How to install a VPN on Roku – Guide
When Roku launched in 2012, it was one of the first streaming media boxes to become public knowledge. The technology is currently in its fifth generation and is available in six variants, from budget devices to powerful 4K streamers. All devices run Roku OS which is based on Android and allows for a wide range of apps and channels. Many of these channels are geo-blocked, meaning they can only be accessed in certain countries. A VPN, which encrypts your internet traffic and sends it through a remote server at a location of your choosing, can help you bypass these restrictions. This will give you a new IP address that you can use to bypass regional content restrictions. VPNs also protect your streaming activities by preventing your ISP and others on your network from spying on what you watch. Unfortunately, Roku OS does not support VPNs on its devices, past or present. That means Roku owners who want to take advantage of a VPN will have to set it up. up on an intermediate device, usually a Wi-Fi router. We’ll discuss a few different ways to do this:
How to connect Roku to a VPN
Using Roku with a VPN-enabled Wi-Fi Router
you can set up a VPN on your wifi router, then connect your Roku to that router’s wifi network to unblock programs and keep your streaming activity private. You have two main options: a physical router or a virtual router.
Context up a VPN on a physical wifi router
Per up a VPN on a physical wifi router, it will need to have a firmware type that supports VPN connections. Normally, you can access your router’s firmware panel by typing “192.168.0.1” or “192.168.1.1” in your browser’s URL bar while connected to wifi, then enter your login credentials. If you don’t know your login credentials, consult your user manual or Google to find the defaults (admin is a common username and password). Once logged into the dashboard, look for the option to set up a VPN connection. If it doesn’t exist, you can install new firmware on the router. This process is known as “flashing” and varies from router to router. If done incorrectly, you can permanently damage your router, so be cautious. The most popular free and open source router firmware is Tomato and also DD-WRT. Both have VPN compatible versions. With the proper firmware installed, consult your VPN provider’s website or customer service for setup instructions and configuration details about how to connect to your servers.
Context up a VPN on a virtual wifi router
Context up a VPN-enabled virtual router is much easier and less risky than doing it on a physical router, but you will need one laptop to use as a wifi hotspot. Many people don’t realize that their laptops can not only connect to a wifi network, but also stream its own. You can do this on almost any Windows PC or Macbook made in recent years. Here it is how to to define up a VPN for Roku on a virtual wifi router:
Roku DNS Proxy
Not only does Roku not support VPN software, it also does not allow users to change default DNS addresses. Again, this will have to be done on your router. A DNS proxy does not offer the full encryption or geospoofing features of a VPN, but it is much easier to set up. up and will not slow down your connection. For Roku, you will have to go into your router’s dashboard and find DNS settings. Typically, you will need to enter two DNS server addresses, one primary and one secondary. Make sure you use DNS servers located in the country where you want to unblock the content. You may also want to encode your IPv6 addresses, but for streaming purposes this is not really necessary and in some cases should be turned off entirely. DNS, or domain name system, is used by a device connected to the internet to resolve a URL like comparitech.com to a created IP address up of numbers and decimals. Think of it as a phone book that matches phone numbers with names. By changing the server DNS requests are sent to, you can unblock content on websites that use DNS to find users. This is called a DNS proxy. Good VPNs will automatically override your DNS settings and use their own private DNS servers. Much less, however, will allow you to use their DNS servers without the VPN.
Final note
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