The Roku smart TV platform is an accessible way to watch your favorite streaming content in a centralized location – either built into TVs or by adding affordable dongles or mini boxes. The new Roku Ultra for 2024to old TVs. (Look for an Engadget review of that model soon.) A big plus of the Roku platform is that it always gets free software updates to keep it up-to-date—like a cool new feature that turns your TV into a kind of virtual art museum. display famous paintings as screen saver. However, Roku is less adept at solving a common frustration of the streaming era: the inability to access popular shows, movies, and sporting events due to geo-restrictions.
Using a VPN is a common way to solve this problem, but unlike Fire TV, Apple TV, and other competitors, Roku systems don’t have native VPN support. But that’s not the end of the story: You can still use a VPN to access a wider range of programming through Roku—you just need to use a workaround. We’ll show you how.
Benefits of using a VPN
Speaking of streaming, a VPN has one major benefit: changing your IP address — a unique number that identifies the general location of the device and network you use to access the internet. A VPN tunnels your connection through its servers to spoof your IP and make it look like you’re viewing from somewhere else. As a result, a service like Netflix will see your location as, for example, the United Kingdom and the United States. You will then have access to a different set of programming. For example, you need Max for streaming Friends, The Big Bang Theory or Rick and Morty in the US, but they’re all available on Netflix in the UK.
VPNs have several other benefits related to privacy and security. VPN servers have military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, meaning they are more secure than connecting to the normal Internet. So, because you’re browsing the Internet through a tunnel through a VPN, your Internet service provider can’t see all of your browsing locations (and can’t sell your browsing habits to data brokers).
The easiest way to use VPN on Roku
While Roku doesn’t natively support VPNs, there are a few workarounds. You, for example, set up a VPN on your home router. This allows you to protect your entire network and every device connected to it, keeping everyone in your home anonymous online. But it can be confusing when you want to access local services – and it requires a very high level of technical knowledge and only works with certain routers.
Instead, we recommend an easier method: connect the VPN to the Roku via AirPlay or the display. To do this, subscribe to a VPN and install it on your smartphone or laptop. Then stream content to that device and AirPlay or mirror it to your Roku TV. To do this, the icon should look like a TV with Wi-Fi rays.
We prefer this method because it is generally simpler. You can first access any geo-blocked content on your smartphone or laptop and then stream it to your smart TV.
You can make sure your Roku model is compatible with AirPlay Check out this resource on the Roku website. If not, you can always connect your phone or laptop directly to the TV using an HDMI cable or cable compatible dongle.
Choosing the best VPN
Whether you’re using a phone or laptop as the primary source for your VPN-directed streams, this gives you a wider list of services to choose from. Although each VPN has the same basic functions, their price and additional features vary. Before deciding which one suits your needs and the devices you own, take some time to see what each has to offer and what other users have to say. Start by checking out our list the best VPNs – and happy streaming.
VPN options for other streaming platforms
Don’t have a Roku? The good news: Solid VPN options (or alternatives) are available for other major streaming platforms as well.
