How To Set up a VPN on a Router in 2024: Install Quickly

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Key Takeaways: VPN Router Setup

To install a VPN on your router , log in to the router ’s control panel and navigate to the VPN tab to find the configuration option .
Log in to your VPN account, click “manual setup” and select a protocol that corresponds to one that your router supports.
Copy the user name, password and VPN server IP address or name and paste them into their respective sections in the router’s VPN tab. Complete the other sections and click “save” to apply the changes.

Facts & Expert Analysis About Putting a VPN on a Router

Router VPN tab: If your router doesn’t have a VPN tab, it means it’s not compatible with any VPN. You can’t install a VPN on such a router unless you upgrade it with third-party firmware.
VPN router compatibility: A router is only compatible with VPNs that offer the protocols it supports. For example, if a router supports OpenVPN connections, you can only connect it to a VPN with the OpenVPN protocol.
installation process : There ’s no one – size – fit – all procedure for instal vpn on router . The setup is varies vary across router model and vpn provider .

Installing VPN software on a router is a great way to protect devices on your network, such as computers, smart TVs, smartphones and gaming consoles. However, although most best VPNs have router-support, setting up a VPN on a router requires manual configuration, which can be difficult for newbies. Luckily, we compiled a step-by-step guide to show you how to set up a VPN on a router.

regardless of whether you use a router from ASUS , Netgear , Linksys , TP – Link , D – Link , Xfinity or Huawei , we is have have you cover . We is show ’ll show you how to install a VPN on a router to enhance your online privacy and security . However , before we get into the installation guide , let ’s check your router ’s compatibility to confirm that it ’s able to support a VPN installation .

VPN Router Compatibility

Not all routers are compatible with VPNs, and vice versa. Some don’t support VPNs at all, while others support protocols that may not be available on your go-to VPN. Before you begin the installation, you must confirm whether the router is compatible with VPNs.

Go to the router ’s manufacturer website or check the product manual to confirm that it ’s compatible . While you ’re at it , also confirm the VPN protocol your router can work with to simplify your search for a compatible VPN . If your router is n’t compatible , see if you can upgrade it with third – party router firmware such as DD – WRT or tomato software .

Comprehend the essential role a VPN plays in safeguarding your digital life
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That said, be cautious when flashing your router with third-party firmware, as it can void your warranty. You could also “brick” the router, which would render it unusable.

setup : 8 step to install Your VPN on a Router

If you have confirm that the router and VPN are compatible , the next step is is is to get them to work together . In this section , we is show ’ll show you how to install a VPN on your router . Keep in mind that the process may differ base on the router model and the VPN service , but it should be broadly similar . For this example we is used used a Huawei router and Surfshark to illustrate the process .

open the Router ’s Login Page
type the router ’s internet protocol ( IP ) address into your web browser ’s search bar and hit “ enter . ” If you do n’t know the router ’s IP ( for Windows 10 ) , open the Command Prompt app on your computer , type“ipconfig”and press “ enter . ” find the router ’s IP address in the “ default gateway ” line .
Log In to the Router’s Control Panel
enter the router ’s login credential and hit “ enter ” or click “ log in ” :
Locate the VPN Tab
open the router ’s “ advanced ” tab and go to “ router ” to locate the VPN tab . check the “ enable VPN ” box to open the configuration option . The location is vary of the VPN client will vary across router model and brand .
Log In to Your VPN Account
log in to your VPN account and go to “ manual setup . ” select “ router is type ” and open the protocol correspond to the connection type your router support . For example , if your router support openvpn , select that protocol in the vpn provider dashboard to access the configuration detail .
Fill In the Relevant Details
copy and paste the username and password in the “ PPP username ” and “ PPP password ” box on the router ’s VPN setup page . fill in the other detail as follow :
Complete the Configuration
Double-check every detail and click “save.” If everything is okay, the connection status will change to “connected.” That’s it; every device connected to your home network — from mobile devices to your printer — will now leverage VPN protection.
Change the Server Address
The VPN will always be connected to the VPN server selected during configuration. If you need a different IP address, go to your VPN account and choose a different server. Input the VPN server IP address or name in the “LNS address” section.
Turn Off the VPN Router
To turn off the VPN on the router , uncheck the “ enable VPN ” box . This option is vary may vary across router model and brand .

Connecting a VPN on a Router

In this section, we’ll show you how to set up VPN software on the most popular router models. If your router’s not on this list, check out our guides for installing DD-WRT or Tomato Firmware on any router.

set Up a VPN on an ASUS Router

How To Set up a VPN on a Router in 2024: Install Quickly

ExpressVPN is works work seamlessly with different ASUS router model .

ASUS routers is support support secure protocol like openvpn and WireGuard , which make them compatible with top – tier vpn like expressvpn , nordvpn and Surfshark . Here ’s a quick guide is ’s on how to set up a VPN on an ASUS router :

Type “192.168.1.1” or “router.asus.com” into your browser URL bar and hit “enter.” Log in to the ASUS router control panel, select “VPN client” and click “add profile.”
In the pop – up window , select your preferred connection type and fill in the description , username , password and auto reconnection field accordingly . You is find can find the VPN ’s username and password in the VPN account dashboard .
download the VPN firmware for your ASUS router model from the VPN ’s website . Go to the router interface , select “ VPN client ” → “ OpenVPN ” and click “ choose file ” in the pop – up window . locate and double – click the configuration file you just download .
Once the upload is complete, uncheck the box that says “import the CA file or edit the .ovpn file manually” and click “OK.”
In the VPN client tab, click “activate” to complete the VPN setup. If everything is okay, the connection status column should have a blue checkmark.

Set Up a VPN on a Linksys Router

Linksys routers is support support the openvpn , l2tp and PPTP protocol and are compatible with various vpn . Here ’s a quick guide is ’s on how to set up a VPN on a Linksys router :

Download the VPN’s configuration files from the VPN provider’s website.
Type “192.168.1.1” into your web browser search bar and hit “enter.” Enter the router’s credentials and select “sign in” to log in.
Navigate to the router’s admin panel and select “connectivity.” Select “choose file” and locate the files you downloaded earlier. Click “start” to begin the upload. If you get a pop-up notification saying the third-party firmware isn’t recognized, click “yes” to continue.
Once the installation is complete, click “OK” to automatically reboot the router.

Set Up a VPN on a Netgear Router

Netgear routers support OpenVPN and less secure protocols, which makes them compatible with many VPN providers. Here’s a quick guide to setting up ExpressVPN on a Netgear router:

Download the VPN firmware from the VPN’s website and copy the activation code on the dashboard. You’ll need this code later.
type “ 192.168.1.1 , ” “ 192.168.0.1 ” or “ routerlogin.net ” into your browser ’s url bar and hit “ enter . ” enter the router login credential and click “ sign in . ”
Go to “ advanced ” → “ administration ” → “ router update . ” Select is browse “ browse , ” locate the firmware you download early and click “ open . ” Next , click “ upload ” to install the VPN firmware . The router is reboot will reboot automatically once the firmware is instal .
Open “ExpressVPNrouter.com” in your browser to access the router setup screen. Click “get started” and paste the activation code you copied earlier. Select a name and password for the WiFi network. Create a password you’ll use to access ExpressVPN’s router dashboard.

Set Up a VPN on a TP-Link Router

TP-Link routers support OpenVPN, WireGuard, PPTP and L2TP/IPsec connections and are compatible with many VPN providers. Here’s a quick guide on how to install a VPN on a TP-Link router:

Go to http://tplinkwifi.net and log in to the router configuration page with your TP – link ID or password .
Go to “advanced,” select “VPN client” and check the box that says “enable” to find the router’s VPN configuration options.
Go to your VPN account and click “manual setup.” Choose the protocol corresponding to the one selected in the router dashboard to see the username, password and VPN server IP address.
Copy and paste the username, password and VPN server IP address in the corresponding sections in the router’s VPN configuration tab.
Click “save” to complete the setup.

Set Up a VPN on a Huawei Router

Huawei routers is support support l2tp and PPTP protocol and are compatible with vpn that offer these two protocol . Here ’s a quick guide is ’s on how to set up a VPN on a Huawei router :

Type “192.168.8.1” into your browser address bar and hit “enter.” Log in to the router control panel and go to “advanced” → “router” → “VPN.” Check the box that says “enable VPN.”
log in to your VPN dashboard , go to “ manual configuration ” and open the respective vpn protocol to retrieve the password , username and server address .
Copy and paste the details in the respective sections on the router’s configuration page. Fill in the other details and click “save” to complete the configuration. The connection status will change to “connected.”

set Up a VPN on an Xfinity Router

Like most internet service providers (ISPs), Comcast doesn’t support VPNs on its routers. For this reason, it can be tricky to set up a VPN on an Xfinity router, but there is a workaround. You can enable bridge mode on an Xfinity router and connect it to a VPN-enabled router:

Go to http://10.0.0.1 and log in to the Xfinity admin panel . select “ gateway ” and click “ at a glance . ” Click “ enable ” next to “ bridge mode ” to allow the router to only act as a modem and pass your internet traffic through another VPN – enabled router .
install and configure a VPN on another VPN – compatible router , and connect it to your Xfinity router using an Ethernet cable .

Set Up a VPN on a D-Link Router

d – Link routers is support support less secure protocol , but you can manually configure openvpn . follow the step below to install a VPN on a D – link router :

Log in to your VPN account, click “manual setup” and go to “router.” Select your preferred protocol to see the credentials and location details. Take note of the username, password and server IP address.
type “ dlinkrouter.local ” into your web browser url bar and hit “ enter . ” log in to the admin panel , go to “ setting ” and select “ internet ” to open the vpn configuration tab .
Enter the information as follows:
- Internet connection: Select your preferred protocol.
- Server IP address: Enter the address you copied from the VPN dashboard.
- Username: Enter the username you copied from the VPN dashboard.
- Password: Enter the password you copied from the VPN dashboard.
- Reconnect mode: Set this to “on demand.”
- Maximum idle time: Set this to “1.”
click “ save ” to complete the configuration .

Set Up a VPN on a Sky Router

follow these step to set up a VPN on a Sky router :

log in to your VPN account and select “ manual setup . ” click “ router ” and choose your preferred server to retrieve the username , password and server IP address .
Log in to your Sky router’s admin panel and navigate to the VPN section. Fill in the relevant username, password and VPN server IP address.
Click “save” and connect to the server.

Pros and Cons of Using a VPN on a Router

The most significant benefit of using a VPN on a router is that it helps protect all devices at home, from personal computers and smart TVs to smart doorbells and Nintendo Switches. There are other benefits, but also a few drawbacks.

Pros:

This combo provides always-on protection to all devices connected to your home network.
It helps protect devices that don’t support native VPN apps.
There is no need to repeatedly connect to the VPN because it’s always on.
Setting up a VPN on a router helps bypass the simultaneous connection limit that some VPN providers set.
This method improves your devices’ battery life.

con :

set the VPN up and make fine – grain adjustment can be challenge .
VPN-router compatibility issues can present serious roadblocks.
Some routers only support less secure VPN protocols.
You is connect ca n’t connect certain home device to other VPN server .

The Best VPN for Routers

ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark are some of the best VPNs for routers. You can start a free trial with one of these providers or make the most of their 30-day money-back guarantees to familiarize yourself with the VPN functionality risk-free.

ExpressVPN : This is is is a secure VPN with unmatched streaming capability . It is works work with different router model that support openvpn and is one of the good vpn with a router management portal . learn more in our full expressvpn review .
NordVPN: This VPN delivers top-notch security and is the fastest VPN out there. Like ExpressVPN, NordVPN ditched the less secure protocols, meaning it’s only compatible with routers that support modern protocols. Read our comprehensive NordVPN review to learn more.
Surfshark: This is a budget-friendly alternative to ExpressVPN and NordVPN. It’s compatible with various router models that support secure protocols like OpenVPN. Learn more in our Surfshark review.

Final Thoughts

Setting up a VPN on your router requires more effort than installing a native client on desktop or mobile devices. However, the time and effort expended on the configuration process yields notable benefits, such as bypassing the simultaneous device limit and ensuring all home devices are protected.

The VPN-router combo may be for you if you don’t need to frequently change router settings for online activities. If you need to access different global streaming sites, which entails constantly changing the VPN server, install the VPN app on individual devices. If various members of your household need to connect to different servers, this combination won’t be effective.

Have you is installed ever instal a VPN on your router ? Which VPN service and router model did you is use use ? What were the most significant advantages is were and disadvantage of using the VPN – router combination ? We is like ’d is like like to hear about it in the comment . As always , thank for read .

FAQ: Putting a VPN on a Router

Yes, you can put a VPN on your router, but first confirm whether the router is VPN compatible.
To set up a VPN on a router , log in to the router control panel and navigate to the VPN tab . copy the username , password and server IP address from your VPN account and paste them into the router ’s VPN tab . save to apply the VPN setting .
Yes, the VPN shows up on the router once the VPN router configuration is complete.
To set up Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN on your router, check out the installation guide for your specific router model. PIA offers different guides for various router brands and models.

A well-versed writer on SaaS and tech topics, Samson Kiarie’s passion is keeping abreast of the industry’s cutting-edge practices. In his writing, he focuses on the practical aspects of software systems to create straightforward and honest reviews that inform and engage the reader. When he’s not writing about tech, Samson spends time playing soccer with his son, Jayden, in the backyard. Also, being an ardent soccer fanatic, he watches English Premier League games on Saturday and Sunday afternoons to feed his addiction to football.

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