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How to Use ExpressVPN on Xbox
The Short Answer
ExpressVPN is a great VPN for Xbox thanks to its low ping, easy router setup, and strong security features. It’s one of the best VPNs for changing your Xbox’s location, unblocking US Netflix, and avoiding ISP throttling. To set it up on Xbox, you can either use Smart DNS, share a VPN connection from your PC, or install it directly on your router.
Connecting your Xbox to a virtual private network (VPN) conceals your IP address and spoofs your console’s location.
ExpressVPN is a highly-rated gaming VPN that works well on Xbox due to its low ping, large server network, and robust security.
As Xbox’s don’t support native VPN apps, you can’t install ExpressVPN directly onto your console like you would with a smartphone or 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 US Netflix | No | Yes | Yes |
| Encrypts Your Data | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hides Your IP | No | Yes | Yes |
| Speed | Very Fast | Fast | Fast |
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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.
We used ExpressVPN on Xbox by installing it on our Linksys router.
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 haven’t personally encountered, nor have we seen evidence of, anyone being 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.
1. How to Set Up ExpressVPN's MediaStreamer on Xbox
ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS, MediaStreamer, is the simplest way to spoof your location for streaming apps on Xbox. You won’t need to install any VPN software, and it takes only a few steps to set up.
Follow the instructions in the video below to use ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer on your Xbox console:
It's easy to set up and use MediaStreamer on your Xbox console.
How to Set Up ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS on Xbox
- Subscribe to ExpressVPN: All ExpressVPN subscriptions include Smart DNS with the cheapest costing $4.99 a month.
- Note down your public IP address: You can use our IP lookup tool to find this out.
- 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. To do this:
- Select ‘DNS Settings’ within your account profile.
- Register your IP: This is found under IP address registration.
- Enable ‘automatically register my IP address: To allow ExpressVPN to monitor any changes to your IP.
- 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.
When to Use MediaStreamer
MediaStreamer will only spoof your location for streaming services on your Xbox. This means it’s only worth using if you want to access geo-blocked streaming apps.
ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS doesn’t alter your location while playing games, so you won’t be able to access easier gaming lobbies from other countries.
While Smart DNS is faster than a VPN, MediaStreamer can’t encrypt your traffic or hide your real IP address, so it can’t protect you against DoS Attacks.
As a result, we strongly recommend you do not use MediaStreamer for anything involving sensitive information.
2. How to Set Up ExpressVPN on Xbox Using a PC
You can set up ExpressVPN on your Xbox by connecting it to a PC or laptop that has the VPN’s Windows app running.
The user interface for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S consoles are all identical and therefore require the same setup.
However, the process for connecting your Xbox console to your computer depends on whether you prefer a wired or wireless connection. We prefer using a wireless connection, via mobile hotspot, as you’re not restricted by an Ethernet cable.
We cover how to set up a VPN on your Xbox using a Windows 10 mobile hotspot in the video below:
We connected our Xbox One to ExpressVPN using a mobile hotspot.
How to Connect Your Xbox to Your Windows PC over WiFi
- Subscribe to ExpressVPN and install it on your Windows device.
- Turn on mobile hotspot: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot and toggle to On.
- Make a note of your network name and password: If you want to change them, select Edit, make your changes, and click Save.
- Locate ExpressVPN’s TAP adapter: Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Change Adapter Options. Right-click on ExpressVPN’s TAP adapter and select Properties.
- Adjust your sharing settings: Click the Sharing tab and tick the box that says Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection.
- Select your hotspot: From the drop-down menu under Home networking connection: select Local Area Connection*. Click OK to apply the changes.
Note: This local area connection may be numbered, but it will always have an asterisk.
- Start the VPN connection: Go to your VPN app and select OpenVPN as your protocol. Connect to a VPN server location of your choice.
- Connect your Xbox to your hotspot: Go to Profile & System > Settings > General > Network Settings > Set up Wireless Network > and select your PC’s hotspot.
Enter the password you created in Step 3.
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.
When to Set Up ExpressVPN Using a PC
Though it requires a Windows laptop or computer, the VPN connection on your PC will encrypt your Xbox traffic and spoof your online location. This makes it a flexible and secure way to spoof your location and conceal your IP address.
Unlike Smart DNS, you will be protected against DoS attacks. Additionally, you’ll be able to get an IP address from 106 countries, allowing you to access game lobbies and unblock streaming apps from countries beyond just the US and UK.
Also, setting up a VPN on your PC is much simpler than installing it on a router. Many people already have a Windows PC, meaning it’s far more likely to be compatible with your existing setup.
3. How to Set Up ExpressVPN on Your Router for Xbox
You can install ExpressVPN on your WiFi router to protect every device in your household, including your Xbox console. Thanks to its dedicated app, ExpressVPN is the best router VPN and the easiest to install.
For the simplest setup, we recommend purchasing the ExpressVPN Aircove router, which comes pre-configured with ExpressVPN. Although this option starts at $169.90, it saves you the hassle of manual installation.
Alternatively, you can install ExpressVPN’s app on your existing router. However, not all routers are compatible with VPNs, so it’s crucial to verify your router’s compatibility before getting started.
In our experience, the setup process takes just about 5 minutes and doesn’t require advanced technical skills — as long as you carefully follow the instructions provided.
We’ve covered all the necessary steps in the video below:
How to Install ExpressVPN on a Router
- Subscribe to ExpressVPN and create an account.
- Log into your account and navigate to router setup: Select Router from the list of devices on your dashboard.
- Designate your router model: You can find a list of routers from the drop-down menu labeled ‘Select your router’.
- Click the green ‘Download Firmware’ button.
- Note down the activation code.
- Open your router’s settings: To do so, input your IP address into your browser and press Enter.
- Log into your router’s admin dashboard: The username and password is normally ‘admin’ but you can refer to routerpasswords.com if you have any issues.
- Upload ExpressVPN’s firmware to your router: Click Connectivity > Router Firmware Update, and then upload the firmware you downloaded in Step Three.
- Finalise router app installation: Click Start and follow the prompts to reboot your router.
- Launch the router app: Following the reboot, go to expressvpnrouter.com and click Get Started.
- Activate your ExpressVPN app and sign in: Paste your activation code from Step 4 and click ‘Sign in to ExpressVPN’.
- Create a WiFi username and password for you network.
- Set a router admin password to complete setup.
When to Set Up ExpressVPN on a Router
By setting up ExpressVPN on a router, you can ensure that all your traffic is encrypted, and your IP address is concealed, offering protection against DoS attacks and other online threats.
You’ll also be able to quickly connect to one of ExpressVPN’s servers in 106 countries, allowing you to unblock streaming services and access gaming lobbies from virtually anywhere.
In our opinion, the biggest positive is that, unlike connecting via a PC, you benefit from these protections without needing a spare Windows PC or laptop running in the background.
Uniquely, the ExpressVPN router app also includes a split tunneling feature called ‘device grouping’, which allows you to leave the rest of your devices unprotected if you only want to encrypt your Xbox’s traffic.
- Subscribe to ExpressVPN and create an account.
- Log into your account and navigate to router setup: Select Router from the list of devices on your dashboard.
- Designate your router model: You can find a list of routers from the drop-down menu labeled ‘Select your router’.
- Click the green ‘Download Firmware’ button.
- Note down the activation code.
- Open your router’s settings: To do so, input your IP address into your browser and press Enter.
- Log into your router’s admin dashboard: The username and password is normally ‘admin’ but you can refer to routerpasswords.com if you have any issues.
- Upload ExpressVPN’s firmware to your router: Click Connectivity > Router Firmware Update, and then upload the firmware you downloaded in Step Three.
- Finalise router app installation: Click Start and follow the prompts to reboot your router.
- Launch the router app: Following the reboot, go to expressvpnrouter.com and click Get Started.
- Activate your ExpressVPN app and sign in: Paste your activation code from Step 4 and click ‘Sign in to ExpressVPN’.
- Create a WiFi username and password for you network.
- Set a router admin password to complete setup.
When to Set Up ExpressVPN on a Router
By setting up ExpressVPN on a router, you can ensure that all your traffic is encrypted, and your IP address is concealed, offering protection against DoS attacks and other online threats.
You’ll also be able to quickly connect to one of ExpressVPN’s servers in 106 countries, allowing you to unblock streaming services and access gaming lobbies from virtually anywhere.
In our opinion, the biggest positive is that, unlike connecting via a PC, you benefit from these protections without needing a spare Windows PC or laptop running in the background.
Uniquely, the ExpressVPN router app also includes a split tunneling feature called ‘device grouping’, which allows you to leave the rest of your devices unprotected if you only want to encrypt your Xbox’s traffic.
What Can You Do with a VPN on Your Xbox?
You can use a VPN on your Xbox to hide your real IP address in online games and change your console’s virtual location. This allows you to unblock international streaming services, prevent targeted attacks on your IP, and conceal your gaming activity from third parties.
That said, a VPN cannot be used to access games in different regions for earlier release dates or discounted prices. Moreover, VPNs are useless for protecting against more sophisticated cyberattacks such as DDoS attacks.
We’ve outlined some of the ways you can use a VPN on Xbox below, alongside our experience with these use cases:
1. Unblock International Streaming Services
You can change your Xbox’s online location with a VPN to unblock geo-locked streaming services. To do so, connect to the target server location on the ExpressVPN PC or router app and then share your VPN connection with your Xbox.
For instance, we connected our Xbox One to a Windows 10 mobile hotspot running ExpressVPN and were able to unblock BBC iPlayer.
We accessed BBC iPlayer on our Xbox using ExpressVPN.
This is not limited to BBC iPlayer and can work with any streaming service that has an Xbox app like Netflix and Disney+.
2. Avoid ISP throttling
Your Internet Service Provider (ISPs) may throttle high-bandwidth activities such as online gaming, streaming, and torrenting. For gaming, this worsens your connection speed and increases your latency.
While this is unlikely to happen on your household’s local network, there’s precedent for it in public spaces with shared bandwidth like hotels and college accommodation.
If you travel with your Xbox or are temporarily living in a shared accommodation then you may find your connection throttled.
A VPN encrypts your traffic, meaning your ISP cannot see what you’re doing online. If an ISP can’t see the nature of your traffic then they can’t throttle your connection.
Internet throttling reduces the speed of your connection and your available bandwidth.
Smart DNS doesn’t encrypt your traffic so ISP throttling can still happen. If you want to avoid throttled speeds when using your Xbox, you’ll need to connect to ExpressVPN via your PC or router.
3. Protect against DoS Attacks, but not DDoS
If you compete in e-sports, participate in Twitch streaming, or generally play games online then you may have experienced a DoS attack.
A denial of service (Dos) attack targets your IP address with large amounts of traffic to slow down your connection speed and potentially disconnect you from the internet.
This happens because many games use P2P matchmaking to connect gamers, exposing your public IP address to everyone you’re playing with.
Connecting to a VPN assigns you the IP address of the VPN server. This hides your real IP, interrupting the DoS attack.
A distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack is much more advanced and involves multiple malicious third-parties spamming your IP with traffic. Put simply, a commercial VPN is unable to protect against a prolonged DDoS attack.
A VPN Won’t Help You Get Xbox Games Cheaper & Earlier
It’s widely reported that by spoofing your location with a VPN, you can access regions with cheaper games and earlier release dates.
This is a difficult claim to verify as region switching on the Xbox store can be difficult. Typically you would not use a VPN to switch regions.
If you want to buy an Xbox game in a different region, follow these steps:
- Go to the Microsoft Store: This is not the Xbox Store, but can be accessed through your Xbox or browser.
- Change your store location: Click on the globe icon at the bottom of the page and select the location you want to buy from.
- Search for and purchase an Xbox digital gift card: Make sure that you buy one that covers the price of your game. The store should have updated to match the language and currency of your new region. If you are asked to provide an address, use a publicly available one from the region you’ve switched to e.g., a hotel or restaurant.
- Redeem your gift card on your Xbox Live Account.
- Go the Xbox Game Store and change your location: Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the globe icon to change your location to the same one from Step 1.
- Locate your desired game.
- Select your account’s funds as your payment method: If you are asked to provide an address, use the same one from Step 2.
- Download the game as you normally would.
Both the Xbox One and the Xbox Series X|S are not region locked. This means that any Xbox console, sold in any region, can play any Xbox game. For example, a European Xbox One can play a North American copy of Call of Duty.
This does not apply to licensed media content such as Netflix or Blu-rays. If you want to access international Netflix libraries on your Xbox then you will still need to use ExpressVPN.
Is ExpressVPN a Good Choice for Xbox?
ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs to use on Xbox due to its easy setup, low ping times, and wide server coverage.
It is the only VPN with a dedicated router app, making it much easier to set up and use on Xbox compared to most services. ExpressVPN also has user-friendly desktop apps that work with mobile hotspot and Ethernet connections.
In the sections that follow, we’ll explain why ExpressVPN is such a good fit for Xbox users:
3,000 VPN Servers in 106 Countries
ExpressVPN has one of the most extensive server networks we’ve reviewed at 106 countries, with only NordVPN and HMA offering more.
As such, there’ll always be an ExpressVPN server located close to your real-life location. This is essential for online gaming as it reduces the time taken, or latency, between your Xbox console and the VPN server.
ExpressVPN has servers in most regions.
Extensive server coverage is also vital for changing your online gaming region to access easier lobbies. For example, we used ExpressVPN to bypass skill-based matchmaking on COD:Warzone by connecting to a VPN server in a region with a smaller player base. The matchmaking algorithm prioritized filling the lobby over matching skill level which resulted in a much easier game.
Low Ping & Fast Download Speeds
To avoid lag and ensure a smooth gameplay experience, it is essential you play on a fast internet connection.
Your connection speed can determine:
- Matchmaking times: Faster connection speeds hasten the matchmaking process. Some matchmaking algorithms even prioritize users by the strength of their connection.
- In-game connectivity: You need fast internet speeds to stay connected to the game server. On larger games with multiple opponents, and potentially demanding hardware requirements, a consistent connection can help maintain a high level of performance.
- Latency: The time it takes for data to leave your device, travel to the game server, and return to your device is called latency. You want your latency to be as low as possible otherwise it will cause your gameplay to stutter or ‘lag’. A fast connection speed results in a lower latency, minimizing the impact on your gaming experience.
A VPN always worsens your internet speed as it adds another step between yourself and the gaming server, but a top-rated VPN minimizes this impact as much as possible.
Using ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol, our ping increased from 1ms to just 8ms on a nearby server. To test how this affected gameplay, we used ExpressVPN while playing Halo Infinite and FC 24 across multiple days and at different times.
We didn’t experience any lag on Halo Infinite while connected to ExpressVPN.
We were pleased by how smooth the gameplay felt throughout using ExpressVPN, and we never had any issues with hit detection or input delay.
You can use the table below to see ExpressVPN’s full speed test results:
Robust Encryption for Secure Gaming
ExpressVPN encrypts your network traffic with AES-256 encryption and tunnels it using its proprietary Lightway protocol. To verify this, we ran our traffic through a packet analyzer while connected to an ExpressVPN server:
ExpressVPN has always encrypted our traffic in testing.
As shown above, ExpressVPN successfully encrypted our connection. Once you connect your Xbox to ExpressVPN, your gaming traffic will be encrypted and your IP protected against attacks.
We were also impressed by ExpressVPN’s kill switch which consistently cut our internet following any sudden VPN disconnections. This ensured our real IP address was never exposed to other players online or any monitoring third-parties.
Alternatives to ExpressVPN for Xbox
ExpressVPN is our top choice for Xbox overall, but there are other VPNs that might better suit your specific needs.
Here’s a table comparing ExpressVPN to similarly rated VPNs based on their performance on Xbox:
NordVPN: Best VPN for Accessing Easier Lobbies
| Advantages Over ExpressVPN | Disadvantages Compared to ExpressVPN |
|---|---|
| Servers in 12 more countries | Doesn’t offer a router app |
| Cheaper | Smart DNS tool doesn’t work with UK streaming apps |
| Slower to connect to a server |
NordVPN has an even larger server network than ExpressVPN and equally fast speeds, making it an ideal choice for accessing easier lobbies.
You can connect to servers in 118 locations, 12 more than ExpressVPN, which ensures full coverage of all 6 inhabitable continents.
We used NordVPN’s Egypt server to bypass Apex’s skill-based matchmaking algorithm and place ourselves in an easier lobby. We found that this worked on almost every attempt, matching us with opponents of a much lower ELO rating than us.
NordVPN’s fast NordLynx protocol ensured we didn’t experience any lag, even over long distances. For instance, we recorded a ping of 74ms on our US-UK connection which didn’t impact our gameplay.
Proton VPN Free: Best Free VPN for Xbox
| Advantages Over ExpressVPN | Disadvantages Compared to ExpressVPN |
|---|---|
| Free with no payment details required | No native router app |
| Servers in 101 fewer countries | |
| Doesn’t unblock Netflix or any other streaming service | |
| No Smart DNS tool |
If you don’t want to pay for an ExpressVPN subscription, Proton VPN’s free tier is an excellent choice.
Unlike most free VPNs, Proton VPN Free doesn’t impose a cap on your data usage. This is essential for a bandwidth-intensive activity like online gaming. For example, we found that Windscribe’s 10GB data limit often didn’t last us more than two weeks of regular gaming.
Proton VPN is also unique in that it allows manual router installation with its free plan. That said, we found it difficult to set up and opted for sharing our VPN connection via a mobile hotspot.
As a free VPN, Proton VPN Free has several restrictions. It only has 200 servers covering 5 countries: Japan, the Netherlands, Romania, Poland, and the US. We found that these servers frequently became congested during peak hours which caused our games to lag.
This is a substantially smaller server network than ExpressVPN’s, and it became particularly frustrating during both testing and personal use.
Even worse, we discovered we couldn’t choose our server location as Proton VPN automatically assigned us its nearby US server. We’d much prefer to select our own VPN server location, like we can with ExpressVPN.
