VPN not working with Firestick: 7 fast fixes

To unlock region-restricted apps on your Firestick, you need a reliable VPN to disguise your location. But if your VPN doesn’t work with a Firestick, have a read through our troubleshooting guide to solve the problem.

Your VPN isn’t functioning as it should and that’s probably because it’s not hiding your whereabouts. Servers you have available to you through your current VPN could well be blacklisted by Firestick apps. Our list of simple fixes can help.

Which VPNs work with Firestick?

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Why is my VPN not working with Firestick?

You’ve probably found our article because your VPN doesn’t pair with Firestick. If a streaming service sees that you’re trying to watch shows from outside a supported country, your connection could be blocked.

However, a great VPN can connect to your internet router and partner up with your Firestick.

How does my VPN get detected on my TV?

If your router isn’t hiding your real location, apps on Firestick will interfere with the server you’re using, making your VPN useless. Bad VPNs take ages to replace blacklisted servers, which means you have no way of gaining access to region-locked content.

In summary, common Firestick issues:

• Your go-to VPN server has been blacklisted by a streaming app on your TV.
• You have a bad internet connection that slows down your VPN.
• Your VPN is revealing your IP address to a service that has region-based locks in place.

Firestick fixes

1. Check your VPN is updated

If your VPN doesn’t let you use Firestick apps, check you’re using the most recent version.

To update your VPN from a computer, load up the VPN and then choose Settings. Selecting Update will take you to the VPN provider’s site, so you can learn more about what’s changed.

If you’re using Android to manage your VPN, open the Play Store, tap your profile and then choose Manage apps and device. Select Update. From an iPhone, open the App Store and tap your profile in the top-right corner of the screen.

2. Message Support

The most popular VPNs have teams that solve technical issues. If you’re having trouble using Amazon’s Fire TV Stick range while connected to a VPN, reach out to them for assistance.

3. Reset your VPN

Restart your PC or phone and then launch your VPN again. If that doesn’t resolve the issue with Firestick, completely uninstall and reinstall your VPN. Open both your VPN and a region-locked streaming app on Firestick to see what the results are.

4. Try a different server

If streaming apps on Firestick aren’t working as they should, the issue could lie with your VPN server, so swapping to an alternative could be the answer. Experiment with your options to see what works best.

5. Check your internet

To do this, disconnect from your wi-fi entirely and reconnect. Once your connection is back, try your VPN once more and consider restarting your internet router for a full reset – you’ll spot a button on the back.

You can put your internet to the test with Ookla, which allows you to compare the results with your Internet Service Provider’s ‘minimum guaranteed speed’ promise.

More Firestick fixes:

Re-enter your VPN username and password. Double-check your details and, If you can’t remember them, choose the ‘Forgot’ option on your VPN provider’s website.

Make sure you aren’t the victim of a DNS leak. Ineffective VPNs fail to conceal your actual IP address and location while using a Firestick. To verify this, disable your VPN and navigate to the IP Address Lookup tool. Record your usual IP address, then activate your VPN, rerun the test, and observe whether those details change. If there is no obvious difference, your VPN isn’t operating correctly.

Check the VPN servers are online. If you can’t connect to a server, your provider might be experiencing an outage. This will impact your experience using models in Amazon’s Fire TV Stick range.

➡️ Download our free VPN troubleshooting tips poster ⬅️

Best VPNs for Firestick

ExpressVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.53 per month
• 6-month subscription: £8.12 per month
• 1-year subscription + 3 months free: £5.42 per month (49% off)

🌎 Number of servers	160
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	5
⏱️ Our speed test results	-8.7% download, -5.5% upload (London)

To stream from any service while using a Firestick gadget, use ExpressVPN today. It’s user-friendly, fast and effective for accessing region-restricted content. With ExpressVPN, all you need to do is connect to a server in a supported region and you can easily watch TV from anywhere.

ExpressVPN conceals your actual IP address, making it difficult for apps to detect that you are enjoying content from a non-supported country. With servers available in more than 90 countries, every ExpressVPN user can benefit from global coverage. ExpressVPN is compatible with various devices aside from Firestick, including Mac, Android, and iOS smartphones.

Pros: Smartphone app lets you connect in seconds, 'favourite' most-used VPN servers for quick access, performed remarkably well in our chat support speed test

Cons: Rival VPNs are cheaper, can't use many devices at once

Try ExpressVPN today

Ivacy

• 1-month subscription: £8.62 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3 per month (65% off)
• 5-year subscription + FREE password manager: 80p per month (90% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,700
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

Ivacy is an excellent choice for Firestick users looking for a dependable VPN to stream. The service employs 256-bit encryption to ward off cybercriminals, also featuring public wi-fi security to safeguard your devices from malware when connected to hotspots in public areas.

With Ivacy, you can easily access geo-restricted apps on Firestick without anyone being the wiser. This is due to Ivacy’s stringent no-logs policy, which prevents your sensitive personal information from being sold to nefarious third parties.

Pros: Connection is steady when using multiple devices, notifications mention if Ivacy is disabled, server locations split by country and city

Cons: We think the ExpressVPN mobile app is faster, below-average results in our chat support speed test

Try Ivacy today

NordVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.49 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3.99 per month (40% off)
• 2-year subscription: £2.79 per month (58% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,200+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	6
⏱️ Our speed test results	-14% download, -7% upload (London)

NordVPN is another exceptional VPN that enables you to view region-locked content on Firestick. It has servers distributed worldwide, safeguarded by military-grade encryption. Furthermore, NordVPN’s advanced encryption technology allows you to stay secure on public Wi-Fi networks without compromising speed.

The servers on offer are highly secure, and you can connect without divulging your personal information. NordVPN doesn’t spy on you, either. Moreover, you can explore the CyberSec feature, which effectively blocks dubious websites and reduces the likelihood of your device being infected with data-stealing malware.

Pros: Built-in internet kill switch works well, profile page on app includes 'Security score' with privacy tips, takes less than a minute to reach a live chat agent (based on our tests)

Cons: Other VPNs tested are cheaper, some streaming services require multiple resets to work

Try NordVPN today

PureVPN

• 1-month subscription: $10.95 per month (12% off)
• 1-year subscription: $3.74 per month (70% off)
• 2-year subscription + 4 extra months: $1.96 per month (84% off)

🌎 Number of servers	6,500+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

PureVPN is one of our top recommendations for streaming content Firestick. With optimised servers designed to reduce load times, it’s easy to use and provides a great streaming experience.

One of the best features of PureVPN is the encryption of data, which ensures complete anonymity while streaming. Additionally, there’s a 24-hour support team available to answer any questions you might have. Even if you’re not currently based in a supported country, PureVPN makes it easy to bypass geo-locked apps.

Pros: Surprisingly affordable considering features, lots of UK and US-based servers, generous with simultaneous devices

Cons: Takes a couple of minutes to reach live chat agents (based on our tests), performs better on iOS compared to Android (in our experience)

Try PureVPN today As per our affiliate policy, we might earn affiliate commission when you select a retailer link. Prices and information correct at time of publication.