You might have heard the term VPN Router, which is a powerful tool with the help of which you can shield your entire household and network from prying eyes and tracking. A VPN router is exactly like a wireless router and performs the same function i.e it allows you to connect to the WiFi and access the internet but it has an additional feature that redirects your internet traffic through secure servers like a VPN and ensures private and anonymous browsing.
Instead of installing a VPN and configuring it separately on each device, you can get router-level security with a VPN router. All you need to do is configure and set up a VPN on your router and that is it. All the connected devices, from smartphones to smart TVs, will enjoy the benefits of VPN without exceeding your VPN subscription’s limitations. Those devices that don’t have VPN functionality on their own can enjoy the security and anonymity of a VPN, thanks to a VPN router.
How to Set Up a VPN Router?
1. Check Router Compatibility
The first thing that you have to do is check whether your router has support for VPN or not. The easiest way to check whether your router supports a VPN or not is simply by checking the manual that came with the router or searching on the internet for your router model and checking its VPN compatibility. You can also check the VPN compatibility by heading over to the router settings page.
If you are looking to buy a new router, consider buying one that is designed explicitly to support VPN because not all wireless routers possess the hardware and software for VPN functionality. A few routers with VPN support include the Asus WiFi 6 OpenVPN Router, Linksys WRT 3200 ACM, Asus RT-AC86U, and Netgear Nighthawk X10 AD7200.
Once you make sure that your router has VPN compatibility, follow these steps to set up a VPN service on your VPN router.
2. Choose a VPN Provider
Before you move ahead to configure the VPN service on your router, you need to choose a VPN Provider. There are various VPN providers that support router connections including Nord VPN, Express VPN, etc. Choose a VPN Provider and ensure that your router is compatible with its service.
3. Visit the router Admin / Config Panel
After choosing a VPN Provider, the next step is to visit the admin panel of the router. For most routers, it is accessible through 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.10.1 but it varies from model to model. You can find the admin panel IP address on the box of your router.
4. Locating VPN Client Tab
Once you visit the config panel and log into it, look for the VPN Client option under the Advanced/Advanced Settings tab. The location of this varies from model to model and brand to brand but it is mostly located under the Advanced tab.
5. Follow Instructions
After locating the VPN client section, follow the instructions provided by your VPN Provider to set up the VPN on your router. The specifics may vary from model to model but the general steps are the same.
That is it! You have now configured a VPN on your router and to confirm it, just search on the web for your IP address and it should show the location of the virtual private network.
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