How to install a VPN on your router
Installing a VPN on your router protects every device on your network at once — TVs, consoles, and smart-home gear that cannot run a VPN app themselves.
A video walkthrough for this guide is coming soon.
- Check compatibility. Confirm your router supports VPN connections (OpenVPN or WireGuard), or can be flashed with DD-WRT or Tomato firmware.
- Pick a VPN with router support. NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark all provide router guides; ExpressVPN’s dedicated router app is the most beginner-friendly.
- Get your configuration. Download the manual-setup files or credentials from your VPN account dashboard.
- Log into your router. Enter its admin address (often 192.168.1.1) in a browser.
- Enter the VPN details. In the router’s VPN client section, add the server address and your credentials.
- Connect and test. Save, connect, then run a leak test to confirm.
A VPN on your router counts as one connection but covers every device behind it.
Which VPN should you use? See our best VPNs of 2026 — NordVPN is our top all-round pick.