How to Install a VPN on Your Amazon Fire TV Stick

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Installing a VPN for your Amazon Fire TV Stick: a short summary

The Amazon Fire TV Stick is an ideal way to use all your streaming service on your TV. With a VPN you can ensure that this happens safely and anonymously. Moreover, you can gain access to more material by bypassing geographical restrictions.
There are a few ways to install a VPN for your Amazon Fire TV Stick:

1. Download a VPN app directly onto your Fire TV Stick (Only ExpressVPN and IPVanish offer an app like this).
2. Install the VPN on your router.
3. Install the VPN on your digital router on your PC or Mac.
4. Install a VPN with an Android APK.

Are you looking for a good VPN for Amazon Fire TV Stick? We recommend ExpressVPN:

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For more specific instructions about how you can set up a VPN, read our complete article here below.

Installing a VPN for your Amazon Fire TV Stick can be quite a hassle, in a different way than is the case for Roku or Chromecast. So we have tried to list all the possible solutions with a step-by-step guide. The easiest way is by downloading a VPN app directly onto your Fire TV Stick. However, there are only two providers that offer an app like this. Luckily, there are other ways of doing it. For instance, you can install the VPN on your router or on a virtual router on your PC or Mac. Finally, you can also install a VPN with an Android APK. Hopefully this article will help you install the VPN successfully so you can benefit from its features when you are streaming with your Fire TV Stick.

Why Would You Install a VPN on Your Amazon Fire TV Stick

The Amazon Fire TV Stick is an ideal way to use all your streaming service on your TV. With a VPN you can ensure that this happens safely and anonymously. Moreover, you can gain access to more material by bypassing geographical restrictions. Read all about this perfect combination in our article about the use of a VPN in combination with Amazon Fire TV Stick.

Install a VPN App on Your Amazon Fire TV Stick

Both ExpressVPN and IPVanish have an app you can download onto your Fire TV Stick. We used ExpressVPN as an example in the following steps.

1. Look for “ExpressVPN” in your Fire TV Stick app library.
2. Download the ExpressVPN app.
3. Open the ExpressVPN app an fill in your personal information to log into your ExpressVPN account. Don’t have an account yet? Go to their website to create one.
4. Once you have filled in your login information the app is activated. Now you have to change some settings. An automatic message from ExpressVPN will pop up. Click “ok”.
5. In the pop-up, ExpressVPN asks if you are okay with the fact that they want to connect via a VPN. Click “ok”.
6. Now ExpressVPN will ask you if you would like to, anonymously, share information with them so they can improve their services. This is optional, so you can either click “allow” or “don’t allow”.
7. The app is now installed and ready for use. When you open the app you will see if it is turned on or off. Once you have pressed the button your VPN is working and you can stream safely and anonymously on your Amazon Fire TV Stick.
8. To disconnect, simply press the same button again in your ExpressVPN app.
9. Optional: For the purpose of bypassing geographical restrictions you can select a server in a different country. In the ExpressVPN app you click the button that says “choose location” and select the server you want to connect to.

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• Very easy to use VPN
• Perfect for anonymous browsing, downloading, and streaming (i.e. Netflix)
• 3000+ servers in 94 countries

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Install a VPN on Your Router

To protect all your home devices in one go, you can also install your VPN on your router. However, to do this you need to change the firmware on your router, this is called flashing. Not all routers are suitable for flashing so make sure you have the right router. Moreover, this flashing can damage your router if it isn’t done right, so be sure to check out our guide on installing a VPN on your router, before you start. In this guide we explain what type of router and VPN you should have if you want to make it work. You can also read what steps you need to take to safely flash your router.

An important advantage of installing your VPN on your router is that all your devices that are connected to the network are protected by the VPN. You will not have to install the VPN software on all your individual devices.

Install a VPN on a Virtual Router

If you cannot or do not want to change the firmware on your router, you can also make your PC or Mac into a virtual router. You can install the VPN on your PC or Mac and connect the Fire TV Stick to the virtual router. Installing a VPN on your PC or Mac is very easy because providers create great installation wizards to help you with that. The Wi-Fi hotspot you create on the protected device will now protect all devices that connect to that hotspot, including your Fire TV Stick.

Install an Android APK on Your Amazon Fire TV Stick

The final method you can use to protect your Fire TV Stick with a VPN, is by installing android APK. APK (Android Package) is a type of file that splits up an app into different little packages. You can compare it to zip-files. If an app isn’t in the Play Store you can use this type of file to install an app on your Android device.

There are two ways of doing this: either through a direct download or through a download on a second Android device. Both methods start out with the same steps but after that the process is quite different. For this reason we discuss them separately below.

After that you can also read how you can open and update these files on you Fire TV Stick.

Installing a VPN on Your Amazon Fire TV Stick with a Direct Download of an APK

1. Make sure that your Amazon Fire TV Stick allows outside apps, you can do this as follows:
   1. Go to “settings” in your Amazon Fire TV Stick and then to “system”.
   2. Scroll down and go to “developer options”.
   3. Turn on the option that says “apps from unknown sources”.
2. Go to the website of your VPN provider and look for the URL for their APK file.
3. Go to your Amazon Fire TV and type “downloader” in the search bar.
4. Install the “downloader app” and open it.
5. Insert the URL of the APK file and download it.
6. The APK file will be installed directly. If this is not the case, go to “downloads” in the Downloader App and click on the APK file to install it.
7. The app of your VPN provider should be ready for use now. If this is not the case, we advise you to contact the customer support of your VPN provider.

Installing a VPN on Your Amazon Fire TV Stick with and APK on a Second Android Device

For this method you need to have another Android devices, this can be a phone, laptop, or tablet, that doesn’t matter.

1. Make sure that your Amazon Fire TV Stick allows outside apps, you can do this as follows:
   1. Go to “settings” in your Amazon Fire TV Stick and then to “system”.
   2. Scroll down and go to “developer options”.
   3. Turn on the option that says “apps from unknown sources”.
   4. Go to “system” menu and click on “about” and select “network”.
   5. Write down the IP address of your Amazon Fire TV.
2. Download and install your VPN provider’s app through the Google Play Store on your second Android device.
3. Download and install the app “Apps2Fire”on your second Android device.
4. Open the “Apps2Fire” app and click on the three dots in the upper-right corner and press “setup”.
5. In the window that opens you put in the IP address of your Amazon Fire TV you wrote down earlier. Next click “save”.
6. Go to the three little dots in the upper-right corner of the “Apps2Fire” app again and select “upload apps”.
7. Select the app of your VPN provider. The app will automatically be installed on your Fire TV now. If this does not work, we recommend you contact the customer support of your VPN provider.

Opening a VPN App that Was Installed with APK

The installed APK app will not immediately appear in the standard app menu. To open the app and use the VPN service you need to follow these steps:

1. Go to the Start Menu of your Fire TV.
2. Go to “settings” and then “applications”.
3. Select “manage installed applications”.
4. You will see a list of apps you have uploaded to your Fire TV. Select the VPN app you want to use and click “launch application”.
5. In the app you should login to your VPN account. It depends on the VPN provider how you do this. Most likely you will need to enter your e-mail address and password.
6. Select the location of the server you want to connect to and turn on the VPN. The VPN will be on until you turn off your Amazon Fire TV Stick or you disconnect in the VPN app.

Updating a APK App on My Fire TV Stick

When you have manually installed an app on your Fire TV Stick it will not update automatically. In theory you do not need to update an app as long as it works and the connection is stable and safe. However, it is good to update for safety once in a while. You will have to do so manually, in the follow way:

1. Go to “settings” on your Fire TV Stick.
2. Select “applications” and click on “manage installed applications”.
3. Select your VPN app and press “force stop”.
4. Now you have to install the VPN app again. You can do this the same way you did it the first time.
5. Once you have installed it on your Fire TV Stick again, you will see a window with the question if you want to install and update for your application. Select “yes”.
6. The app will now be updated. A soon as this is done you have to login again in the app to establish a connection with your VPN.

The Best VPN for Amazon Fire TV Stick

Here below we will give a suggestion for a good VPN for Amazon Fire TV Stick. You can also choose from other excellent VPN-providers.

ExpressVPN for Amazon Fire TV Stick

In our view, ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Amazon Fire TV Stick. This VPN is very fast and has a lot of servers. ExpressVPN is extremely easy to use, also for people with less VPN experience. Moreover, ExpressVPN has proper security and uses strong encryption. You’re always well protected with ExpressVPN. You can try out this provider using their 30-day money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN

Deal:

Great discount on annual subscription + 30-day money-back guarantee!

From

$6.67

8.9

• Very easy to use VPN
• Perfect for anonymous browsing, downloading, and streaming (i.e. Netflix)
• 3000+ servers in 94 countries

Visit ExpressVPN

Final Thoughts

Although installing a VPN for your Amazon Fire TV Stick can be a bit of a hassle, it is possible when you follow these steps. With the use of APK files you can download a VPN app that isn’t in the Google Play Store and it install it on your Fire TV Stick. This can be done, either directly on the Fire TV Stick, or through a second Android device. Once you have installed it you can open it and use your VPN on your Fire TV Stick. Remember that the manually installed app will not update automatically. This means you will have to manually update the app once every now and again. Enjoy streaming to your Fire TV stick safely, anonymously, and freely!