How to Get a VPN on Xbox

Microsoft doesn’t provide native support for VPN software on Xbox, so you can’t download and install a VPN app directly onto your Xbox console.

To use a VPN on Xbox, you’ll need to connect your Xbox to a device that does support VPN installation. To make this process simpler, we’ve outlined the easiest methods for setting up a VPN on Xbox in this guide, with step-by-step instructions.

These instructions work for the Xbox One (including One S and One X) and Xbox Series X|S.

You can use the table below for an overview of the VPN setup methods for Xbox and how they compare:

	Mobile Hotspot	Share via Ethernet	Dedicated Router App
Best for	Quick setup	Fast gaming speeds	Device coverage
Setup Difficulty	Easy	Easy	Easy
Hardware Required	Windows 10/11 PC	Windows PC & ethernet cable	Compatible router & web-enabled device
Works with	OpenVPN only	Any VPN	ExpressVPN only
Simultaneous Device Limit	8	1	Unlimited
Speed	Fast	Very fast	Fast
Location Spoofing	Yes	Yes	Yes
Encrypts Your Data	Yes	Yes	Yes

We’ve also explained some of the commonly cited reasons for using a VPN on Xbox and whether or not they’re actually true. These include stopping ISP throttling, preventing DoS and DDoS attacks, reducing lag, and more.

Lastly, we’ve shortlisted the best VPNs to use on Xbox based on how easy they are to set up and how well they performed in our VPN gaming tests.

Although you can’t directly install a VPN app on Xbox, you can still route your Xbox’s connection through a VPN server. To do this, you need to connect your Xbox to a device that can support VPN software, such as a PC, laptop, or WiFi router.

For a more detailed walkthrough of these methods, you can refer to our dedicated VPN setup instructions further down.

Microsoft’s existing policy states that VPNs can be used on Xbox and Xbox Support even recommends them as a means for preventing DoS or DDoS attacks:

Despite this, there are strict rules around the use of VPNs on Microsoft products. The Microsoft Code of Conduct warns users not to “willfully circumvent any restrictions on access to or availability of the Services,” which may apply to spoofing your online location.

Having said that, we have never known a user to be penalized for using a VPN to change their region on Xbox.

The Xbox Community Standards go on to say that action will only be taken against account holders that enact a “severe violation” of these terms. It’s reasonable to assume that you won’t face an account ban for using a VPN to change your gaming region, as long as you don’t do so to access products or services not available in your physical location.

To use a VPN on Xbox, you need to connect your Xbox console to a device that supports VPN apps and can share its internet connection. Typically, this is a Windows PC or a VPN-compatible router. This method will not work with Mac computers.

The exact setup process varies depending on the device and method of sharing you choose. For example, sharing your VPN connection through a mobile hotspot differs from sharing via an ethernet cable.

We’ve chosen the three easiest methods for using a VPN on Xbox and outlined their exact steps below:

1. Share Your VPN Connection via a Mobile Hotspot

Pros	Cons
Takes less than five minutes	Only available on Windows 10 & 11
Requires minimal technical knowledge	Not as fast as using a wired connection
Allows easy switching of VPN servers	Only works with OpenVPN
Does not require the purchase of a WiFi router or ethernet cable	Drains laptop battery life
Supports up to 8 simultaneous connections

Windows 10 and 11 computers can share their internet connection as a mobile hotspot, allowing nearby devices to connect to them. You can use this feature to share a VPN connection from your Windows PC to other devices, including your Xbox.

As this method doesn’t require changing your router settings or purchasing additional equipment, we consider it to be the easiest way to use a VPN on Xbox.

If you have a PC running a version of Windows older than Windows 10, then we recommend you refer to our ethernet setup method.

In the video below we demonstrate how to use a mobile hotspot to share a VPN connection with an Xbox console:

If you prefer a written tutorial, you can follow our step-by-step instructions below:

1. Install your preferred VPN service onto your Windows 10 or 11 PC. ExpressVPN is currently our top VPN recommendation for Windows in 2024.
2. Turn on mobile hotspot. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot and toggle to On.
3. Make a note of your network name and password. If you want to change them, select Edit, make your changes, and click Save.
4. Locate the TAP adapter. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Change Adapter Options. Right-click on your VPN’s TAP adapter and select Properties.
5. 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.
6. 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.

7. Start the VPN connection. Go to your VPN app and select OpenVPN as your protocol. Connect to a VPN server location of your choice.
8. 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 in the password you created in Step 3.

If you want to check that the VPN is working on your Xbox, open the Microsoft Edge app on your Xbox console and search ‘What is my IP.’

Your search results should display an IP address from the server location you connected to earlier.

2. Share Your VPN Connection via an Ethernet Cable

Pros	Cons
Wired connection minimizes impact on gaming speeds	Only allows one active connection at a time
Works on Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, XP	Requires a PC with an ethernet port
Compatible with all VPN protocols	Xbox must be wired into your PC at all times
	Drains laptop battery life

You can use an ethernet cable to share your Windows computer’s connection with another device.

This method is ideal for fast gaming speeds and no lag, as the wired connection reduces your latency.

However, your computer must have an ethernet port and the cable must be connected at all times while accessing online services on your Xbox.

You can find instructions for sharing your VPN connection via ethernet to your Xbox below:

1. Connect your PC to your WiFi. If you’re connecting to your router via an ethernet cable then ensure your PC has a second ethernet port for the connection to your Xbox.

   If not, you’ll need to connect to your WiFi via your computer’s built-in capability or by installing a WiFi card.

2. Install your preferred VPN service onto your Windows device. As we explain later, ExpressVPN performed best in our VPN tests for gaming.
3. Locate the TAP adapter. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Change Adapter Options. Right-click on your VPN’s TAP adapter and select Properties.
4. 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.
5. Select your wired connection. From the drop-down menu under Home networking connection: select Ethernet. Click OK to apply the changes.
6. Connect your Xbox to your PC. Plug one end of an ethernet cable into your PC and the other into your Xbox.
7. Start the VPN connection. Run the VPN on your Windows device and connect to your preferred VPN server location.

If you want to check the VPN is working properly, start your Xbox and go to Profile & System > Settings > General > Network Settings.

Under Current Network Status it should say Wired.

3. Connect Your Xbox to a VPN Router App

Pros	Cons
Doesn’t require access to your desktop’s network adapter settings	Only works with ExpressVPN
Protect multiple devices at once	Requires purchasing a compatible router
Can be left on permanently	Installation can be difficult for beginners
Intuitive and well-designed app with advanced features
Works with any VPN protocol

By installing ExpressVPN’s dedicated router app, you can automatically encrypt any device that connects to your WiFi router, including your Xbox.

This method is the least intrusive as you don’t have to change your PC’s network settings and you can leave the VPN running once set up.

However, it’s very expensive as you need to purchase an ExpressVPN subscription and potentially a new router if your existing one isn’t compatible.

You can find a full walkthrough of installing ExpressVPN’s router app in the video tutorial below:

Alternatively, follow our written instructions for installing ExpressVPN on a Linksys WRT3200ACM router:

1. Subscribe to ExpressVPN and create an account.
2. Locate router setup. Log into your newly created account and select Router from the devices listed on the dashboard.
3. Download the appropriate firmware. Select your router model from the drop-down menu and click the green Download Firmware button.
4. Make a note of the activation code. You’ll need this later in the process.
5. Navigate to your router’s settings. Open a new tab and enter your IP address into your browser to access your router’s setting. You can find out our IP address using our IP lookup tool.
6. Log into your router’s admin dashboard. The login and password are usually both admin. If you’re unable to login, you can refer to routerpasswords.com.
7. Upload the ExpressVPN firmware. Select Connectivity > Router Firmware Update and upload the firmware you downloaded in Step 3.
8. Reboot your router. Click Start and follow the prompts to restart your router.
9. Go to ExpressVPN’s website. Following the reboot, enter expressvpnrouter.com into your browser.
10. Activate your VPN router. Click Get Started and enter the activation code from Step 4.
11. Customize your WiFi network. Create a WiFi username and password for your new network and click Continue.
12. Create a router admin password. Click Continue once you’re finished.
13. Start the VPN connection. Connect to your preferred VPN server location.
14. Connect your Xbox to your router. Go to Profile & System > Settings > General > Network Settings > Set up Wireless Network > and select your router.

Once connected, your Xbox should appear as an active connection in the ExpressVPN router app dashboard.

Since 2016, we’ve tested 61 VPNs across three generations of Xbox consoles. Our testing revealed that ExpressVPN is consistently the best VPN for Xbox and Proton VPN offers the best free plan for Xbox.

You can find an overview of our findings displayed in the table below:

	ExpressVPN	Proton VPN Free
Overall Rating	9.3	6.2
Local Ping	8ms	9ms
Local Download Speed	97Mbps	98Mbps
Dedicated Router App	Yes	No
Countries with Servers	106	5
Cheapest Price	$4.99/mo over 15 months	Free
Simultaneous Connections	8	1

As shown above, ExpressVPN outperforms Proton VPN Free in every category. Unless you’re on a strict budget, we strongly recommend choosing ExpressVPN to avoid the limitations of a free VPN service.

We provide a more detailed breakdown of how the VPNs performed in testing as well as our user experience of them on our Xbox One, in the section below.

You can use a VPN to change your online location on Xbox or hide your real IP address from third-parties.

There are more specific use cases, such as protecting against cyber attacks or altering your network settings, but these are often false or misrepresented.

We’ve provided a detailed breakdown of everything you can actually do with a VPN on Xbox as well as dispelling popular misconceptions in the section below:

1. Bypass ISP Throttling

Your Internet service provider (ISP) may throttle your internet connection if you carry out bandwidth-intensive tasks such as 4K streaming, torrenting, and gaming. This will slow down your download speeds and increase your latency.

Although this is unlikely to happen on your household’s local network, it can happen in public spaces with shared bandwidth such as hotels or college accommodation.

If you tend to travel with your Xbox or are currently living in a communal accommodation, then your connection might be throttled in an attempt to reduce your bandwidth consumption.

To prevent this, you can encrypt your Xbox’s internet traffic with a VPN. If your ISP can’t see the nature of your traffic then it can’t throttle your connection.

2. Change Your Online Gaming Region

The vast majority of multiplayer games assign you to a region, and in turn a server, based on your real life location.

You can use a VPN to change your Xbox’s location to a region of your choice. Typically, this is used to bypass skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) on competitive shooters such as Call of Duty.

You can do this by connecting to a region with a smaller player base such as New Zealand or Egypt. This forces the matchmaking algorithm to prioritize filling the lobby with players, rather than matching by relative ability which results in easier opponents.

In some cases, changing your gaming region can also improve your online connectivity and reduce lag. This only works in instances where the VPN server is located closer to the video game server than your real life location.

Despite what other publications claim, this is extremely rare, and using a VPN actually tends to increase lag.

3. Access Geo-Restricted Streaming Services

You can use a VPN to stream geo-blocked streaming content on your Xbox such as Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more.

This works by replacing your real IP address with the IP address of the VPN server, allowing you to spoof your Xbox’s online location. For example, we unblocked BBC iPlayer on our Xbox One by connecting to a UK ExpressVPN server.

This method also works with US Netflix and international Netflix libraries. You simply connect to the relevant VPN server location and then restart your Netflix app on Xbox. To do this, hover over the Netflix app, press the menu button on your Xbox controller, and select Quit from the list of options.

4. Activate Game Keys

It’s widely reported that you can use a VPN to activate a region-locked game key from a cheaper region. We’ve verified this in our own testing but it does come with several drawbacks to consider.

Most notably, your VPN may not always work to bypass the region restriction as Microsoft continually updates its database of VPN IPs. For example, we’ve come across recent Reddit posts claiming that CyberGhost and TunnelBear have stopped working with this method.

Another issue is that you’ll need access to a browser to redeem your code, such as on a smartphone or PC. It cannot be activated on your Xbox as your console’s store region won’t match that of the game key.

If you want to use a VPN to activate Xbox game keys, follow the exact steps below:

While this is a reliable and cost-effective trick, it is also strictly prohibited in the Microsoft terms of service. We’ve never known of anyone to receive an account ban for taking advantage of it, but please beware that you are doing so at your own risk.

5. Change Your Strict NAT Type

If your Xbox has a strict NAT Type, you may experience longer than expected matchmaking times and large amounts of lag in your online games. It also blocks you completely from matchmaking on games that use a peer-to-peer system for connecting players.

You can change your NAT Type to moderate by sharing your VPN connection through a Windows 10 or 11 hotspot. This setup simulates a ‘virtual router’ which bypasses the strict NAT Type on your actual router.

By using this method, you can matchmake quicker on Xbox and improve your connectivity.

6. Protect Against DoS Attacks, but Not DDoS

If you livestream on Twitch, or generally play competitive multiplayer games, then you may have experienced a DoS attack.

A denial of service (DoS) attack is when someone uses your IP address to target your Xbox’s connection with large volumes of traffic. This can slow down your connection speed and sometimes even disconnect you from the internet.

You can connect to a trustworthy VPN to hide your real IP address on Xbox and limit the effectiveness of these attacks.

However, you cannot use a VPN on Xbox to protect against distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks as they tend to be more severe, faster, and longer-lasting.