If you use multiple devices and switch between them frequently, you might have felt that the manual VPN reconnection is a hassle. On top of that, setting up for the first time is an additional step if you haven’t used your device with the VPN before.

After I’ve set up VPNs on countless devices, it felt like a never-ending loop. This has left me thinking of efficient solutions that offer a way around it, and installing a VPN on the router stood out.

Think about it, instead of turning on a VPN each time you switch between devices, installing a VPN on your router takes care of everything. You don’t have to worry about the setup or manual reconnection.

If you have been facing a similar issue, this guide is for you. I will present different types of VPN-supported routers and help you figure out if your router is VPN-compatible. Also, I have included an easy guide to installing a VPN on the router, along with troubleshooting and benefits, so you’re all covered.

Can You Install a VPN on Any Router?

Installing a VPN on a router helps encrypt all internet traffic and protect your devices without additional steps. While this is beneficial and brings flexibility, the downside is that not every router is compatible with VPN installation. If your router doesn’t support it – consider using VPN Browser.

I frequently notice that one mistake most make is assuming any router can run a VPN, especially with an ISP-provided router. This leads to spending hours of troubleshooting only to realize the router isn’t compatible with the VPN.

Don’t worry. I will give you a quick heads-up on different routers that support VPNs. This comes in handy when you try to figure out if your router is VPN-compatible.

Types of VPN-Supported Routers

1. VPN-Compatible Routers

These routers support VPN connections but don’t come with pre-flashed VPN software. Before you choose such routers, confirm with your VPN providers and install the VPN using the guide provided.

2. Preconfigured VPN Routers

If you don’t want the hassle of setting up a VPN, preconfigured routers are your best choice. These routers are usually plug-and-play solutions, no setup is needed. All you need to do is choose a VPN provider and the router arrives preloaded with the necessary settings.

3. Manually Flashed Routers

If your current router doesn’t support VPNs, you can flash it with custom firmware like DD-WRT, OpenWRT, or Tomato. While this unlocks the capability of VPN compatibility, the entire process is complex, and one wrong step could brick your router.

Note: If you’re unsure whether your router is VPN-compatible, the easiest way is to check if it  VPN tab in the settings. If that feels complex, visit your router manufacturer’s website, and check its features or specifications, and there would be a mention of VPN if it is compatible.

How to Set Up a VPN on Your Router

I strictly recommend against manually flashing routers that aren’t VPN compatible. The chances of the router accepting the newly flashed firmware are minimal, and if it’s an ISP-provided router, it’s arguably none.

The steps below are for the routers that already support VPN connections. It is to keep in mind that there might be changes in the steps as they vary based on the router but the process remains mostly the same. Hence, consider this as a reference and proceed with installing a VPN on your router.

Step 1: Access Your Router’s Settings

Start by logging into your router’s admin panel. To do this, open a web browser and enter your router IP address, it could be 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. If neither works, you can find your router’s IP manually, here is how it is done.

  • On Windows, open Command Prompt and type ipconfig, then check the Default Gateway.
  • On Mac, open Terminal and type ifconfig to find the same information.

Once you get the router’s IP address, enter it in your browser. Doing so should bring you to the login page, where you’ll be asked for the admin username and password (Check your router sticker).

Step 2: Enable VPN in Router Settings

Once you’re inside the router’s settings, look for a VPN or VPN Service tab. Depending on your router brand, this is usually found under Advanced Settings or WAN Settings.

Next, select the VPN option and enable it. If your router gives you a choice between OpenVPN and WireGuard, pick the one that’s supported by your VPN provider. Once done, click Apply to save your changes.

Note: Some routers, like ASUS, Netgear, and Linksys, have a built-in VPN client that lets you connect directly to a VPN service.

Step 3: Set Up Dynamic DNS (DDNS)

Your ISP usually gives you a dynamic IP address that changes periodically. The drawback with this is your VPN connection may break when your IP updates. To prevent this, some routers offer Dynamic DNS (DDNS), which keeps your VPN connection stable.

If your router supports DDNS, go to its DDNS settings and choose a provider like No-IP or DynDNS. Next, sign up for an account with the provider and enter your details into the router’s DDNS settings, so the VPN remains connected, even if the IP address changes.

Step 4: Upload the VPN Configuration Files

Your VPN provider (such as NordVPN, Surfshark, or ExpressVPN) will provide the configuration files needed to connect your router to their servers. To access these, log into your VPN provider’s website and download the OpenVPN or WireGuard configuration files (.ovpn or .conf).

After successfully downloading the files, head to your router’s VPN settings and upload the file. Most routers may also ask for your VPN username and password, so enter the credentials from your VPN provider. Once done, click Save and activate the VPN connection.

Note: Some routers require a VPN client installed on your computer or mobile device to finalize the setup. If your router asks for this, download the VPN client for your operating system and import the VPN configuration file you downloaded earlier.

Step 5: Verify & Connect

Once the setup is done, rename the VPN connection for easy recognition. Upon successful connection, open a web browser and visit WhatIsMyIP.com. If the displayed IP address matches the VPN server’s location instead of your actual location, the VPN setup was successful.

Troubleshooting: VPN Not Working on Your Router?

Sometimes your VPN provider might not be compatible with all routers. You might complete the setup only to find that it doesn’t work. That’s why it’s important to choose a trusted VPN provider such as NordVPN, Surfshark, or ExpressVPN, as these are compatible with most VPN-compatible routers.

But what if your VPN is router-compatible and still isn’t working? Here are the most common issues and how to fix them:

  • Incorrect VPN Configuration File: Make sure you downloaded the correct OpenVPN/WireGuard config file that is compatible with your router. Always make sure to download these files only from your VPN provider’s official website.
  • Wrong VPN Credentials: Double-check that you’re using VPN-specific login details, not your regular VPN account credentials. Some routers don’t throw an error if you use incorrect credentials.
  • VPN Option Not Enabled: Go back to your router’s VPN settings and confirm that the VPN service is actually turned on.
  • ISP Router Blocking VPN Traffic: If you’re using an ISP-provided router that supports VPN, most of the time, the VPN traffic is blocked even after a successful setup. In such cases, enable Bridge Mode or use a secondary VPN-compatible router.
  • Firewall Blocking VPN Traffic: Disable your router’s firewall temporarily, then re-enable it after the VPN connection is established.
  • Router Reboot Needed: Restart your router after making any changes to make sure the new settings take effect.

Note: If none of these fixes work, check your VPN provider’s router setup guide or consider upgrading to a preconfigured VPN router for hassle-free use.

Should You Install a VPN on Your Router?

I’ve set up VPNs on both individual devices and routers, and using a VPN with a router has advantages and disadvantages. While it is handy in a few crucial scenarios that manual installation on individual devices couldn’t offer, it was a letdown in a few scenarios.

Is installing a VPN on the router for everyone? Not necessarily. Let me break down my observations.

Why using a VPN with a Router Can Be a Great Idea

Instead of installing VPN apps on every device, this VPN with router protects everything connected to it. Once set up, it runs in the background, and you don’t have to go through the hassle of manually connecting it every time you go online.

I’ve found this especially useful for those who forget to turn on their VPN. If you forget to set up auto-connect on apps, you’re not protected. But with the router, the VPN is always enabled, so you don’t have to worry about it.  Another big plus is it can be used with devices that don’t support VPN apps.

Also, I noticed that for a website, app, or streaming service that blocks access in one location, a VPN router can be set to that location. Just connect, and you don’t have to update the location manually every time you connect the device to the router without any extra setup.

When using a VPN with a Router Might Not Be Worth It

While it offers multiple advantages, it isn’t always the best option. The most significant issue was the speed loss. I noticed that when a VPN is installed on a computer or phone, it offers better speeds compared to the routers. This is even more significant, especially when the router isn’t a high-spec one.

The next biggest hassle was the lack of flexibility. With a VPN on a router, every device in your home is forced to use the same VPN server. This isn’t ideal if you want to access local services on one device while streaming geo-blocked content on another.

Also, if you frequently switch VPN locations, using a router-based VPN might feel inconvenient. Unlike a phone or PC app, which lets you change servers, the same process can take forever on a router. You have to log in to the router’s admin panel and change the settings, which isn’t ideal.

Final Verdict

If your needs meet the VPN’s capabilities when installed with a router, you’re good to go. Make sure the installation is done right to avoid troubleshooting and future connectivity issues. Also, consider using capable VPN providers such as NordVPN, Surfshark, or ExpressVPN, as they offer great compatibility with routers.

Personally, I think the ideal setup is a mix of both. I recommend using a VPN with the router for always-on security and also installing a VPN app for added flexibility. This way, you get the best of both worlds.