kemangVPNBlog · 18 Sept 2026
VPN for Smart TVs, Consoles, and Devices Without an App
Smart TVs, game consoles and other devices often cannot install a VPN app. Here are three ways to connect them through a router or a shared connection.
VPN apps are available for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. But many devices at home cannot install them at all: Samsung and LG smart TVs, game consoles, Apple TV, media players, and smart home devices. Their operating systems are closed, no app store offers a VPN client, or the device simply was not designed for it.
The good news is that devices like these can still use a VPN connection. The trick is not to install an app on the device, but to move the VPN one layer up, to the network the device uses.
Why these devices need protection too
Smart TVs and smart home devices send far more data to the internet than their owners realize. Many of them use poorly encrypted connections and rarely receive security updates after a few years. When a device like this sits on the same network as your laptop and phone, the whole network is only as secure as its weakest device.
Routing its connection through a VPN encrypts its traffic before it leaves your home, without changing anything on the device.
Option 1: VPN on the router (the tidiest)
This is the cleanest approach. The VPN is set up once on the router, and every device connected to that router is automatically protected: TVs, consoles, tablets, guests on your WiFi, everything. No app needs to be installed anywhere.
The requirement is that your router supports a VPN client. Routers supplied by ISPs (such as IndiHome) generally do not. The ones that do are usually routers with configurable firmware, such as Mikrotik, or consumer routers running alternative firmware.
If you use Mikrotik, we have a guide: Mikrotik Manual Settings. The configuration uses L2TP/IPSec and only needs to be done once.
Pros: set it up once for every device, nothing gets missed.
Cons: you need a router that supports it, and every device goes through the VPN, including ones that do not really need to.
Option 2: a portable router in between
If your main router cannot be configured, the alternative is a small separate router placed between the main router and the devices you want to protect. Mini routers like this are relatively affordable, palm-sized, and run firmware that supports a VPN client.
The setup: main router → mini router (VPN active here) → TV or console. Devices simply connect to the mini router's WiFi, and all of their traffic goes through the VPN.
This approach is also handy for travel: one small device that secures the connection for your whole group at a hotel or guesthouse, without setting each device up individually.
Pros: no changes to the main router, portable, and only selected devices go through the VPN.
Cons: an extra device to buy and look after.
Option 3: share the connection from a computer
For occasional use, a computer that is already running a VPN can share its connection. On Windows, use the Mobile Hotspot feature; on macOS, use Internet Sharing. Other devices connect to the computer's hotspot and go through the VPN as well.
This is the cheapest option because it needs no extra hardware, but the computer has to stay on the whole time, and stability depends on the quality of the computer's WiFi adapter.
If you have not installed the app on your computer yet, start here: Windows guide or macOS guide.
Which one to choose
If you want to set it and forget it and have a router that supports it, go with option 1. If your main router cannot be modified, or you only want some devices to go through the VPN, option 2 is the most flexible. Option 3 is good for trying things out before deciding to buy any hardware.
Things to keep in mind
Running a VPN on a router means encryption is handled by the router's processor, which is generally much weaker than a phone's or laptop's. On entry-level routers, this can limit your speed. If your connection feels slow after enabling the VPN on the router, that is usually a hardware limitation, not the VPN service.
Also consider choosing a server location that is geographically close to keep latency down. You can see our locations on the server locations page.
Have a question about configuring a specific device? Check our FAQ or contact customer support.
About kemangVPN
kemangVPN is a subscription VPN service built for Indonesia: 84 servers in 45 countries including Jakarta, AES-256 encryption, no activity logging, and 10 devices on one account.
Plans start at US$3.99 a month, paid via PayPal; rupiah payments (QRIS, bank transfer) are available when you order in IDR. Activation is instant once payment is confirmed, with a 7-day money-back guarantee.