How to Use ExpressVPN with Amazon Fire TV Stick & Fire TV

ExpressVPN works on Fire TV Stick exactly as it works on your computer or smartphone. Just download it from the Amazon Appstore, install it, and connect to a server of your choice using the VPN application.

The Fire TV app even looks the same as on other platforms, so if you’ve already used ExpressVPN before you’ll find the whole process easy.

We tested it using our 3rd Generation Fire TV Stick Lite, which we use to perform all of our VPN and streaming testing. However, ExpressVPN also works on all other generations of Fire TV Stick, plus other Amazon streaming devices like the Fire TV Cube.

We found that ExpressVPN successfully changed our IP address and encrypted the traffic sent from our Fire TV Stick. It works well with Kodi and reliably unblocks many popular streaming apps including Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max.

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for Fire TV Stick according to our testing, but it’s not the very best. It misses out on the top position because its Firestick app lacks some of the features offered by competitors including IPVanish and Surfshark.

Why Use ExpressVPN on Fire TV Stick?

You can use ExpressVPN on Fire TV Stick for the same reasons you use a VPN on any other device.

Once installed and activated, ExpressVPN will encrypt all of the data from every app you use on Firestick. By connecting you to a remote server, it can also geo-spoof your location to help you unblock and watch streaming services from different regions.

ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPNs we’ve tested. On a local connection, it only slowed down our internet connection by 3% to 97Mbps, even on Firestick. That means that we were still able to stream in HD and 4K with no buffering.

ExpressVPN is an excellent VPN for Netflix in particular. Once installed on your Fire TV device, you can use it to unblock Netflix from 10 different regions, revealing hundreds of shows and movies that were previously off-limits in your location.

It’s also a great VPN for Kodi. Once you connect to an ExpressVPN server, all apps and repositories (even side-loaded ones) are fully encrypted. It will make everything you download and stream via Kodi invisible to your ISP.

You can also use it to access British TV on your Fire TV Stick, including BBC iPlayer or streaming Channel 4 (All 4) even if you’re not in the UK.

Here we’ll explain everything you can do on ExpressVPN’s Firestick app, and exactly how to do it.

After first installing ExpressVPN, you’ll need to find the app on your device. To do this, scroll to the right along the menu bar until you reach the Apps icon. Now press Select.

You’ll be taken to a screen showing every app installed on your Fire TV device. Now, simply navigate to ExpressVPN and press Select to open it.

From now on, you’ll have access to a much quicker way of opening ExpressVPN.

Press down twice on your home screen to reach the Recently used apps menu. ExpressVPN should be located there as long as you continue to use it on a regular basis.

How to Connect & Disconnect from a VPN Server

1. To connect to the last ExpressVPN server you selected, simply select the power button in the ExpressVPN app and press the select button on your Fire TV remote – it’s the big round button within the directional controls.

   

2. After a brief pause, the background of the app will change from red to green and you will be successfully connected to a server.

   

3. To disconnect, just repeat that process. The app will then revert from green to red, letting you know that you’re no longer connected to a VPN server.

How to Choose a VPN Server

1. To choose a server in a different region, move to the Selected location button within the ExpressVPN app and press the select button on your remote.

   

2. This will show you a list of servers, but it won’t show every server available. The default view on this menu is Recommended servers.

   To see all 94 countries with ExpressVPN servers, select All locations instead. Just select a location you want and it will instantly connect you.

   

3. Alternatively, you can select the Magnifying glass icon in the top-right corner and search for a specific location you want to connect to. We recommend choosing a VPN server close to your physical location for the fastest speeds.

   

How to Enable ExpressVPN’s Kill Switch on Firestick

The kill switch is super important for any VPN, as it keeps your IP address hidden even in the event of an unexpected issue. If ExpressVPN fails at any time, it will instantly stop your internet connection, preventing your real IP address from being exposed.

It’s just as important to use a VPN kill switch on your Fire TV device as it is on your smartphone or computer. On ExpressVPN for Fire TV it’s called Network protection.

1. To find ExpressVPN’s kill switch on Firestick, select Options on the home screen.

   

2. Then select Settings on the following screen.

   

3. Scroll down to Network protection and select it.

   

4. Then press Select on Internet Access to change the toggle from Off to On. The kill switch is now active.

   

How to Choose VPN Protocol

ExpressVPN has a choice of four protocols on Fire TV: Lightway (TCP or UDP) and OpenVPN (TCP or UDP). Here’s how to choose between them:

1. On the ExpressVPN home screen, select Options then Settings.

   

2. Scroll down and select VPN protocol. Now you can choose which protocol you want to use. Don’t forget that you can also leave it set to Automatic (recommended), which will pick the optimal choice for you.

   

OpenVPN is a popular, tried-and-tested protocol which balances speed and security. The TCP option will prioritize a reliable connection over a fast one, while the UDP connection prioritizes speed.

Lightway is ExpressVPN’s own take on the new WireGuard protocol. It also comes in TCP and UDP versions, just like OpenVPN. Lightway is our recommended choice of protocol for ExpressVPN. It’s super fast without sacrificing any security.



How to Use Split Tunneling

VPN split tunneling allows you to control which apps are rerouted by ExpressVPN and which ones access the internet like normal, using your true IP address. ExpressVPN lets you use it in two different ways – here’s how.

1. On the ExpressVPN home screen, select Options then Settings. Scroll down and select Split Tunneling.

   

2. By default all apps will be tunneled inside ExpressVPN. You can now choose to tunnel every app except the ones you specify, or no apps except the ones you specify.

   Choose which option you prefer, then you can add as many apps as you like by scrolling through the list and selecting your choices.

   

How to Stream Netflix on Fire TV Stick with ExpressVPN

With ExpressVPN installed on your Amazon Fire TV device, you’ll have access to streaming services and content libraries that would otherwise be restricted in your location.

Our ongoing tests continuously find that ExpressVPN is the very best VPN for streaming overall. It can unblock just about any streaming service, including Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max, and it can access 10 Netflix libraries from around the world.

Only certain regions can unblock certain streaming services. For example, if you want to unblock HBO Max you should connect to a US VPN server. If you want to unblock BBC iPlayer you should connect to a UK VPN server.

In this example, we’ll connect to a US server to access the US Netflix library.

Here’s how to stream with ExpressVPN on Firestick:

1. Open ExpressVPN. Navigate to the Selected location button and press Select. You will now be shown a list of countries containing ExpressVPN servers. Select USA – New York. ExpressVPN will now automatically connect you to that server.

   

2. Press the Home button on your remote. You will leave the ExpressVPN app, but you’ll remain connected to the US server. Scroll right until you reach Settings. Press down and navigate to Applications. Press select.

   

3. Scroll down and select Manage Installed Applications.

   

4. Select Netflix. Navigate to Force stop and press Select on your remote, then scroll down to Clear cache and press Select again. This will make the Netflix app forget what region you were in the last time you opened it.

   If you don’t do this, it won’t show you the library of the region you connected to in ExpressVPN.

   

5. Sign in if you aren’t already. You should now be presented with the US Netflix library, which you can watch as usual. If you want to access different movies and shows, just repeat these steps but choose a different region to connect to.

   

How to Update ExpressVPN on Fire TV Stick

ExpressVPN’s Firestick application should keep itself updated automatically. To make sure that automatic updates are enabled, go to Settings > Applications >Appstore > Automatic Updates and make sure it’s set to On.

Alternatively, you can update the app manually. You’ll only be able to do this when an update is available and hasn’t been automatically installed.

If you navigate to ExpressVPN as usual but see the Open button replaced with an Update button, just press Select on it and the app will begin to update. You will be able to run ExpressVPN as normal once the update is completed.

How to Uninstall ExpressVPN from Your Fire TV Stick

Here’s how to remove ExpressVPN from your Amazon Fire TV device. Don’t worry, if you change your mind you can always reinstall it at a later date:

1. On the home screen, navigate to the right until you reach Settings, then navigate down to Applications and press Select.

   

2. Go to Manage Installed Applications.

   

3. Scroll down until you reach ExpressVPN. This list is in alphabetical order, which should make finding it easier if you have lots of apps installed.
4. Press the Play/Pause button on your remote to uninstall ExpressVPN. You will be asked to confirm your choice – select Confirm and the uninstall process will begin.

   It should only take a few seconds before it’s complete and ExpressVPN is fully removed from your Fire TV Stick.

   

PROS	CONS
Unblocks 10 Netflix libraries Fast enough for 4K UHD streaming Intuitive app Kill switch, split tunneling, and choice of VPN protocols Works with Kodi	More expensive than its rivals Easy to use, but not as much as others

The best VPN for streaming on Firestick

Over the years, our regular testing of ExpressVPN has found it to consistently be the best VPN for unblocking streaming services from all around the world.

If you’re a Netflix subscriber, ExpressVPN can get you access to content from 10 different international libraries. It’s the best VPN for bypassing Amazon Prime Video blocks.

It can also unlock streaming services that might not be available in your country, like BBC iPlayer, Disney+, or HBO Max.

Once you’ve got an account with any of these services, all you need to do is download its official Fire TV app, connect to the right ExpressVPN server, and start watching.

Fast enough for 4K streaming

ExpressVPN is also one of the fastest VPNs on the market. If you’re a Fire TV Stick 4K, 4K Max, or Fire TV Cube user with an internet connection fast enough to stream 4K video without a VPN, then it will still be able to with ExpressVPN connected – even when using servers outside of your country.

ExpressVPN uses its bespoke Lightway protocol to get the best speeds possible. It’s also a part of what makes it so effective at unblocking restricted websites and services.

Includes a VPN kill switch on Firestick

While a kill switch may be the most common feature for VPNs on their desktop app, they’re a lot more rare to see on Firestick. ExpressVPN for Fire TV has one though, and we can verify through our testing that it works to keep your IP address hidden.

It also has split tunneling, which is useful on Firestick for when you want one streaming service to have a spoofed IP address and another to use your real IP address.

Works perfectly with Kodi

If you use your Fire TV device to run Kodi then ExpressVPN is even more essential. It works to keep your IP address completely hidden without interfering with Kodi and any add-ons you run with it. We’ve tested it with Kodi 18 (Leia) and Kodi 19 (Matrix) and experienced no issues with live streaming or torrented content.

There are cheaper alternatives

ExpressVPN isn’t perfect though. Firstly, it’s more expensive than almost all of its top rivals. At $6.67 per month at its absolute cheapest, you may want to consider a cheaper option if you only want to use a VPN on your Firestick.

Despite its helpful extra features, ExpressVPN’s Fire TV app is still a stripped-back version of its full desktop app. Its design being so similar to the PC or macOS app also means it’s a little annoying to control with a Fire TV remote.

While ExpressVPN may be one of the best-rated VPNs for Amazon Fire TV, it might not be the best choice for you. Here are two alternatives that we highly recommend:

IPVanish: The Best VPN for Fire TV Stick Overall

Based on our regular testing, IPVanish is the best VPN for Fire TV Stick overall.

Our two biggest criticisms of ExpressVPN are the layout of its app and its price: IPVanish is better for both.

At just $3.33 per month on its longest deal, IPVanish is considerably cheaper than ExpressVPN. You don’t get any less for your money, though. One IPVanish subscription can be used on an unlimited number of devices, compared to just five with ExpressVPN. That means you can protect your Firestick as well as every other device in your home.

IPVanish is a well-designed app that’s easy to use on all platforms, but we particularly like it on Fire TV. It also has all of the extra features that ExpressVPN has, such as split tunneling and a working kill switch.

It may not be quite as good for streaming as ExpressVPN, but IPVanish still works to access 3 Netflix libraries, plus a selection of other video on demand sites from around the world. It’s better designed, easier to use, and has more features on Fire TV than other big names like NordVPN, Proton VPN, and Hotspot Shield, too.

Windscribe Free: The Best Free VPN for Fire TV Stick

IPVanish may be cheaper than ExpressVPN, but Windscribe has a 100% free Fire TV stick app that was rated as the best free VPN for Firestick in our testing.

Make no mistake, it’s a much more limited application than IPVanish and ExpressVPN – but it’s still completely safe and works perfectly.

The main drawback is a 10GB monthly data cap, which will limit how much you can stream with Windscribe Free activated. It’s equal to roughly three hours of full HD Netflix.

You don’t get access to Windscribe’s full server network on the free version of the app, although you can still connect to 11 countries from around the world.

It can even unblock 6 Netflix libraries, and it works with Kodi.