Most Smart TVs come with a wide range of apps pre-installed, but due to regional restrictions, you might not be able to use them all. Additionally, you may find that some of the apps you’d like to install aren’t available in your country’s app store. Luckily, you can change your location in minutes by connecting to a VPN.

The problem is that every Smart TV is different. While some allow unrestricted access to popular app stores, others only come with a handful of pre-approved apps and make it difficult to install anything new, including VPNs. Don’t worry, though: we’ll walk you through the process of installing a VPN on your Smart TV step-by-step so that you can stream safely and use geo-blocked apps from anywhere.

Best VPNs for use with Smart TV

Before we guide you through how to set up a VPN for Smart TV, here’s a quick rundown of the VPNs we believe are best suited for the job:

Best VPNs for Smart TV – at a glance

We’ve compared the most important features for the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Smart TV.

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.

How to set up a VPN on TVs without access to the Google Play Store

If you have an older Smart TV or one from a lesser-known brand like HiSense, Magnavox, or Westinghouse, you’re unlikely to have access to the Google Play Store. Below, we’ll explore a few ways to install a VPN on your Smart TV, regardless of its brand or the available app store:

Here’s how to set-up a VPN for a Smart TV:

  • First of all, sign up for a suitable VPN. We particularly recommend NordVPN but Surfshark and ExpressVPN are two high-quality alternatives.
  • Next, search for your VPN in the Google Play Store and install its app.
  • Log in and connect to a server in the required country. You’ll need an American server to access Netflix US, for instance, or a British server for BBC iPlayer.
  • Finally, open the region-locked app you’d like to use and play a video. It should begin almost instantly, but if not, we’d recommend clearing the app’s stored data or trying a different server.

There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn’t right for you and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.

Method 1: How to share a VPN connection over Ethernet

The quickest and easiest way to share your VPN connection is to run an Ethernet cable from one device to another. This isn’t the most practical method, but if you only use region-locked apps occasionally, it’s likely the best option. If you’d prefer, you could also store a smaller device like a Raspberry Pi behind your TV, which would remove the need for long, trailing cables.

VPN over Ethernet on Windows 10

  • Right-click on the network icon in the bottom-right of your screen and click Open Network & Internet settings.
  • Select Change adapter options.
  • You’ll see a list of all of your connections. First, find one that mentions your VPN and the word “TAP.” For instance, if you use NordVPN, you need to use the “NordVPN TAP adapter.” but if you’re a NordVPN customer, you’d use “TAP-NordVPN Windows Adapter” instead.
  • Right-click this connection and choose Properties.
  • Move over to the Sharing tab and check the box marked Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.
  • Select Ethernet from the dropdown list and click the OK button.
  • Connect to your VPN (any server will work for testing purposes).
  • Finally, connect your two devices with an Ethernet cable. Your secondary device should now automatically connect to the VPN.

VPN over Ethernet on MacOS

  • Start by clicking on the Apple icon and choosing System Preferences. Now, click Sharing.
  • Check the box labeled Internet Sharing on the left.
  • If the device running a VPN is connected to the internet via Ethernet, choose Ethernet in the Share your connection from the dropdown menu. Otherwise, choose Wi-Fi.
  • In the To computers using box, check Ethernet
  • Close this menu and connect to your VPN.
  • Connect your devices using an Ethernet cable. The second device will now connect to the VPN automatically.

Method 2: How to share a VPN connection wirelessly

If you stream frequently, you probably won’t want to run long cables from one device to another whenever you’d like to watch something. The good news is that you don’t have to since you can share a VPN connection over wifi.

VPN over wifi on Windows 10

In older versions of Windows, you had to manually create a virtual router to share your connection over wifi. In Windows 10, however, things are much simpler:

  • Right-click the network icon in the bottom-right and select Open Network & Internet settings.
  • Choose Mobile hotspot from the list on the left-hand side.
  • Toggle the Mobile hotspot button on and choose WiFi in the Share my Internet connection from the dropdown.
  • If you’d like to change the SSID (the network’s name) or password, click Edit and enter your preferred details.
  • Scroll down and click on Change adapter options.
  • Right-click the adapter that mentions your VPN and the word “TAP” (“NordVPN TAP adapter,” for example).
  • Select Properties, then the Sharing tab, and enable Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection.
  • In the dropdown menu, select the network you just created and click OK.
  • Connect to the VPN, and on your secondary device, connect to the new network. You should now be connected to the VPN on both devices.

VPN over wifi on MacOS

  • Click the Apple icon and select System Preferences, then Sharing.
  • Check the Internet Sharing box on the left-hand side.
  • Select your VPN adapter in the Share your connection from list.
  • In the box on the right marked To computers using, choose Wi-Fi.
  • Connect your main device to the VPN, and on your secondary device, connect to the hotspot you’ve just created. Both devices should now be connected to the VPN.

Method 3: How to install a VPN on your home router

If you’d prefer, you can install a VPN on your router to automatically protect all of your devices. However, you should note that this can be a fairly involved process unless your router already has compatible firmware. Further, incorrectly upgrading your firmware can effectively break your router.

For this reason, it’s vital that you follow the setup instructions exactly. Most major VPN providers provide detailed walkthroughs for the most common router types, and we’ve linked a few of these below:

  • NordVPN: Manual router configuration instructions
  • ExpressVPN: Manual installation instructions, router app guide
  • Surfshark: How to set up VPN on routers

It’s also possible to buy a pre-configured VPN router that provides you with a plug-and-play solution. These come with the VPN already installed on the router, so all you have to do is select a server to connect. Companies like FlashRouters will happily sell you routers that are already set up to work with just about any major VPN service. Also, ExpressVPN provides custom firmware that makes it very easy to install on your router.

Mistakes to avoid when installing a VPN on your Smart TV

If you follow the steps above, you shouldn’t have any problems getting your VPN to work with a Smart TV. However, if you’d rather figure things out for yourself, there are a couple of potential pitfalls to look out for:

1. Don’t try and install Android apps on a non-Android system

In the best-case scenario, your TV uses a supported version of Android and everything works as intended. Newer TVs usually let you access the Google Play Store, though, making manual installation unnecessary.

But what if your TV uses a different operating system? Most likely, you won’t be able to install the .APK file, so it’ll just be taking up space. It’s also possible that attempting to install an unsupported app could “brick” your TV, leaving it inoperable. Worse, as you’ve tried to modify it, it might not even be covered under its warranty anymore.

2. Don’t rely entirely on Smart DNS services

Some providers (including NordVPN) let you use Smart DNS services to bypass regional restrictions simply by changing your device’s DNS settings. There are a couple of problems with these, though. First, they don’t encrypt your traffic, meaning your ISP can still tell if you’re streaming. Considering some ISPs throttle your network speeds if you stream frequently, this is a real problem.

Further, most Smart DNS services only allow you to connect to one location (usually the US). In contrast, the corresponding VPN apps often let you use servers in dozens of countries, greatly increasing their ability to unblock geo-restricted services.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you’re having problems

We get it: it’s frustrating to start a project and realize you’re in over your head. That said, would you rather spend several days trying to work out what has gone wrong, or ask your VPN’s customer support team for help and have an answer within a few minutes?

Many major VPNs offer 24/7 live chat, and their support representatives deal with router configuration and other networking problems every single day. If you’re struggling, we strongly recommend contacting them.

You should also consider the security implications of using a free VPN. A recent survey of over 280 such apps for Android (the platform most newer Smart TVs run on) found that more than 80% were vulnerable to IPv6 leaks, almost 20% used no encryption at all, and 37% contained malware.

Unfortunately, well-known providers aren’t necessarily any safer. We’ve seen major services like Hola abuse their users’ trust by selling their bandwidth out from under them to help run a botnet. The best way to stay safe when streaming is to use a reputable VPN with a clear-cut, user-first privacy policy.

However, a VPN doesn’t just allow you to access more websites and services. It also ensures you can browse and stream securely by encrypting your internet traffic. In hiding your IP address and physical location, it protects your privacy. For example, your ISP will no longer be able to see what you’re doing online. The best VPNs also operate no-logs policies which means that they don’t keep any logs by which you can be identified as a user.

You’re only really likely to experience problems if you start trying to circumvent the TV’s limitations. Don’t be tempted to try and sideload a VPN app (or any other) onto a Smart TV – they often use non-standard operating systems which means there’s a good chance you’ll end up with a completely unusable and unfixable device if something goes wrong.

A Smart DNS will change your DNS server settings so that it can unblock websites that are blocked in your country.

A VPN, on the other hand, will encrypt your connection and hide your IP address so that no one can track what you’re doing online. This is a great option if you want to keep your data and/or your location private.

  • Connect your Mac to your ethernet cable.
  • Download and install the VPN on your Mac.
  • Go to System Preferences and select Sharing.
  • Select Internet Sharing from the left menu.
  • Tick the box next to Wi-Fi or AirPort under “To computers using”.
  • Select the installed VPN under “Share your connection from”.

That’s it! You should now be able to share your Mac’s VPN connection with your Smart TV.