
7. Go to ncpa.CPL and click OK.
8. Now go to the Network connection menu, Right-click on VPN> Adapter> Properties.
9. Go to the Sharing tab and allow internet connection sharing by ticking the boxes.
10. From the drop-down menu, select your created virtual router and press OK.
11. Now, connect this new virtual router to your Smart TV just like you connect to a new WiFi network.
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Can I Use A Free VPN For Samsung Smart TV
Unfortunately, you cant use a free VPN with a Smart TV if you want to unblock streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Even though there are some pretty good free VPNs out there, these services usually block VPNs and you wont find a free VPN that can keep up with the constant blacklisting of new IP addresses. If you use a free VPN for Netflix, youll generally receive the annoying proxy error when you try streaming.
If you find a free VPN that can unblock the service youre interested in, these services usually suffer from slow speeds, limited bandwidth, limited server selection, and other issues that cause lots of buffering lag and grainy video quality. Additionally, free VPNs cant offer proper privacy and security, and others even sell your data.
If you want to see what shows and movies you can access when you stream with a VPN on your Smart TV, you can try CyberGhost for free for 45 days with the money-back guarantee. I tested the refund policy myself and I can confirm you can get a full refund as late as the last day of the money-back guarantee period. When I was done using CyberGhost with my Samsung Smart TV and contacted live chat to get my money back, my request was quickly processed and the money returned to my bank account in less than a week.
How To Install A VPN On Most Smart TVs
Newer Smart TVs tend to use Android, which makes installing a VPN very simple. In fact, the process is essentially the same as installing an app on your phone or tablet.
Heres how to set-up a VPN for a Smart TV:
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Why Your Smart TV Needs A VPN
Many households have upgraded their regular TV sets to a Smart TV. Promising access to many top media providers, its easy to see why people make the switch. However, the products still have room for improvement. Using a VPN is the perfect solution for Smart TVs shortcomings.
Smart TVs have transformed our entertainment experience. Instead of one live stream, they offer a plethora of apps and services for video, music, TV and more. As of 2016, 40.2 million US households have switched to the platform.
The allure of the Smart TV is the increased access to content catalogs. All major streaming services, including Netflix, , and Popcorn Time, offer Smart TV apps, alongside many other niche providers.
For those with smart homes, these innovative televisions can easily synchronize with your internal network. You can use them as a central hub to control devices and employ your phones and tablets to act as a remote.
However, as with any pioneering technology, the SmartTV still has some significant drawbacks. Weve documented how to set up a VPN on smart TV, and why its essential to do so.
Get More Out Of Your Samsung Smart TV With A VPN
If you pay a subscription fee every month for Smart TV streaming services, you should have access to all the available content. Thats why its well worth the effort to use a VPN to give yourself access to a whole world of shows and movies.
As an added bonus, your Samsung Smart TV will be much more secure, keeping your logins private and protecting you from hackers. Between its super reliable connections, streaming app compatibility, and top-notch security, ExpressVPN is the provider I rely on for my Samsung Smart TV. You can also try ExpressVPN risk-free if theres something you dont like, you can just get a refund.
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How To Install VPN On Smart TV Through The Google Play Store
There are many Smart TVs that are created on Android OS, which makes it easier to install a VPN directly on it. So, if youve got an Android Smart TV, heres how you can install a VPN on it:
How To Set Up A Smart TV VPN On Your Router
If the above two methods are not suitable for you, there is a third method that you can try – installing a VPN dirctly onto your router.
Some people prefer to use a VPN that is installed on a flashed router because it means all the devices in their home – including their Smart TV – are assisted by the VPN connection. Once set up, this can be an extremely convenient method of connecting a Smart TV to a VPN service . The reason we say that it is convenient once set up is becuase doing so can be a little tricky.
To install a VPN on a router it is necessary to first “flash” the router with the relevant firmware. And, if done wrong, this can “brick” your router making it unusable.
If you have a low level of technical know-how, flashing your router probably isnt for you. Luckily there are companies out there that offer prepaid and pre-flashed routers, which allow a simple plug-and-play setup Flashrouters is a great example.
Some VPN services sell pre-flashed routers themselves.
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Purevpn: Budget VPN For Samsung TVs
One of the best and cheapest VPN, PureVPN may have had a rocky start in the industry. However, now the service is logs-free and endorsed by huge websites like Forbes.
It has amazing ratings on trust-pilot, due to the huge amount of features it offers. NAT Firewall, Split Tunneling, Ad/Tracker blocking, IPv6 Leak Protection, Port Forwarding, Kill Switch, DDoS Protection, dedicated IPs, and the list goes on.
Best part of all: $3.33/mo on a 5-year plan
- Trustpilot rating: 4.8
The Singapore-based provider has once again started gaining fame in the marketplace for its unmatched streaming, unblocking, torrenting, and gaming capabilities, proving its worth as a top VPN service, available for a reasonable price.
It offers a nicely design Samsung Smart TV VPN app, which you download directly from the . It boasts a neat outlook with a location selection menu in the center and the connect button right below it.
2-year plan5 multi-logins.
30 Days Money Back Guarantee
Setting Up Your Smart Dns TV Connection
If you are using Le VPN, the option of enabling the Smart DNS comes with the service. The whole setup is quite easy and only takes a couple of minutes to get all of the info you need and to input it in the TV settings.
Additionally, TV sets that have an option to enable a VPN for Smart TV connection natively can use the HybridVPN option to alternate between the Smart DNS and a VPN, if both options are enabled.
First of all, your IP needs to be registered with the Smart DNS service, as to give you the DNS servers IP address. You will want to write this address down or keep it handy on your phone or another device.
Once you are registered, changing your device settings will vary slightly from the model, but most models make the change very easy and straightforward. If you have ever changed your network settings for your Smart TV, the DNS settings will be in the same menu.
For all devices, once you finish the setup process, you will not need to repeat it for that device. Your access will be open for all channels and all nine currently available countries.
Apple TV Setup
Setting up an Apple TV has slightly more steps than is the case with other models, not to mention that you will need to do a power cycle at the end, which is hard to do with conviction anymore.
You can follow a simple flow-list that will lead you to your network settings step by step, where you will find the WiFi or Ethernet settings, depending on if you are using a wireless connection or a cable.
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How To Download Install & Use Cyberghost VPN On Lg Smart TV
LG Smart TV works on webOS, which doesnt support any VPN client natively, so there is no CyberGhost app for Smart TV that you can download and run directly. However, you can definitely bypass geo-restrictions on your LG TV and watch your favorite content with this VPN. Yes, CyberGhosts Smart DNS technology helps you do that.
Smart TVs like LG Smart TV, Western Digital Live TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung TV, etc. form the basis of smart living. But then again, you dont have to compromise on your online security to utilize this smart technology. With a VPN for Smart TV, you can enjoy secure internet access.
Find your smart DNS. Set up smart DNS on your LG TV. To follow along, you will need an LG smart TV and an active Surfshark VPN subscription, which you can purchase here .
More often than not, Smart TVs, devices like Chromecast or Roku do not have native VPN support, so the Surfshark VPN app can not be installed. However, there are a few alternative ways to enjoy Surfshark services on these devices: Smart DNS. Router setup. VPN sharing from Windows device.
The Advantages Of Using A VPN For Lg Smart TV
A world-class VPN for LG can be used on multiple devices simultaneously. Thus, subscribing to one of our recommended VPNs will not only unblock streaming services on your Smart TV but also on any other devices you might have like an Android tablet, smartphone, iOS device, or laptop.
Once you’ve installed your VPN, you can enjoy a free internet and stay secured whilst you do so. You’ll be able to use restricted services from back home whilst on vacation and check out content from other countries from the comfort of your couch.
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Private Internet Access Popular VPN For Samsung Smart TV
- 35500+ servers in 78 countries
- 10 simultaneous connections
- 64 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps connection
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Unblocks: Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, ESPN+, Sony Liv, Nine, Foxtel, UKTV, etc.
- Compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, Router, Play Station, Xbox, Chromebook, Roku, etc
Moving further, we have Private Internet Access. PIA is a popular VPN for Samsung Smart TV. I have chosen this VPN for my Samsung Smart TV VPN list due to its reliable speeds, server network, and stable connectivity.
It probably has one of the biggest server networks of 35500+ servers in 78 countries. These servers are capable of unblocking any geo-blocked content from anywhere in the world.
PIA offers unlimited bandwidth, and server switches, so you can stream as much as you want. PIA also works with all major streaming platforms such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, NBC, Peacock TV, and more.
PIA doesnt have a dedicated app for Samsung Smart TVs. However, you can setup it on a router or PC and then share a connection with your smart TV. It also allows 10 simultaneous connections.
It comes with all the premium features, including split tunnelling, kill switch, and can unblock various streaming services. It also offers pre-configured FlashRouters for VPN users that dont want to configure VPN on their router manually.
As far as affordability is concerned, PIA VPN costs only $2.08/mo . For such a low price, you also get a 30-day money-back guarantee.