The Best VPNs for Roku & How to Install Them

You can share your VPN connection with a Roku device by connecting it to a VPN-installed router.

This alone won’t change your Roku store location, but it can be used to unblock regional libraries within a Roku channel, such as US Netflix.

The quickest way to set up a VPN on your router is to install a dedicated VPN router app. We recommend using ExpressVPN, as its router app is the only one to work with multiple types of router firmware.

It also has the simplest setup process. You don’t need to flash your router, adjust your router’s settings, or change your network ports.

In fact, we were able to set up ExpressVPN on our Linksys WRT3200ACM test router in just under two minutes.

We demonstrate the process of installing ExpressVPN on a router in our video tutorial below:

Here’s how to install ExpressVPN on a Linksys WRT3200ACM router, step-by-step:

1. Subscribe to ExpressVPN and register an account.
2. Log into your ExpressVPN account and select Router from the devices listed on the main dashboard.



3. This opens a new tab. From there, select your router model from the drop-down menu entitled Select your router.
4. Click the green Download Firmware button.



5. Keep this window open as you’ll need the activation code later.
6. Open a new tab and enter your IP address into your browser to access your router’s settings. You can find out your IP address using our IP lookup tool.
7. Log into your router’s admin dashboard. The login and password are normally both admin by default. If you encounter any problems, you can refer to routerpasswords.com.



8. Select Connectivity, then Router Firmware Update, and upload the ExpressVPN firmware you downloaded in Step 3.



9. Click Start and follow the prompts to reboot your router.
10. Once the reboot is finished, go to expressvpnrouter.com and click Get Started.



11. Enter your activation code from Step 4 and click Sign in to ExpressVPN.



12. Create a WiFi username and password for your new network and click Continue.



13. Create a router admin password and click Continue.



14. Connect to a VPN server in the same region as the streaming content you want to unblock.



15. On your Roku select Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless and choose your newly established network.
16. Return to the home screen and open your preferred Roku Channel to watch the content from your new IP address location.

For instructions on how to flash a router with firmware and manually install a VPN, you can refer to our dedicated VPN router installation guide.

The easiest way to connect your Roku to a VPN is to use AirPlay. It allows you to seamlessly share streaming content from your iPhone or iPad to your Roku device.

You can use the table below to see if your Apple device is compatible with AirPlay:

Unlike screen mirroring, AirPlay only shares the selected piece of content instead of mirroring every action on your mobile device. This prevents others from seeing your device’s screen and maintains a much higher video quality.

As you’re streaming on your mobile, not your Roku, you don’t need to change your Roku store region. As a result, there are far fewer limitations on the streaming services you can watch.

It’s also much quicker to set up than the other methods and requires no technical knowledge whatsoever.

One major disadvantage is that Netflix doesn’t support AirPlay. You’ll need to install a VPN on a router, create a virtual router, or use screen mirroring to change your Netflix library on Roku.

Here’s how to set up and use AirPlay on Roku:

1. Connect your Roku and iPhone to the same WiFi network. AirPlay only works if both devices are connected to the same local network.



2. Enable AirPlay on your Roku device. From the Roku home screen go to Settings > Apple AirPlay and HomeKit.



3. Make sure AirPlay is set to On. AirPlay should always be on by default.



4. Install a VPN on your iPhone. We recommend using ExpressVPN as our top-rated Roku VPN.



5. Connect to a VPN server on your iPhone. Ensure you connect to a server in a region where your desired streaming service is available.



6. Activate AirPlay in your iPhone’s control center. You can turn on AirPlay by tapping its symbol, which looks like a triangle with three circles surrounding it.



7. Select your Roku device & enter the four digit code. The code will appear on your Roku’s screen and should be entered into your iPhone when prompted.



8. Open your streaming app. Once you select a piece of content it will automatically play on your Roku device.

You can quickly use a VPN with Roku by screen mirroring from an Android device. You don’t need any technical knowledge and the whole process can be completed in under two minutes.

It’s just a case of connecting to a VPN server, sharing your screen with Roku, and opening your streaming app.

We screen mirrored from our Android device to stream Netflix on Roku.

You can use the table below to see if your Android is compatible with screen mirroring:

Unlike AirPlay, screen mirroring works with every streaming service, including Netflix.

The main drawback is that Roku mirrors your Android’s screen exactly. Crucially, you can’t use your Android device until you’ve finished streaming and anyone can see your screen while mirroring.

It also tends to be a much lower video quality as the Roku is using your Android’s resolution, not its own 4K capabilities.

Here’s how to set up and use screen mirroring on Roku:

1. Connect your Roku and Android to the same WiFi network. Screen mirroring only works if both devices are connected to the same local network.



2. Select Smart View from your Android’s quick panel. You can drag down on your Android screen to access the quick panel.

   

   Note: Smart View may also be referred to as Quick Connect, SmartShare, AllShare Cast, Wireless display, Display mirroring, HTC Connect, Screen casting, and Cast.

3. Enable Smart View and select your Roku device.



4. Click Allow when prompted on your Roku.



5. Optimize your aspect ratio. Select the option to match the output device’s dimensions.



6. Download your preferred VPN. We suggest using ExpressVPN as our best VPN for Roku.



7. Stream as normal on your Android. Your Android’s screen will be mirrored on your Roku, including streaming apps.

You can share your VPN connection to Roku without using a router by creating a virtual hotspot on your PC. This method isn’t as technically difficult as manual router installation, and is more secure than the mobile setup methods.

It works by turning your PC’s internet connection into a ‘virtual router’ that any nearby device can connect to.

By connecting to a VPN on your PC, you can then share the VPN connection with all of your connected devices, including your Roku.

This setup method differs depending on what operating system you’re using. We have step-by-step instructions for both Windows and Mac devices.

Set Up a Virtual Router on Windows 10

You can follow the steps below to connect your Roku to your Windows PC over WiFi:

1. Open the Command Prompt app. Type cmd into the Windows search bar and left-click the Command Prompt Symbol.
2. Confirm that you’re able to share your WiFi: Type in netsh wlan show drivers and press Enter. The line Hosted network supported should state Yes, otherwise you’ll need to upgrade your wireless card or adapter drivers.
3. Enable WiFi sharing. Type in the following command: netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=NetworkName key=NetworkPassword and then press Enter.

   Note: NetworkName and NetworkPassword are placeholders you need to replace with a network name and password of your choice.

4. Turn on the virtual router. Type netsh wlan start hostednetwork and press Enter. You should see a message indicating that the hosted network has started.
5. Find your virtual router’s name. Press Windows + R and enter ncpa.cpl. Locate the WiFi network you just created and make a note of its name.
6. Download a reputable VPN. Subscribe to your preferred VPN and install it on your PC. Do not connect to it yet.
7. Turn on the Mobile Hotspot. Click the Windows start button, then go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Hotspot. Turn it on.
8. Locate your adapter settings: On your PC go to Settings > Network & Internet and under Advanced network settings select Change adapter options.
9. Go to your VPN’s properties. Look for your VPN’s TAP Adapter, right-click it and select Properties.
10. Enable other devices to connect to your VPN. Click the Sharing tab and tick the box for Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.
11. Choose the connection to share. Go to Home Networking Connection and select WiFi from the dropdown menu. Click OK to apply the changes.
12. Start your VPN connection. Connect to a VPN server in a region that hosts the content you want to watch. For example, choose a US server for Hulu.
13. Connect your Roku to your PC. On your Roku go to Settings > Network > Set up connection > Wireless and select your PC’s connection.