How to install a VPN on Firestick/Fire TV

The Amazon Fire TV Stick, Firestick, and Fire Cube transform any HDMI-equipped TV into a connected streaming hub. While these devices are great, their content is limited by where you are in the world. To get around this restriction, you need a VPN.

Utilizing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) lets you encrypt all your internet traffic and reroute it through a server of your choice, making it appear as if you’re located in a different country or region. This nifty trick lets you access geo-locked content and watch your favorite shows on popular streaming apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, HBO, and more. Plus, if you like to use Kodi on your Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick, a VPN ensures your internet traffic remains private, shielding it from prying eyes of nosy internet service providers.

While Amazon Fire TV apps used to be fairly rare, plenty of VPN providers now have their own. However, if your VPN doesn’t have an app specifically designed for Firestick, don’t worry. We’ve got a workaround for you. Let’s dive in!

What is the best VPN for Firestick?

If you’ve not already purchased a VPN for streaming with Firestick, you’re going to want to make sure you choose one that is up to the job. For instance, you’ll need a service that’s quick enough for uninterrupted streaming, yet secure enough to prevent ISP throttling or other intrusions on your privacy.

We recommend NordVPN. Out of the dozens of VPN services we’ve tested, it’s one of the fastest, scores highly for privacy protection, and works with all Kodi add-ons. Not only that, but it also works with virtually every streaming service we’ve tested and is included in the Amazon app store.

If you are in a rush, check out our list of the best VPNs for Firestick below:

1. NordVPN: Our first choice for Amazon Fire TV Stick users. Superb Firestick app, easy to use, strong on privacy, lots of advanced features. Works with most streaming platforms. Come with a risk-free money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Amazon Fire Stick.
2. Surfshark: The best budget VPN for Firestick. Fast, reliable, and versatile. No connection or bandwidth limits. Perfect to share your account with friends and family.
3. IPVanish: Lightweight and easy to navigate with a remote control. Good for Kodi users. Easy-to-use app for Firestick devices. Connect as many devices as you like. Strong streaming ability and a powerful set of security features.
4. ExpressVPN: A solid all-rounder that is fast and secure. Works with a dozen Netflix regions. Apps for all devices, including Firestick.
5. CyberGhost: Simple enough for complete beginners to use. Dedicated Firestick app and thousands of servers in 100+ countries (some of which are designed for streaming).
6. ProtonVPN: A very speedy service that’s great for streaming and can even block ads automatically. Impressive set of security tools and a dedicated Firestick app.
7. PureVPN: Quick and versatile VPN with its own Amazon Fire TV app. Works with most major streaming services and permits up to 10 simultaneous connections.
8. PrivateVPN: Another budget-friendly option. A highly secure VPN that is great for streaming and torrenting. Works with over 20 Netflix regions and can even be used in places with extreme online censorship.

Best VPNs for Firestick – Our hands-on review

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

How to install a VPN on Firestick

The NordVPN app is available on the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick’s default app store. If you can’t find it, you may be using a first-generation Firestick. These don’t support VPN connections, and unfortunately, there’s no way around it. Still, these models are around a decade old anyway, so if you have one, it’s long overdue for an upgrade.

Here’s how to install a VPN on Amazon Firestick or Fire TV:

1. Starting from the home screen, go to Apps > Categories > Utility or run a search for “VPN”
2. Select NordVPN from the list
3. Click the yellow button next to Get to download and install the app
4. Once the app is installed, click the yellow button next to Open on the same page to launch NordVPN
5. Enter your NordVPN account username and password and log in. This may be a bit slow with the remote control but you should only need to do it once.
6. Either click the Connect button to connect to the VPN right away, or select a specific server location to connect to.

And that’s it! Your connection will be established after a few moments. You can now leave the VPN app running in the background while you stream.

Although NordVPN is our favorite VPN for Firestick, Surfshark, IPVanish, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and a few other great VPNs now also have apps on the Fire TV app store. But what if the provider you want to use doesn’t have a dedicated Firestick app? Don’t worry, we’ll explain how to sideload VPNs on your Fire TV shortly.

If your VPN doesn’t have a Firestick app, use this workaround

There are several ways to protect your Amazon Fire TV with a VPN. The simplest way to install a service that’s not in the Amazon App Store is to sideload it. Here’s an example using NordVPN:

Note that NordVPN released a Fire TV app after we published this tutorial video, so users of that VPN should opt for the app available from Amazon. This video still applies to other VPN providers that don’t make Fire TV apps, though.

Important information: VPNs that you have side-loaded onto your Firestick will not automatically update. Instead, you’ll have to repeat the side-loading process every time, manually downloading and installing the latest version of the app. This is why we recommend side-loading only as a last resort — getting your VPN straight from the app store is easier, safer, and quicker.

Preparing your Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick for sideloading

If you’re using a VPN app that isn’t listed on the Firestick’s default app store, we’ll show you a couple of other ways to get your favorite VPN on Firestick.

Before we begin, we need to allow the Fire TV to install apps from unknown sources.

1. Boot up your Fire TV and go to Settings > Device
2. Scroll down to Developer Options
3. Toggle on Apps from unknown sources and ADB debugging

4. Back out to the System menu again and go to About
5. Select Network

Jot down the IP address of your Fire TV and keep it handy for method #2.

You can now use apps from outside Amazon’s app ecosystem. The most difficult part of this process is actually getting the VPN on Firestick because Amazon didn’t make it very easy to download APK files or use Google Play. You can choose any of the methods below based on what best suits you.

Alternate Method #1: Install VPN app APK on 2nd-gen Fire TV stick and newer via direct download (recommended method)

This method is easy if your VPN provider makes its Android APK file available via direct download instead of through an app store like Google Play.

We advise you to only download APKs from the VPN provider’s website. NordVPN, for example, allows customers to download the APK directly from its website. APK files from third parties could be infected with adware or malware.

To use this method, you’ll need a Firestick that’s second-gen or later (anything released later than 2016) and a download URL for your VPN’s APK file. While we’re using NordVPN as an example in the screenshots below, this is just for demonstration, and we want to remind you that it’s available in the Amazon app store.

1. Boot up your Fire TV and enter “Downloader” into the search bar
2. Install the Downloader App, which, as of writin,g has an orange logo
3. Open Downloader and enter the direct download URL for the VPN app’s APK file. If the URL is too long, you can type in the URL for a page that contains the download link, which will open up a rudimentary browser from which you can download the APK.
   
4. When the download finishes, you’ll be prompted to install the app. If not, open your downloads in the Downloader app and click the APK file
5. The app should be installed and ready to go. Learn where to find it and how to enable it further down

Sometimes direct download APK files are not openly advertised by the VPN provider. If you can’t find one by searching around the provider’s website, try contacting customer service to see if they can either send you a link or the APK file itself. You can upload the file to cloud storage such as Dropbox and download the file using Downloader from there, or you can sideload the APK onto your device by plugging the Fire TV into your computer’s USB port and dropping the APK file into an accessible location.

Alternative Method #2: Sideload VPN app on 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick and newer with another Android device

This method requires the second generation of the Fire TV Stick or newer plus a second Android device with internet access to Google Play, such as a smart TV, smartphone or tablet. We’ll download the apps to the second device first, then transfer them to the Fire TV using Apps2Fire.

If you’re not sure what generation Firestick you’re using, look for the model name on the outside. 2nd-gen Firesticks have the model name “LY73PR”.

1. On your second Android device, download and install Apps2Fire from Google Play
2. On the same Android device, download and install the VPN app of your choice from the Google Play Store
3. Launch the app and tap the menu icon (three dots) in the top right corner
4. Tap Setup
5. Under IP address of your Fire TV, enter the IP address you wrote down in step 6 of the previous section
6. Tap Save
7. Tap the menu icon (three dots) again and select “Upload Apps”
8. Tap the VPN app you want to use on your Fire TV to upload it to your Fire TV
9. The app should automatically install on your Fire TV. We’ll show you how to find it and enable the VPN in the next section

Note that if you have an APK file for the VPN app on your phone rather than an installed app, you can also use Apps2Fire, but the previous method is probably easier and doesn’t require a second Android device.

Find the VPN app and connect (following alternative methods #1 and #2)

Now that the VPN app is installed on your Fire TV, we just need to log in and connect. These steps will vary a bit depending on your VPN provider, but the process is generally the same.

1. Head back to the starting menu on the Fire TV
2. Go to Settings > Applications
3. Select Manage installed applications
4. Find and select the VPN app you pushed onto the Fire TV
5. A sub-menu will appear. Select Launch application
6. Enter your VPN provider’s login credentials.
   
7. In the VPN app, select a location and hit the connect button. Once the connection is established, you’re good to go!

The VPN service should remain connected until the device powers off or you manually disconnect it. If given the option, you can set the app to automatically reconnect should the connection drop at any point.

Updating your Firestick VPN app

One hassle you might encounter with sideloaded Google Play apps and direct download APKs is that they don’t automatically receive updates. If you have a working, stable version and it’s secure, then this isn’t so much of a problem. But if your VPN stops working overnight, it’s likely an important update has been released, meaning you’ll have to upgrade.

The process is more or less the same as the steps you took in either method #1 or #2. However, before you begin, it’s important to force stop the existing VPN app.

1. From the Fire TV home screen, go to Settings > Applications > Manage installed applications
2. Find your VPN app, click it, and choose Force stop
3. Use method #1 or #2 to push the app onto your Fire TV and install it
4. This time, a page will appear that asks if you want to install an update to the existing application along with any new permissions. Select Yes
5. After the update, you will have to log back into the app using the steps in the previous section.

No APK or Google Play? Try setting up the VPN on a wi-fi router

If you can’t find a reliable APK file and don’t have access to Google Play on another Android device, or if you’re using the first-generation Fire TV Stick, your options are limited. There are ways to download APKs using forged device IDs from Google Play using Chrome extensions, then sideloading them with ADB, but that’s more technical than we’re going to get in this article, not to mention you could be violating Google’s terms of service using those methods.

Instead, we recommend setting up the VPN on a wi-fi router instead of the Fire TV. There are two main ways to do this: setting up a virtual router on a laptop or configuring your home wi-fi router to use a VPN. Virtual routers are easier to set up but require a laptop to route your online traffic through, so it’s not exactly convenient. Setting up a VPN on a physical router only works on certain router firmware and can be tricky, but it is much more convenient once properly configured. Both methods work with all versions of Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV stick.

Method #3: Connect Fire TV to a VPN-enabled virtual wi-fi router

Most newer laptops come with the ability to create their own wi-fi hotspots that other devices can connect to. If the laptop is connected to a VPN, then all of the internet traffic from the devices connected to that hotspot is also tunneled through the secure VPN server. We’ll show you how to set up a virtual wi-fi router on Windows and Mac, which you can then connect your Fire TV to. This method works even with the 1st-generation Fire TV and Fire TV Stick.

Download and install the desktop VPN app for your operating system from your VPN provider’s website if you haven’t already.

How to set up a VPN-enabled virtual router hotspot on Windows

If you’re using Windows 10, check out the video below. For older versions of Windows, refer to the text instructions:

1. First, we need to check to make sure your computer supports virtual routers. In the Windows search bar, type cmd and right click Command Prompt > Run as Administrator
2. In the terminal windows that appears, type netsh wlan show drivers and hit /Enter
3. Look for the line that says Hosted network supported. If it says Yes then you are good to go. If not, you’ll have to set up the VPN on the physical router. Help with that further down.
4. In the terminal window, type netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=<MY-NETWORK> key=<MY-PASSWORD>, replacing <MY-NETWORK> and <MY-PASSWORD> with the network name and password of your choice, and hit Enter.
5. You should see some text indicating you successfully created the virtual router. To turn it on, type netsh wlan start hostednetwork and hit Enter
6. You should get a message that says the hosted network started. If not, you need to update your network adapter drivers and try again.
7. Next we need to share the virtual router with other devices. Press Windows Key+R, type ncpa.cpl into the Run prompt, and hit Enter
8. In the list of connections that appears, look for the one you just created. It will have the network name you put in earlier. Remember or jot down the name of this connection
9. On the same list of connections, look for the one that says TAP-Windows Adapter. Right click it and select Properties
10. Click the Sharing tab at the top and check the box to Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection
11. Under Home network connection, click the dropdown and select the name of the network you created earlier. Press OK
12. Open your VPN app, select OpenVPN as the protocol in the settings if needed, and connect to a server in the United States. OpenVPN activates the TAP Windows Adapter
13. Your PC is now a VPN-enabled wi-fi router!

How to set up a VPN-enabled virtual router hotspot on macOS

1. Click the Apple icon to get a system menu, then select System Preferences.
2. In System Preferences, click the Network icon.
3. In the Network window, click on the plus (+) sign at the bottom of the left panel to add a new service. In the pop-up window, select the following options: Interface: VPN, VPN Type: L2TP over IPSec, Service Name: [choose a name for your VPN connection]*
4. Click Create. For these next steps, you will need your VPN username, password, and a server address. You will probably also need an IPSec key, depending on your VPN provider’s settings, this can also be referred to as a Shared Key or Shared Secret. You can find these under the Manual Configuration section of the VPN provider’s support website. Most providers will also have a list of VPN servers that you can choose from.
5. Enter the following details: Configuration: Default, Server Address:[server address as specified by VPN provider], Account Name: [username], Encryption: Automatic (128 bit or 40 bit)
6. Check the box next to Show VPN status in menu bar to see your VPN connection status in the menu bar.
7. Click on Authentication Settings…. On the User Authentication screen, enter your password in the box and the IPSec key in the Shared Secret box under Machine Authentication, then click OK.
   Authentication settings
8. Next, click on Advanced… Check the box for Send all traffic over VPN connection, then click OK.
9. Click Apply to save all of your settings, and then connect to your VPN with the Connect button. You are now connected to a VPN server. Now you just need to set up your VPN for sharing.
10. Return to the System Preferences menu, then click on Sharing.
11. Select Internet Sharing from the left panel. The Internet Sharing options will appear on the right side of the screen. Set the following settings: Share your connection from: [the VPN L2TP connection you just created] To computers using: Wi-Fi
12. Select Wi-Fi Options…, and enter the following details: Network Name: [choose a network name also known as an SSID], Channel: [leave as default], Security: WPA2 Personal, Password: [choose a password], Verify: [re-enter your password]
13. Click OK. On the Sharing menu, check the box next to Internet Sharing. You will see a prompt asking you to turn on Internet sharing. Click Start. When Internet Sharing has been activated, a green light will appear next to the text: Internet Sharing: On
14. In your menu bar, you will now see two new icons. The first icon shows your VPN connection status. The other new icon shows your Internet Sharing status.
15. Open the VPN app and connect!

If you select the wi-fi icon by clicking on it, you will see that it is no longer searching for available wi-fi signals. Instead, it tells you that wi-fi internet sharing is on, the name of the wi-fi signal that the Mac is broadcasting, in this example “Virtual VPN Router” is our SSID and the wi-fi channel that the signal is utilizing. You connect your multiple devices to this wi-fi router the same way as you would to any other wi-fi, using the SSID and password that you put into the wi-fi settings screen above.

Method #4: Connect Fire TV to a VPN-enabled physical wi-fi router

Finally, you can install a VPN directly onto your router itself. This is a more complicated and involved process, but it will ensure that every device on the network is protected. Unfortunately, the exact installation process is different for every brand of router and the firmware it’s running. If you’re interested in this approach, we’d recommend checking the support section of your VPN’s website — in our years of experience, we’ve found that virtually every provider has manual setup instructions for at least some routers.

Methodology: How do we choose the best VPNs for Firestick?

We followed our in-house testing methodology to determine which VPNs worked best with a Firestick. This involved scoring providers on a series of metrics.

We used:

• Nine metrics to measure streaming ability — including each provider’s compatibility with platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, and whether apps exist for platforms such as Firestick.
• Ten metrics to measure each service’s ease of use — such as the existence of streaming servers and router support.
• Sixteen metrics to measure security and privacy — including the level of encryption and leak protection.
• Eight metrics to gauge whether a service represents good value for money — including the monthly cost and the existence of any discounts or offers.

We also measured which VPNs were fastest. This involved testing their speeds in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon. To get an idea of global — rather than just local — speeds, we connected to servers in the US, UK, South Korea, and Australia.

To try and replicate the average user’s experience, we carried out the tests using virtual machines that had been rate limited to 250 Mbps. This is the median average of fixed broadband speeds in the US as of Sept 2024.

Once we’d collected the results, we converted each provider’s average speed to a score out of ten. This makes it easy to compare providers.

As you can see from the above, ProtonVPN was the fastest VPN on average, followed by Surfshark and NordVPN.

To generate an overall score, we combined the scores for each provider’s streaming ability, ease of use, security and privacy, value for money, and speed. We used this score to compare and, ultimately, rank providers.

The chart above shows us that NordVPN is the best VPN to use with a Firestick/ Fire TV, closely followed by Surfshark and IPvanish.

Why your privacy is at risk if you don’t use a VPN

If you connect to a public Wi-Fi network (e.g., coffee shops, airports, etc.), any other user could access your browsing information. If you’re not using an encrypted connection, a malicious user with easily available tools can find out the websites you visit, your username and passwords, personal details including your name and address, and videos you download and stream.

Anyone connecting to public wi-fi should use a VPN which will encrypt and hide all your browsing activity.

A VPN will also mask your online activity if you connect via your home or work internet provider. This is particularly important in countries such as the US where ISPs can legally sell and share your data with other organizations.  This data includes sites you visit and the content you stream. We’ve tested the best VPNs for security and privacy and NordVPN is our #1 choice for Firestick users.

How to change your region on the Fire TV Stick

Changing your Fire TV Stick region will allow you to access geo-restricted content from other parts of the world. Once you have subscribed to a region, you will need to log in to your Amazon account and select “Your Account” > “Change Your Country or Region”.

From there, you can select the country or region that you would like your Fire TV Stick to originate from. You can also choose whether you want your current Fire TV Stick content to continue working or be removed (note: some content may not be available in certain countries/regions). After making your selection, click “Save Changes”.

Firestick VPN troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues connecting to or staying connected to the VPN through an app, try the following:

• Check to ensure you have a 2nd-gen or later Fire TV device. 1st-gen Firesticks, which don’t support VPNs, will have an FCC ID on the housing: 2ABDU-0509
• Uninstall and reinstall the VPN app. Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Applications. Reinstall using the steps above. Ensure you’re using the latest version of your VPN provider’s app.
• Restart your Fire TV device by unplugging it, waiting one minute, and plugging it back in.
• Try a different VPN server location
• Check that your internet connection works normally without the VPN.

See also:

• How to install Kodi on Firestick
• Does Firestick keep buffering? Try these fixes
• How to install NordVPN on Firestick
• How to install ExpressVPN on Firestick
• How to install Hotspot Shield on Firestick
• How to install PIA on Firestick
• How to install Ivacy on Firestick
• How to install CyberGhost on Firestick

How to uninstall a VPN on your Firestick

Whether you’re having trouble with a VPN app on your Firestick or you simply don’t need it anymore (perhaps you’re looking to switch to one of the best VPNs for Firestick listed in this post), you may wish to uninstall it. The good news is that this is very quick and easy to do.

Here’s how to uninstall a VPN app on your Amazon Firestick device:

1. Select Settings from the top menu of your Firestick.
2. Head to Applications.
3. Click Manage Installed Applications.
4. Select the VPN app you wish to uninstall.
5. Click on Uninstall and then click it again to confirm the action.

VPN for Amazon Fire Stick / Fire TV: FAQs