The best way to install PrivateVPN on your router is by downloading its OpenVPN configuration files for your router type and setting it up in the router’s admin panel. However, you must ensure to have a VPN-compatible router before getting started.
After you install PrivateVPN on your router, all devices connected to it, even those that PrivateVPN doesn’t have an app for, will have their internet connection encrypted.
So, if you’re ready to start now:
Does My Router Support PrivateVPN?
Most cheap or old routers don’t support the installation of a third-party VPN.
But most higher-end routers do support the installation out of the box.
The router’s manual should confirm if your router supports a third-party VPN installation. Or you can also verify via Google if your router supports VPNs.
You can flash it and install open-source firmware to enable this feature if it doesn’t.
Setting up PrivateVPN on a Router
I’ll use three router types to demonstrate how to set up PrivateVPN on a router: DD-WRT (using a Linksys E1200 model), Tomato Router (on a Linksys E1550 model), and an Asus router (for VPN-compatible routers).
How to Set Up PrivateVPN on a DD-WRT Router?
PrivateVPN can’t be installed on all DD-WRT routers. Thus, confirm from the DD-WRT router database that it supports your router.
After confirming it does, here’s how to flash your router and install DD-WRT firmware:
- Select your router from the DD-WRT router database results.
- You’ll see two files named “Flash” and “Mega.” Download one file from each section.

- Perform a hard reset of your router by pressing the “Reset” button for 30 seconds.
- Remove the router’s power cable from the outlet without releasing the “Reset” button. Keep holding the button for another 30 seconds.
- While holding the “Reset” button, plug the power cable back into the outlet. Keep holding the “Reset” button for another 30 seconds.
- Open your router’s settings page in your browser and click “Administration.” The settings page is usually found at “198.168.0.1” or “198.168.0.0.”

- Go to your router’s settings tab and click “Firmware Upgrade.”

- Select the file that ends with “mini” and upload it.

- Click “Start Upgrade.”

- Allow some time for the DD-WRT firmware to be installed. Your router will restart during this process.
- Once the firmware has been installed, and the router has rebooted, open the router’s settings page again.
- Click “Administration.”

- In the username, type “Root” or “Admin.” For the password, type “admin.”

- Click “Firmware Upgrade.”

- Under “Please select a file to upgrade,” click “Choose file.”

- Now select the “Mega” file you already downloaded.

- In the router menu options, click “Upgrade.”

- Allow time for the firmware to be updated on your router, and then restart.
- Perform a hard reset again and open your router’s settings page. Set up a new username and password, and log in with the new username and password.
Here’s how to install PrivateVPN on DD-WRT:
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- Open your router’s dashboard, click “Setup,” then “Basic Setup.”

- Under “Network Address Server Settings (DHCP),” enter “8.8.8.8” in the “Static DNS 1” field.
- Under “Static DNS 2,” enter “8.8.4.4.”

- Click “Save,” followed by “Apply Settings.”

- Click “Administration,” then “Commands.”

- Copy the PrivateVPN DD-WRT OpenVPN script from here.
- Go back to your router’s settings page and paste the script under the “Commands” text box.
- Scroll back to the top, and edit the following lines:
- Username = *Enter your PrivateVPN username here*
- PASSWORD = *Enter your PrivateVPN password here*
- REMOTE_SERVERS = *Select the server address from this list and copy-paste the information here.*

- Click “Save Startup.”

- Click “Management” and select “Reboot Router.”

- Allow some time for the VPN to be installed.
How to Set Up PrivateVPN on a Tomato Router?
Tomato Router is another free, open-source firmware for routers. Before installing PrivateVPN on your router, confirm if the Tomato firmware supports your router.
Here’s how:
- Go to the Tomato website.
- Click “Help” and select “Router List.”

- Check if the Tomato firmware is available for your router. If supported, copy the version number.

- Click “Download,” then “Tomato Firmware.”

- Click on the firmware number that corresponds with the one given to your router. For our example router, the firmware number was “K26RT-N.”

- Select the latest available release.

- Select your router.

- A list of firmware will be available for download. Download the one with the file name ending in “Mega.”

- Once the Zip file has been downloaded, extract it.
- Perform a hard reset as shown in the previous solution.
- Open your browser and enter your router’s IP address/admin login page.
- Continue to the setup page.
- Enter the username as “admin” and the password as “admin.”

- Click “Administration,” then “Firmware Upgrade.”

- Click “Browse” and upload the file that you downloaded.

- Click “Start Upgrade.”

- Allow some time for the firmware to be installed on your router.
- Perform another hard reset.
Once that’s done, here’s how to install PrivateVPN on the router:
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- Open your router’s configuration window by entering its IP address.
- In the left-side menu of your router’s configuration window, select “VPN Tunneling.”

- Select “OpenVPN Client.”
- Click on “Client 1” and select “Basic.”

- Tick the checkbox for “Start with WAN.”

- Click on the “Interface Type” drop-down and select “TAP.”

- Change “Protocol” to “UDP.”

- Select a server from this list and copy the server address.
- Paste the server address in the “Server address/Port” textbox.
- Set the port value to “21000.”

- Change “Firewall” to “Automatic” and “Authorization Mode” to “TLS.”

- Uncheck “Username Authen. Only” and “Server is on the same subnet.”

- In the “Username” and “Password” text boxes, enter your PrivateVPN account’s username and password.
- Select the checkbox “Create NAT on tunnel.”

- Click “Advanced.”

- Change the “Poll Interval” to 0.
- Uncheck “Redirect Internet traffic” and “Verify Server Certificate.”

- Change “Accept DNS Configuration” to “Strict.”
- Change “Encryption Cipher” to “Use Default.”
- Change “Compression” to “Adaptive.”

- Type “comp-lzo” under the “Custom Configuration” textbox.

- Click “Keys” and enter or paste the following text under the “Certificate Authority” textbox:
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----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-----END CERTIFICATE-----

- Finally, click “Save,” then “Start Now.”

How to Set Up PrivateVPN on ASUS/Netgear/Linksys Routers?
Here’s how to install PrivateVPN on a router such as Asus, Netgear, Linksys, and others that support the installation of a third-party VPN out of the box.
For this step-by-step guide, we’re using the Asus router as an example:
- Get a PrivateVPN subscription if you don’t have one already.
- Open your router’s settings page and click “VPN” on the left-side menu.

- Click “VPN Client,” followed by “Add profile.”

- Click “L2TP” and open the tab.

- Go to this PrivateVPN server list, select the server you want to install on your router, and copy its address.
- Paste the server address under the “VPN Server” text box.

- Enter your PrivateVPN account’s username and password under the username and password text box.

- Click “OK.”

- Click “Activate” to turn on the VPN on your router.

Enjoy PrivateVPN on Unlimited Devices
If your router supports VPN installation out of the box, you can install PrivateVPN easily. Otherwise, you’ll need to flash it and then install a VPN.
Once installed, you can access geo-blocked content on Netflix and other streaming platforms, bypass IP bans, and more. Likewise, you’ll encrypt the internet connection of all the connected devices simultaneously without using up more than one of the ten connections that PrivateVPN provides.
If you don’t already have a subscription to PrivateVPN, try it out today with these huge discounts!