VPN on Apple TV?

VPN
1

Is it possible to install a VPN on an Apple TV?

2

Short version:: no

Long version— there are work around s.

Use a second router that can use a VPN. Yes I have two WiFi networks one normal and one VPNd

Or…
Vpn on another device and airplay

I tried and have had mixed results with both options. I find it slightly better using the second airplay method

Ymmv

3

An easy method is to use AirPlay on your iPhone/iPad with VPN on and go that route. I’ve done this many times with no issues.

4

Depends on what you need, but smartdns works on my end for a couple of years with no problem. Let me know if you need a refferal

5

The VPN would have to run on a router so that it is transparent to the AppleTV.

There are many options out there these days, though you will need one that supports whatever VPN protocol your provider uses. Many like Nord and PIA use OpenVPN. If you search your VPN provider’s site, you will likely find instructions on how to configure a router, model suggestions etc…

Here is a listing of routers preconfigured for Nord.

6

I use a WiFi router with OpenWRT and my VPN setup on that. Any device connected to my network has its traffic go through my VPN. It really only creates issues with HBO, so I just exclude the device from my VPN policy on my router when I login. Good to go otherwise.

Is there an app? No. Apple pushes its own telemetry outside of installed VPNs anyways on Apple devices, so if you want to better anonymize your usage data, router with a VPN. Proton, Mullvad, Torguard, Nord, all of these work, it’s not difficult.

7

with tvos17 released, now you can install vpn on Apple TV, if U want to try, safeshell vpn on appletv is basic but pretty good, it can unlock the popular streaming services.

safeshellvpn

8

Only if you connect to a router with a vpn installed on it. Maybe look into dns services like ControlD or smart dns.

9

Thank you all for your insights. I live in a restricted country, I use VPN on phone and computer, and I don’t own an Apple TV yet. Would it be easier to go the chromecast route in my situation?

10

I’m finding the smartdns services to be more hit or miss. Express used to work great for me, but now it’s hit or miss. I just bought a fire stick max to use when I need the vpn.

11

Either airplay from another device or use smartdns

12

AppleTV does not directly support VPNs, having said that, using a router would be your best option.
Since I use the these services to gain access to gain access on tv shows otherwise not in my country, I use static dns from either EXPRESSVPN or Playmotv.

13

There are two ways to go about it:

  1. Use OPENWRT (Merlin) or whatever router that natively supports VPN and route Apple TV traffic through it.

  2. Use configurator to create a Wi-Fi profile that creates a proxy setting on Apple TV to go to whether a local proxy listening port or a remote one.

I tried the second option and it kinda works, but it had two major drawbacks. Firstly, I used a local listening port so basically my computer has to be on all the time to reroute Apple TV traffic. Secondly, YouTube simple doesn’t work due to its traffic type.

So I folded and got Merlin for my ASUS router and now it works smooth as butter.

TL/DR: use a router to force the traffic through the VPN.

14

Use DNS on Apple TV with service from like GetFlix. Works wonders.

15

you can now set up a VPN on your Apple TV by grabbing the public beta and signing up for Flow VPN using my link: Sign up – Get Unlimited VPN | Flow VPN - Global VPN / eSIM / AI Chat Bot - Free Trial