How to use a VPN on PS4 without a PC

In this article, we are going to explain how to use a VPN on PS4 without a PC. Virtual Private Networks are most commonly used with desktop computers, laptops, and smartphones to access content that is geo-restricted and to protect your privacy.

But it seems a little out of the ordinary to use a VPN with your PS4, a gaming console, so why exactly would you want to install one? What are the benefits of using a VPN to browse games on the PlayStation 4, and how can you install one without needing to hook up a personal computer?

In this how-to, we’ll try to persuade you to get a PS4 VPN up and running and guide you through how exactly!

Benefits of using a VPN with PS4

The key concepts of a Virtual Private Network apply as much to a gaming console as they do to browsing the internet or watching videos on your smartphone or computer. VPNs can protect your private data from hackers, allow you to utilize faster internet speeds, and access content and shopping prices which are not available in your country or region.

With a PlayStation 4, you may want to purchase or play games that are not typically available in your country, but this cannot be done if you’re accessing the online store through your standard internet provider. Suppose you install a VPN on your PS4. In that case, you can reroute your internet traffic through a different location, making it appear that you are based in a different country (one where the game is available), and get exactly what you’re looking for!

Standard internet service providers also sometimes throttle internet bandwidth and speed when you’re playing games with friends online, and this can be really inconvenient if you love gaming! Using a good VPN can speed up your internet connection and stop your service provider from putting a cap on how much internet you can use (but on the other hand, using a bad VPN can actually slow your gaming speed down, so you must choose carefully).

Relating to the previous points, installing and using a VPN during your gaming experience can unlock broader access to online gaming on foreign servers or with your international friends. So, if you’re playing a game and can’t seem to get on the same server as your friends, then a VPN could very likely be the solution!

Finally, a Virtual Private Network allows you far greater privacy as you play. It bounces your internet communications off a different server and stops nearby people from snooping on what you’re transmitting. Even if you have nothing to hide, it’s still super creepy for people to have potential access to your internet connection, and using a VPN, even if it’s only on your PlayStation 4, is simply a sensible technological choice.

How to use a VPN on PS4 without a PC

In this section, we’ll carefully outline the methods needed to install a VPN on your PlayStation 4 without needing to use a personal computer. First of all, there are hundreds of different Virtual Private Network providers, so it’s important you choose one that is respected, trustworthy and suitable for your requirements. That means a reputed company should make it, so there is no chance of being invaded or hacked, and a fast enough and secure enough VPN to fulfill its purposes.

If this means paying for a VPN, you should!

It’s actually ridiculously simple to get a VPN running on your PS4, and the benefits of using the technique, which doesn’t require a PC, are numerous! For one, it protects all the devices in your house with the same VPN.

How exactly?

Well, the method involves directly connecting your internet router to a VPN, so all internet communications from your property will automatically be routed through your chosen server in another country.

So, here’s how you connect your router to a VPN (please ensure your router is VPN-compatible before proceeding with this method).

• Get signed up for your VPN service. This is a seamless and quick process for most providers, requiring only minimal details, like email, name, and password. If you’re going with a reputed, premium VPN service, the payment process should be a monthly or annual subscription and should be very easy to set up.

• Jump on board the admin panel of your router. Because you can’t directly add a VPN to your PS4 from your gaming console, you have to head straight to the router. Login online to your internet service provider’s admin panel and locate the VPN or internet security section. The menus vary from router to router, and service provider to service provider, so you might want to refer to the official documentation for your internet or specific online guides to find where to go.
• Install the proper and appropriate firmware. Since most routers won’t just work with a Virtual Private Network from the go, it’s usually essential to install a little extra firmware on your router to communicate with the VPN. Don’t worry, this is completely safe, and the firmware is specially designed to be functional and easy to set up. Most usually, the firmware you’ll need is DD-WRT or Tomato. These are like extra or proxy operating systems that you can add to your router, allowing it to jump through some extra hoops and use a VPN. Find the relevant information online and follow the appropriate tutorials to get this up and running before proceeding to the next step. You can do a quick Google search to find out how!
• Write down the information for your VPN’s server. To get your VPN running on your router, you’ll need a little bit of information about the server your Virtual Private Network is on. This varies from service provider to service provider. We won’t list all the factors you’ll need to note down here, but they include the server IP address, name, port, tunnel device, etc. You should run a quick Google search to find the articles/tutorials for your specific VPN provider. These will give you the appropriate details and can even guide you in setting up their VPN on your router firmware.
• Input the info and get up and running! Finally, the last step for getting the VPN set up and functioning on your router is to input the correct information and activate the VPN connection on your internet. The way you do, this depends on the firmware and VPN you’re using. If you installed the DD-WRT firmware, head to Services > VPN and flick the toggle switch to enable it! If you’re using a different firmware, please refer to the official documentation for the firmware and VPN service provider. With no time at all, you’ll have inputted the correct info and enabled the VPN on your home Wi-Fi!
• Have fun! Now that the VPN is up and running on your router, all devices on your property will have their internet traffic routed through the Virtual Private Network. This means that when you play online on your PlayStation 4, you will effectively be using your VPN. You should be able to access foreign servers, view, download, and purchase region-restricted content, and maintain a brilliant level of security against hackers and snoopers!

Q: I can’t find where to enable VPN on the firmware I installed on my router!

For this, you should refer to the articles or documentation of the specific firmware you installed on the router and find the VPN section in the menus. You should also head to the menus of your VPN service provider and collect the relevant information you’ll need to enter on your router. Finally, don’t forget to make sure any switches involving OpenVPN or VPN connection are turned to “on” or “true”.

Q: Can I disable the VPN on certain devices?

Depending on your router type, it may be possible to disable the Virtual Private Network individually for certain devices on your Wi-Fi. You should check your router information to see if this feature is available. If it isn’t, then there isn’t much you can do.

Q: Why do I need to install extra firmware?

Don’t worry, there’s nothing sketchy going on here. Your router will need a little extra firmware to work with some bonus features, including VPN communication. Firmware like Tomato basically allows you to manage VPN settings, whereas most vanilla routers don’t have this function by default - mainly because most people prefer to install VPNs on their device instead of directly through the router. But if you want to install it on a PS4 without a PC, you’ll need to have that extra firmware on your router!

Q: What VPN info do I need?

This can depend on VPN service provider to VPN service provider, and you should jump onto your dashboard to see how to set up your specific service on your router. There are also a lot of great tutorials for router firmware like Tomato, so don’t be afraid to do a little Googling to get to the required info.

Conclusions

We hope you enjoyed our article on How to use a VPN on PS4 without a PC. If this article helped you, please consider sharing it with your PlayStation 4 buddies. We’re sure they’re going to love you for that.

If you’re interested in getting US Netflix on your PS4 using a PC, then here’s a quick read to get it done.