Installing a VPN on a device like the Amazon Fire TV Stick might seem unnecessary, but it's actually quite the opposite. Okay, it's not for everyone, but if you want to bypass any restrictions and gain other advantages when using it outside your home, you'll want to know how to do it.
The advantages of using VPN on the Fire TV Stick
The first question when discussing how to install a VPN on a device like the Amazon Fire TV Stick is, why would I want or need to do it? Basically, there are two reasons: privacy and the ability to bypass region restrictions.
The privacy issue is obvious, although it mainly affects when we use the Fire TV outside the home. Yes, this is a device to connect to the television and it is normal for it to be connected to our television at home. But the Amazon device is also a great travel companion. Being able to arrive at your hotel, connect it to the television and access all the content that interests you is useful and practical.
There is little to comment on the restrictions by region as well. We all know that the catalog available on a streaming platform varies depending on the country and the rights acquired. For example, there are series or movies that have already been released on Disney+ in the United States and have not yet reached Spain.
Well, with a VPN you could connect to the service as if you were in the United States. The only thing is to also have a user account for that country. Although on other platforms such as YouTube it is not necessary and all you need is to "tell" it that you are in the country to be able to access the content that you could not see from yours. Also for the opposite, access the content that a service offers in your country while you are traveling in another.
In short, the use of a VPN is more useful than it might seem at first. So, if the topic still catches your eye, let's see how to choose VPN and install it on a Fire TV.
What is a VPN and how to choose it
VPNs , or Virtual Private Networks, have become increasingly popular in recent years. These virtual connections allow you to connect to another computer as if you were on the same local network or in the same country, granting unrestricted access and other advantages such as enhanced security or preventing others from knowing which service you are connecting to, your location, etc. This has led to widespread interest. The problem is that, even in 2020, not everyone is clear on how to choose such a service.
If you do an internet search you will see that there are a multitude of options, some completely free and with the same options as others for payment. How is this possible? Bearing in mind that a service such as a VPN implies a consumption of resources, if they offer you free access it is because either there are restrictions that they later offer you in their payment option or they are directly profiting with other data that you generate when using the service.
Therefore, while the decision of which VPN to use is ultimately up to you, the three most recommended options are:
- NordVPN: connections in 54 countries, unlimited bandwidth, security and privacy, paid, 30-day money-back guarantee
- ExpressVPN: 7-day trial, connections in 94 countries, access to any content, security and privacy
- IPVanish VPN: more than 75 locations, security and privacy, paid with a 30-day money-back guarantee
The great advantage of these VPNs is that they not only offer good performance when it comes to redirecting traffic, responding to requests from your browser, etc., they also have applications that make it easy to use and configure on virtually any device where you want to use the VPN. service. In our case, this is on a Fire TV Stick.
How to install a VPN on the Fire TV Stick
Amazon's Fire TV Stick is based on Android , which greatly simplifies the VPN installation and setup process. Depending on the service you choose, you'll need to follow different steps if its apps are optimized. The process is the same for all three options we selected:
- Download the app on your Amazon Fire TV Stick or search for it on the Web Apps for Fire TV Stick and do it from there. You could also use the Downloader app for installation.
- With the application already installed, start and create an account in case you do not have one
- Once inside the application, select fast connection or go to the advanced settings that usually offer to choose which server to connect to
- From now on all traffic will go through this VPN with the benefits that this brings
Watch the following videos walk through the setup process for ExpressVPN and IPVanish VPN on a Fire TV Stick to see how easy it is.
One last clarification and advice. The first generation Amazon Fire TV Stick (the one that is not compatible with Alexa) does not support the use of VPN networks, only the current models in its basic edition and 4K allow you to use these apps.
When traveling with your Fire TV Stick, don't forget to bring a micro USB to Ethernet adapter . There are many models available, so it's just a matter of choosing the one you prefer, but in a hotel or away from home, it can be easier to find a secure Wi-Fi network to connect to. This is especially true if, in hotels and other accommodations, wireless internet access isn't an extra charge.
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