Below are four ways that you can use Apple TV with NordVPN, along with a list of instructions to follow.
1. Using NordVPN With Apple TV and a Router VPN
One of the best ways to use NordVPN with Apple TV is by configuring your router to work with NordVPN directly on your router. This method is only going to work if your router supports VPN applications. Therefore, the first step should be verifying if your router can support NordVPN. It shouldn’t be difficult to locate this information on the router manufacturer’s website.
Next, you’ll need to identify the address of your IP. This process can vary depending on your operating system. No matter what kind of computing environment you’re working in, the first place you should look for the IP address is on the router itself. If it’s not there or it has since been set to a new address, then you’ll need to head over to your computer.
If you’re on a Windows computer, press “Windows Key” + “R” to spawn the Run Dialog box, then type “cmd” and hit enter to spawn the Command Prompt. After that, type “ipconfig”, hit enter, and then scroll down to where it says “Default Network Gateway”—this is your router’s IP address. The process is very similar for Mac and Linux environments: open the Terminal, type “`netstat -nr | grep default”, and hit enter—your IP address will be listed in the “default” field.
Once you’ve acquired the IP address, copy/paste it into the address bar of your web browser. Your router’s web page spawns. Enter your credentials and navigate to the menu where VPN settings are configured. The specific details will vary, depending on your router’s make and model. NordVPN has an excellent tutorial for setting up NordVPN on your router.
2. Using NordVPN With Apple TV and a Virtual Router
If your router doesn’t support VPN apps, you can use your computer or mobile device as a “virtual router.” Mac users cannot take advantage of this feature, because Mac hardware doesn’t support the ability to share VPN connections (they can act as a hotspot, but the traffic isn’t covered by the VPN).
To do this, you’ll have to open the Command Prompt again and enter: “netsh wlan show driver”. If the hosted network field has a value of “No,” you’ll need to update your drivers before proceeding.
If it has a “Yes,” then you’ll set up a network name and password (enter: “netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=NetworkName key=NetworkPassword”). After starting the network (enter: “netsh wlan start hostednetwork”), head over to the system tray and allow other devices to connect through your computer’s internet connection.
3. Using NordVPN With Apple TV and SmartDNS
SmartDNS is kind of like a light version of VPN. It’s faster than a VPN and allows you to spoof your location, but it doesn’t encrypt your traffic.
This method is very easy to set up. First, log in to your NordVPN account and allowlist your IP address. You can find your IP address using any of the methods we discussed above. After that, head to your Apple TV, navigate to the Network settings (by way of the general settings), set the IP address to the one you allowlisted, configure DNS to manual and set the primary and secondary DNS to 103.86.99.103 and 103.86.96.103, respectively.
4. Using NordVPN with Apple TV and AirPlay
The easiest way to use NordVPN with Apple TV is by using AirPlay to cast to your Apple TV from your VPN-protected Apple hardware (iPhone, iPad or MacBook running the NordVPN app). This option is only available to Apple users—Windows, Android and other platforms don’t support AirPlay.
