The Roku good TV platform is an accessible strategy to watch your favourite streaming content material in a centralized location – both built-in to TVs, or by including inexpensive dongles or mini bins, just like the new-for-2024 Roku Extremely, to older televisions. (Search for an Engadget assessment of that mannequin quickly.) One large benefit of the Roku platform is that it is all the time getting free software program updates to maintain it present — just like the cool new function that turns your TV right into a kind of digital artwork museum by displaying well-known work as a screensaver. Nevertheless, Roku is much less adept with regards to fixing one widespread frustration of the streaming age: The shortcoming to entry widespread exhibits, motion pictures and sporting occasions due to geographic restrictions.
Utilizing a VPN is a typical strategy to sort out this challenge, however in contrast to Hearth TV, Apple TV and different rivals, Roku methods don’t have native VPN assist. However that’s not the tip of the story: You possibly can nonetheless use a VPN to entry a wider vary of programming by way of a Roku — you simply want to make use of a workaround. We’ll present you ways.
The advantages of utilizing a VPN
In terms of streaming, a VPN has one foremost profit: altering your IP handle — the distinctive quantity that identifies the overall location of the machine and community you are utilizing to entry the online. A VPN tunnels your connection by means of its servers to obfuscate your IP, making it appear to be you’re watching from elsewhere. Because of this, a service like Netflix will see your location as, say, the UK versus the US. You’ll then have entry to a unique set of programming. For instance, you want Max to stream Mates, The Huge Bang Idea or Rick and Morty within the US, however they’re all accessible on Netflix within the UK.
VPNs have a number of different advantages associated to privateness and safety. VPN servers have military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, which means they’re safer than connecting to the Web usually. So, because you’re looking the Web by tunneling by means of the VPN, your Web service supplier can’t see your entire looking locations (and promote your viewing habits to knowledge brokers).
The simplest method to make use of a VPN on Roku
Though Roku doesn’t natively assist VPNs, there are just a few workarounds. You possibly can, for example, arrange a VPN on your house’s router. That permits you to defend the entire community and each machine that connects to it, preserving everybody in your family nameless on-line. However it might additionally trigger confusion while you wish to entry native companies — and it requires a really high-level of technical data, and solely works with sure routers.
As a substitute, we suggest a far simpler technique: connecting a VPN to your Roku by way of AirPlay or screencast. To do that, subscribe to a VPN and set up it in your smartphone or laptop computer. Then, stream content material on that machine and AirPlay or screencast it to your Roku TV. The icon to do that ought to seem like a TV with Wi-Fi rays.
We want this technique as a result of it’s less complicated total. You possibly can entry any geo-blocked content material in your smartphone or laptop computer first after which solid it in your good TV.
You can also make positive your Roku mannequin is AirPlay-compatible by checking this useful resource on Roku’s web site. If it isn’t, you may all the time simply instantly patch your cellphone or laptop computer to the TV utilizing an HDMI cable or an applicable dongle.
Selecting the very best VPN
Whilst you’ll be utilizing a cellphone or laptop computer as the final word supply in your VPN-routed streams, that truly offers you a wider listing of companies from which to decide on. Though every VPN has the identical fundamental functionalities, their value and additional options fluctuate. Earlier than deciding which one is true in your wants and the units you will have, take a while to have a look at what each presents and see what different customers must say. Begin by testing our listing of finest VPNs — and blissful streaming.
VPN choices for different streaming platforms
Do not have a Roku? Excellent news: Sturdy VPN choices (or options) exist for the opposite main streaming platforms, too.
