You can use Private Internet Access to enhance your privacy and deliver smooth, lag-free gaming and streaming experience on your Xbox. You can also use PIA to purchase region-restricted games on your Xbox and play them anywhere.
However, PIA lacks native Xbox apps, making the VPN setup tricky.
Luckily, I’ll show you how to configure PIA on your home router, use internet connection sharing via a PC, or set up Smart DNS to use the VPN on your Xbox.
How to Use PIA on Xbox via Home Router?
Using PIA on Xbox via the home router method requires a VPN-compatible router. You can research your router model online or check the manufacturer’s manual to confirm if it supports VPNs.
Once you’re ready with a VPN-compatible router, here are the steps to follow:
- Subscribe to PIA. Use these fantastic PIA discounts to save costs!

- Install PIA on your router. Follow the configuration guides below to install PIA on your router model:
- Ensure that you download and install a PIA server configuration corresponding to the region’s IP address you want to get on your Xbox. For instance, you can install a US server to reduce ping, connect to US peers, and get DDoS protection.
- Connect your Xbox to the router’s Wi-Fi connection. You can also use Ethernet for faster gameplay.
- That’s it! Play popular gaming titles like Fortnite, League of Legends, and FFXIV over a stable ping and DDoS-free connection.
However, installing a third-party open-source firmware on your router can permanently damage it, so be careful with this decision.
How to Use PIA on Xbox via Internet Connection Sharing on PC?
If you don’t have a VPN-compatible router, you can set up your Windows PC to share a secure PIA connection to your Xbox via a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Here’s how it works:
- Purchase a PIA VPN account. I’ve got these awesome PIA offers to help save big!

- Download the PIA Windows VPN app from its website.

- Install and launch PIA.

- Login with your account credentials.

- Click the vertical ellipsis icon, then select “Settings” from the pop-up menu.

- Go to “Protocols,” then select OpenVPN. This is ideal for routing VPN connections reliably.

- Exit PIA’s settings page.

- Click the “>” symbol next to the displayed VPN server location to access the server list.

- Search for your preferred VPN server based on the streaming service or gaming title you want to access on Xbox. For instance, I chose the Japan server to connect to FFXIV’s Japan Data Center (DC).

- Go to your PC’s settings to set up a VPN-sharing connection. The video below helps.
- Connect your Xbox to the WiFi hotspot network you’ve created.
- Start unblocking video streams on Xbox in up to 4K and enjoy an anti-DDoS and lag-free gaming experience.
How to Use Private Internet Access on Xbox via Smart DNS?
PIA offers Smart DNS IP addresses in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, and Japan to use on your Xbox. Therefore, you can change your Xbox’s DNS settings to enjoy smooth access to geo-restricted streaming services and gaming titles on your Xbox.
Here’s how:
- Buy a PIA subscription.

- Go to the PIA client account dashboard and log in with your PIA account credentials.

- Select “Smart DNS” from the menu.

- Select “Xbox” under device options.

- Choose a location that you want a Smart DNS address in. For instance, I chose the United States to unblock YouTube TV on my Xbox.
- Wait for a Smart DNS IP address to be generated, then copy it to use later.
- Change your Xbox’s DNS settings to the one copied in Step 6 above. Follow the video below to find your Xbox DNS settings menu.
- Restart your Xbox for the new DNS setting to take effect.
- Launch your target streaming service/gaming title to enjoy buffer-less content access. For instance, I unblocked YouTube TV to watch Pitch Black live on TV-14 in HD.

Can You Enable Port Forwarding on Xbox Over PIA?
You cannot enable port forwarding on Xbox over PIA, as per PIA’s customer support response.

To elaborate, the port forwarding feature can only be used on devices supporting the PIA VPN app. Unfortunately, gaming consoles (like Xbox) don’t have PIA VPN app support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I Connect to PIA Dedicated IPs on Xbox Over T-Mobile Internet?
You cannot connect to PIA dedicated IPs on Xbox over T-Mobile Internet.
This phenomenon has nothing to do with T-Mobile Internet or your ISP.
Instead, it’s because dedicated IPs can only be utilized using the PIA VPN app, which Xbox devices don’t support.
Unlock PIA’s Potential for Your Xbox
PIA boasts an extensive network of VPN servers in 91 countries.
You can use these to unblock movies/shows and video games on Xbox anywhere.
Furthermore, PIA prevents ISPs or network admins from slowing your network speed. That ensures smooth, lag-free connections while streaming or gaming.
PIA is also handy on Xbox units to evade DDoS attacks for fair gaming experiences.
So, grab my discounted PIA offers to enjoy the VPN on your Xbox risk-free for 30 days!