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How to Use ExpressVPN on Xbox
Our Verdict
ExpressVPN is a great VPN for all Xbox consoles thanks to its fast speeds, Smart DNS service, and easy router setup. It’s one of the best VPNs for changing your Xbox’s location, unblocking US Netflix, and avoiding ISP throttling. Learn how to set up ExpressVPN on your Xbox One & Series X|S in this guide.
Connecting your Xbox to a virtual private network (VPN) lets you stream geo-restricted video content and improve your online gaming experience.
A top-rated VPN, like ExpressVPN, conceals your IP address and internet activity, protecting your online connection from ISP throttling.
ExpressVPN is a top gaming vpn that works well on Xbox consoles, including the Xbox Series X|S. It’s very fast, secure, and has a Smart DNS service designed for working with games consoles.
Microsoft doesn’t currently support native VPN apps on the Xbox game store. This means you can’t install ExpressVPN directly onto your console like you would with a smartphone or desktop computer.
However, you can still set up ExpressVPN on your Xbox by following one of these three methods:
| Smart DNS | Connect via PC | Install on Router | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set-Up Difficulty | Easy | Medium | Hard |
| Location Spoofing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Works with Netflix | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Encrypts Your Data | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hides Your IP | No | Yes | Yes |
| Speed | Very Fast | Fast | Fast |
In this guide, we’ll explain all of these methods with step-by-step tutorials.
If you are looking for the easiest way to change your location on Xbox, we strongly recommend using ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer. It’s quick to set up and very easy to use.
If privacy for online gaming is an absolute priority for you, then we suggest you connect your Xbox to a VPN WiFi hotspot.
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Can You Use ExpressVPN on Xbox?
ExpressVPN is one of very few VPN services to provide both a router app and a smart DNS system to accompany its native application. These features make it relatively easy to use ExpressVPN to change your location on Xbox and bypass Microsoft’s ban on native VPN apps.
Microsoft’s current policy also states that VPNs can be used on Xbox and are even recommended by Xbox Support as a possible solution to prevent DDoS attacks:
Microsoft Support encourages you to use a VPN to protect your console.
There are, however, strict rules around the usage of VPNs on Microsoft services. The Microsoft Code of Conduct warns customers not to “willfully circumvent any restrictions on access to or availability of the Services”, which may apply to spoofing your online location.
Despite Microsoft’s warnings, we have never known a user to be penalized for using a VPN to access geo-restricted content.
The Xbox Community Standards go on to say that action will only be taken against account holders that carry out a “severe violation” of these terms. It’s reasonable to assume that you won’t face account suspension for using ExpressVPN to access geo-restricted content on Xbox.
How to Set Up ExpressVPN's MediaStreamer on Xbox
Using ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer is the simplest way to spoof your location on your Xbox One or Series X|S.
You can’t encrypt your traffic or hide your IP address with MediaStreamer, but Smart DNS is faster than a VPN.
Smart DNS is therefore ideal for gaming and for changing location to unlock other Netflix regions.
You won’t need to install any VPN software, or update your router settings. You do, however, require a subscription to ExpressVPN.
Follow the steps in the video below to use ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer on your Xbox console. You can also use our DNS testing tool at any point to see which DNS servers your device is using.
It's easy to set up and use MediaStreamer on your Xbox console.
To set up ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS on your Xbox:
- Create an ExpressVPN account: ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS and VPN services start from $6.67 a month.
- Find your public IP address: Your IP is assigned by your ISP and serves as a unique identifier for your internet connection.
- Give ExpressVPN your IP address: You need to give ExpressVPN your IP so that it can recognize you and add your internet connection to its DNS services. Do this by selecting DNS Settings within your Account profile.
Under IP address registration, select Register my IP address. You don’t need to do this if your IP address already says registered. Enable automatically register my IP address to allow ExpressVPN to monitor any changes to your IP address.
- Get your DNS server IP address: Go to ExpressVPN’s Setup page. Under ExpressVPN for Xbox, locate the blue box containing your DNS server IP. Make a note of this address.
- On your Xbox One go to Settings: The icon looks like a gear.
- Select General > Network Settings > Advanced Settings > DNS Settings.
- Choose Manual for the IPv4 DNS settings.
- Add your DNS server IP: Input the DNS IP from step 4 into both Primary IPv4 DNS and Secondary IPv4 DNS.
- Your Xbox is now configured with ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer.
MediaStreamer is great for spoofing your location on Xbox, smart TVs, and other games consoles, but it won’t encrypt your data like a VPN does.
Smart DNS services do not conceal your IP address, and all of your online activity will be visible to your ISP and third-parties.
We strongly recommend you do not use MediaStreamer for anything involving sensitive information.
How to Set Up ExpressVPN on Xbox Using a PC
By routing your console’s traffic through your desktop PC or laptop, you can also share your VPN connection.
The ExpressVPN app on your PC will encrypt your Xbox traffic and change your online location. Unlike installing a VPN on a router, the VPN connection can be easily turned on and off when running on a PC.
The process for connecting your Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S to your computer depends on which operating system you have and whether you prefer a wired or wireless connection.
Connecting your Xbox to your Mac over Wifi requires extra steps as you can’t use the native ExpressVPN app. Instead, you’ll need to manually configure a L2TP/IPsec VPN connection.
The user interface for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S consoles are all identical and therefore require the same setup.
EXPERT ADVICE: Unlike on Windows, you cannot connect your Xbox console to a macOS computer via an ethernet cable. You will, however, need to use an ethernet cable to connect your iMac or MacBook to the router.
The links below will take you to a setup guide for your preferred device or operating system:
If you want to use one of the Windows methods then follow our video below to learn how to turn your PC into a VPN hotspot:
You can make your VPN hotspot accessible by WiFi or Ethernet.
How to connect your Xbox to your Windows PC over ethernet:
Subscribe to ExpressVPN and download its Windows app. Do not connect to a VPN server just yet.
- Connect your PC to the router and your Xbox to your PC: This process requires a PC with two available ethernet ports to connect both your Xbox and router.
If you haven’t got enough ports, buy an internet connection card or use WiFi to connect to your PC.
- Change your adapter settings: On your Windows go to Settings > Network & Internet and under Advanced network settings select Change adapter options.
- Find the ExpressVPN TAP adapter: It was automatically installed when you downloaded ExpressVPN. Right-click its symbol and select Properties.
- Click the Sharing tab: Check the box for Allow other users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.
- Enabling sharing to your Local Network. Expand the dropdown menu under Home Networking Connection and select Ethernet 2. Click OK to apply the changes.
- Start your ExpressVPN connection. Run ExpressVPN on your PC and connect to your preferred server.
- Confirm your changes: On your Xbox, go to Profile & System > Settings > General > Network Settings.
Under Current Network Status it should say Wired and your NAT Type should now read as moderate. Our instructions for changing your NAT Type explain this process more in-depth.
How to connect your Xbox to your Mac over WiFi:
Subscribe to ExpressVPN but do not download its native macOS app. You can only share a VPN connection from a Mac computer by using the L2TP/IPsec manual configuration.
- Connect your Mac to the internet. You must use an ethernet cable to connect to the internet otherwise you won’t be able to share ExpressVPN’s connection over WiFi.
- Obtain your ExpressVPN credentials. Sign into your ExpressVPN account and under Manual configuration select L2TP/IPsec.
This will display your username, password, and a list of available server addresses. Make a note of your credentials and your preferred server location.
- On your Mac, go to System Preferences > Network. Select the plus symbol in the bottom left corner and input the following:
- Interface: Select VPN from the drop-down menu.
- VPN Type: Choose L2TP over IPsec.
- Service Name: Create a name that helps you identify your ExpressVPN connection. We recommend ExpressVPN + your server location.
Then, click Create.
- Configure your L2TP/IPsec connection. Return to the Network window and enter the following:
- Configuration: Select Default.
- Server Address: Input your chose server address from Step 2.
- Account Name: Enter the username generated in Step 2.
- Authenticate your L2TP/IPsec connection. Select Authentication Settings and enter the following:
- Password: Input the password generated in Step 2.
- Shared secret: Type in 12345678.
Click OK and then select Advanced. Tick the box for Send all traffic over VPN connection and then click OK > Apply.
- Connect to the L2TP/IPsec VPN. Find your connection under Network and select Connect.
- Enable sharing for your VPN connection. Go to System Preferences > Sharing > Internet Sharing. From there, select the following:
- Share your connection from: Select your L2TP/IPsec VPN from the drop-down menu.
- To Computers using: Tick the box for WiFi.
- Fill in your Wifi credentials. Enter the following for the WiFi options:
- Network Name: Create a name that helps you identify your network.
- Channel: Leave this as its default.
- Security: Choose WPA2 personal.
- Password: Create your own password.
Click OK to confirm the changes.
- Start sharing your ExpressVPN connection. Return to the Sharing window, and tick the box for Internet Sharing.
Select Start to begin sharing your ExpressVPN connection from your Mac computer.
- Connect your Xbox to your Mac: Go to Profile & System > Settings > General > Network Settings > Set up Wireless Network > Select your L2TP/IPsec connection.
How to connect your Xbox to your Windows PC over WiFi:
Subscribe to ExpressVPN and download its Windows app. Do not connect to a VPN server just yet.
- Access the Command Prompt: Type cmd into the Windows search bar and right-click the Command Prompt symbol. Select Run as administrator.
- Allow the Command Prompt access to your computer: A window will appear requesting permission to make changes to your device, click Yes.
- Confirm that you’re able to share your WiFi: Type
netsh wlan show driversand press Enter. The line Hosted network supported should say Yes, otherwise you’ll need to upgrade your adapter drivers or your wireless card. - Enable WiFi Sharing: Within the command prompt input the following:
netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=NetworkName key=NetworkPassword. TheNetworkNameandNetworkPasswordare just examples for the purpose of this guide and need to be replaced with a name and password of your choosing.Ensure you pick a strong password to protect your PC and a network name that you can recognise. Now press Enter to finish configuring the WiFi sharing.
- Start WiFi Sharing: Type
netsh wlan start hostednetworkinto the command prompt. You will see a message confirming that WiFi Sharing has begun. Now you will need to enable sharing on ExpressVPN. - Find your adapter settings: On your PC go to Settings > Network & Internet and under Advanced network settings select Change adapter options.
- Locate the ExpressVPN TAP Adapter: It was automatically set up when you installed ExpressVPN. Right-click its icon and select Properties.
- Select the Sharing tab. Tick the box for Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.
- Select WiFi. Go to Home Networking Connection and choose WiFi from the dropdown menu. Click OK to apply the changes.
- Start your ExpressVPN connection. Connect to a server of your choice and any device that now connects to your PC will use the VPN.
- Connect your Xbox to your PC: Go to Profile & System > Settings > General > Network Settings > Set up Wireless Network > Select your PC’s connection.
If you want to check that the VPN is working on your Xbox, open the Microsoft Edge app on your Xbox and search ‘What is my IP’.
If the VPN is working properly, your search results should display an IP address from the server location you connected to.
How to Set Up ExpressVPN on Your Router for Xbox
Installing ExpressVPN on your home router will protect every device in your local network – including your Xbox console.
Our testing confirms that it’s the best router VPN and the easiest to install.
ExpressVPN’s router app as it appears on our test Windows device.
The simplest way to set up ExpressVPN on your router is to buy a pre-flashed router with the VPN already installed. This is not a cheap solution and will cost you a minimum of $150, but it is much easier than manually configuring the VPN router yourself.
Alternatively, you can set this up yourself but you’ll need to get a router that works with ExpressVPN. Older routers that support L2TP/IPsec or PPTP protocols are no longer compatible with ExpressVPN. Your router needs to fully support the OpenVPN protocol to work properly.
Some routers will support OpenVPN by default, while others may require you to change the firmware on the router. This can be a difficult process and requires some technical knowledge, but if you’re up for the task then refer to our setup guide for how to install a VPN on your router.
Below is a list of routers that are supported by ExpressVPN including those that ExpressVPN recommends and some examples of unsupported routers:
| Recommended | Supported by ExpressVPN | Unsupported (with native firmware) |
|---|---|---|
Works out of the box:
|
|
|
Regardless of how you choose to install ExpressVPN on your router, the end result will be that all of your internet traffic will pass through an ExpressVPN server. As long as your Xbox is connected to your router, all of your activity will be protected without you having to make any extra changes.
EXPERT ADVICE: Installing ExpressVPN on your router lets you bypass the service’s five-device limit. By setting the VPN up at router-level, you can connect an unlimited number of devices within your local network.
ExpressVPN Not Working on Your Xbox? Here's How to Fix It
Once you’ve got ExpressVPN installed on your Xbox, you should be able to get started streaming or gaming straight away.
However, if ExpressVPN isn’t working, follow the instructions in this section to properly spoof your location, solve any DNS issues, and bypass the Netflix blocks.
What to Do If You Can’t Change Your IP Location on Xbox
If you’ve followed all of our steps to change your location on Xbox and still can’t access geo-restricted content, then you may need to change your location in your console’s settings.
You can change your online location in the Xbox settings.
To change your region on Xbox One & Series X|S
- Sign in to your profile on your Xbox console.
- Navigate to Profile & System > Settings > System > Language & Location.
- Select the relevant location for your geo-restricted content and then press Restart Now.
- Once your console turns back on, the Xbox Games Store will now display content from your chosen location.
WARNING: Any money in your Microsoft account will not move with you. We recommend spending any remaining funds in your account before switching to a new region. You can only switch regions every three months so you won’t be able to access your money until then.
How to Fix DNS Issues with ExpressVPN
The Domain Name System (DNS) on your console takes your request to join a game lobby or access the Netflix App, and translates that into the relevant IP to create a connection.
Using ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer will change your default DNS settings, which can lead to the error message: DNS isn’t resolving Xbox server names.
Here are some solutions to reconfigure your DNS and fix your Xbox’s connection:
Fix 1: Spoof your MAC Address
Microsoft Support recommends spoofing your Media Access Control (MAC) Address as the best solution for fixing a DNS error on Xbox.
To Spoof Your MAC Address on Windows:
- Type cmd into the Windows Search bar and open the Command Prompt app.
- Type ipconfig/all into the Command Prompt text box and click Enter.
- Find your Computer’s MAC Address, listed as Physical Address, and make a note of it. Note: Do not include the dashes when writing down the Address.
- On your Xbox console, go to Settings > General > Network Settings > Advanced > MAC Address.
- Now type in the information from Step 3.
- Reset your console to ensure the changes are registered.
To Spoof Your MAC Address on macOS:
- Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner and select System Preferences.
- Then, click Network and navigate to your current WiFi or ethernet connection.
- Select Advanced > Hardware.
- Make a note of your MAC Address. Note: Do not include the dashes when writing down the Address.
- On your Xbox console go to Settings > General > Network Settings > Advanced > MAC Address.
- Now type in the information from Step 4.
- Reset your console to ensure the changes are registered.
Fix 2: Reset your Router and Console
Restarting your router and Xbox console will allow the DNS settings to reset themselves.
To restart your router and Xbox:
- Press and hold the Xbox button on your controller.
- Select the power symbol and click on restart.
- Unplug your router and wait 1 minute before plugging it back in.
Note: After restarting, you may have to go back to your Xbox’s network settings and input your ExpressVPN DNS server IP address again.
What to Do if ExpressVPN Isn’t Unblocking Netflix on Xbox
If you’re unable to access geo-restricted content on the Xbox Netflix app, it’s likely that Netflix has detected ExpressVPN and blocked your server’s IP address.
In this case, you’ll have to connect to a different ExpressVPN server on your PC, macOS, or router app. Then reconnect your Xbox to the device and open the Netflix app as usual.
If you’re still struggling to connect, try out some of our fixes for using ExpressVPN with Netflix.
