In this article, I’ll show you exactly how to get and use NordVPN on FireStick. These instructions apply to all Fire TV products, including the Fire TV Cube, FireStick 4K, FireStick 4K Max, and FireStick Lite. Before showing you how to install NordVPN on FireStick, I’ll briefly cover what you need to know about VPNs.
While you may enjoy the simple downloading, browsing, and streaming experience offered by FireStick, understand that your internet service provider (ISP) can see your data unless you’re using a virtual private network (VPN) like NordVPN on FireStick. That’s right—no matter what you’re doing, your ISP can report such information to local authorities or even block websites and apps. It’s because of this risk that you’ll want to consider using a VPN.
This article will explain what a VPN is and will show you how to install NordVPN on FireStick. I hope this guide will illuminate the pros and cons of using a VPN, as well as factors you should consider before making your decision. Ultimately, using a VPN will let you browse the internet safer than ever before.
Full Disclosure: My VPN of choice on FireStick or any device is ExpressVPN. It’s the VPN I personally use and recommend most highly. But if you’d still prefer to use NordVPN, I’ll show you how in this article.
What Is a VPN?
A VPN is essentially an extra level of security for any internet connection. It encrypts your information, no matter where you are or what you’re doing.
Do you ever spend time at Starbucks on a public Wi-Fi network? If so, you’re putting your information at risk. Bad actors can break into those networks and see what you’re doing. If you input passwords or other vital info, it may very well be stolen. The security keys of public networks are generally ineffective at preventing this type of breach. If you’re connected to the network, you’re at risk to some degree.
Activating a VPN reroutes information about your connection and activity through various servers around the world so that nobody, not even your ISP, can track the info or where it’s coming from.
Benefits of Using a VPN
Let’s go over a few of the key benefits provided to you by a VPN such as NordVPN on FireStick.
Avoid Website Blocking
If you’re at a university or workplace that blocks certain websites like Facebook or Twitter, it can be a bit of a pain to get through the workday. Fortunately, a VPN can help with that. Since you’re technically using a different IP address while connected to a VPN, you can access these websites once your VPN is activated.
This also applies to websites that are hosted in other countries. If a site blocks you based on your location, simply connect to a VPN server located where the site is available. Then you’ll be able to access the site.
Access Streaming Services Anywhere
Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services often have content that you can’t stream unless you live in specific regions. With a VPN, this is no longer a problem.
A good VPN has servers all around the world that you can connect to. If the United Kingdom has a specific show that you can’t access, simply set your VPN to that location and then you can access it. Even more exciting is you can jump around to different countries, viewing all sorts of content you’ve never had access to before.
Protect Yourself Around the World
If you’re a frequent traveler, you’ll definitely want to use a VPN.
Take the FireStick as an example. Let’s say you’re in a hotel room, connected to its Wi-Fi. You’re exposing yourself to any bad actors on the network. Instead of exposing your data, you can activate the VPN on your FireStick and protect yourself. You can rest assured that your login details for Netflix and other services are entirely protected. You’re also protected during any browsing you do on your FireStick.
How Does a VPN Work?
A VPN encrypts your information via tunneling, which is the process of rerouting your connection through a different server.
Essentially, your browsing information is sent to a server owned by the VPN service. That VPN server encrypts your information before sending it to the website you’re on. The same thing happens on the way back so that you can’t be tracked. Thus, a VPN acts as a middle man, protecting your data from any onlookers.
VPN services tend to have servers all over the world. Since your connection needs to be rerouted through one of these servers, it’s best to choose a server located close to you to shorten the distance your encrypted information needs to travel. This should reduce latency and increase the bandwidth of your connection compared to using a distant server.
VPN Security Protocols
There are various VPN security protocols out there. Let’s break down a few of them.
OpenVPN
OpenVPN is a secure protocol utilized by many VPN services. That said, it can be a little difficult to install yourself, so I recommend signing up for a VPN that uses it or getting help from an expert.
L2TP/IPSec
The other popular protocol, this one is Layer 2 Tunnel Protocol combined with Internet Protocol Security. It’s similar to OpenVPN in terms of speed and privacy, but it’s much easier to set up.
That said, some users are suspicious of L2TP because the National Security Agency helped build it. If you don’t mind that, then this is a fairly reliable security protocol.
IKEv2
Interestingly, IKEv2 was designed by Microsoft and security company Cisco. It’s generally used on mobile devices, so it may not have much a place on your FireStick.
That said, if you have a VPN, you’ll likely want to use it on multiple devices at once. Using a VPN with this protocol on your mobile phone is never a bad idea.
What Features Are on NordVPN for FireStick?
NordVPN brings a ton of features to your FireStick. Let’s look at a few.
Worldwide Servers
NordVPN has 5,310+ servers in 60 countries for your FireStick to connect to. This means you can get through any geo-restrictions to enhance your streaming experience.
No-Logs Policy
Some VPNs log your browsing history and sell that information, which defeats the point of using a VPN in the first place. NordVPN for FireStick doesn’t do this, instead enforcing a strict no-logs policy to keep your data safe.
Ad Blocker
NordVPN features an ad blocker called CyberSec for your FireStick. Turning on NordVPN for FireStick will block malware, ads, and other threats during your browsing.
Official Sports Servers
NordVPN works with official sports channels to provide you with the highest-quality sports content.
Great Support
NordVPN provides fantastic VPN support 24/7 through the official website and the NordVPN app home screen.
How to Subscribe to NordVPN
You’ll want to create a NordVPN account before downloading the application. These steps show you how.
1. Head to the official NordVPN website. Click Get NordVPN on the top right.
2. Choose a payment plan. NordVPN offers a 2-year plan, a 1-year plan, and a 1-month plan.
If you want, select the additional plans for NordPass Premium (a secure password saver) and NordLocker Premium (encrypted cloud storage). Or simply ignore them.
Click on Continue to payment.
3. Enter your email address to create your NordVPN account.
Then, choose and fill out your preferred payment method. NordVPN supports Credit or debit card, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, ACH Transfer, UnionPay, and Cryptocurrencies.
Check your Order summary before proceeding to make sure it’s what you expect.
4. Finally, click on the blue Continue button and complete the on-screen instructions to set up your NordVPN account.
How to Install NordVPN on FireStick via Amazon App Store
Now that you have an account, you can proceed to get the app on your devices. Here’s how to install NordVPN on FireStick.
1. Head to the home screen on your FireStick and click on Find.
2. Select the Search tile.
3. Start typing in NordVPN. When you see NordVPN in the suggested searches, select it.
4. Select NordVPN from the search results.
5. Click on Get or Download.
6. Wait for NordVPN to finish downloading and installing.
7. When you see an installation notification and the button changes to Open, NordVPN has been successfully installed on your device.
How to Install NordVPN on FireStick via Downloader
Sometimes an official app developer hasn’t updated their app for FireStick. If that’s the case, you may need to get the NordVPN APK from third-party app stores.
The easiest way to download third-party apps is with an app called Downloader, which is an official app in the Amazon App Store. But to use Downloader, you also have to change a setting called Unknown Sources.
If you’ve previously followed steps on this site to get Downloader and change your Unknown Sources setting, you can proceed to the steps below.
Otherwise, follow our guide on setting up Downloader on FireStick. Then return to this guide when you’re ready to use Downloader.
1. After launching Downloader, select the URL input box.
2. Now, enter //bit.ly/3qmlHN4 exactly as shown and click on the Go button. (There is no capital “i” in this link.)
Note: We at FST don’t own or host the APK file. I have just shortened a link to apkpure.com, which hosts the NordVPN APK file.
3. Wait for the page to load. Then, click on the green Download APK button.
4. If an ad pops up, click on the X button to close the ad.
5. Wait for the app to download the APK file.
6. Once the download is complete, your FireStick will ask if you want to install the app. Click on the INSTALL button and follow the on-screen steps to install the app.
7. When you receive the following prompt asking what to do with the APK file, select the Delete button. We’ve already used the APK to install NordVPN, so it’s just wasting space now.
8. Once again, click on the Delete button to confirm your action.
How to Use NordVPN on FireStick
You have downloaded the NordVPN app on your FireStick. It’s time to start using it.
1. Now, on your home screen, long-press the home button on your remote and wait for this menu to appear. After that, click on Apps.
2. Select NordVPN app.
3. Click on Log In on the home screen.
4. You’ll have two options to log in: using the code/QR code and manually. Follow the instructions for your preferred method to log in to your account.
5. Now, you can select a server of your choice from the list of countries on the homepage.
6. You can also choose a specialty server: P2P or Onion Over VPN. I’ll break down what those mean later.
7. When picking a server, the FireStick will ask if you want to allow this connection request. Select OK.
8. Once connected, the NordVPN app will show your VPN connection on the top right.
9. If you’d like to disconnect, simply click on the server again to do so.
10. Now, you can scroll down and check out the Settings tab. Here, you’ll find the options My Subscription, Settings, Trusted Apps, and Activity Log.
11. Click Settings to explore the advanced options available in the NordVPN app.
12. Feel free to explore and tweak the advanced settings as per your requirements.
NordVPN Specialty Server Options
As I mentioned, let’s go over a few of the NordVPN specialty server options.
P2P
P2P stands for peer-to-peer. It’s generally used for direct file sharing from one user to another. If you’re just browsing normally or watching a streaming service, you don’t need to enable P2P.
Onion Over VPN
If you’re familiar with The Onion Router (Tor), then Onion Over VPN is exactly what it sounds like. This option sends your data through the VPN server and through Tor before hitting its target, doubling the encryption of your information.
Obfuscated
If you’d like to get more involved with VPN connections, you can purchase a dedicated IP address. This means you won’t be sharing an IP address with other users. Instead, NordVPN will provide you with your own unique IP for browsing. This does cost extra, so if you’d like to use it, you’ll have to add it to your plan on the NordVPN website.
FAQ
Can I Install NordVPN for free?
Technically, yes, you can install the NordVPN app for free on your FireStick. However, NordVPN’s service is not free. But you get a 30-day money-back guarantee when you subscribe as a new user.
Will NordVPN speed up my FireStick?
If you install NordVPN on your FireStick, the service will not speed up your internet connection. In fact, choosing to install any VPN will lower your speeds a bit. This is because your connection is routed through a different server. But, of course, you will have privacy from your internet service provider, which prevents the company from knowing that you’re streaming videos and then throttling you.
To help mitigate speed loss, make sure to stream videos and perform other bandwidth-heavy activities on the closest server you can.
How does NordVPN work with Kodi?
If you have Kodi installed on your FireStick, any VPN that’s active on your FireStick will be active when you browse shows or movies within Kodi on your FireStick.
Conclusion
This guide told you everything you need to know about how to install NordVPN on FireStick and put it to good use. Now you can take your FireStick anywhere you’d like and enjoy secure browsing and streaming content from around the world without fearing for your privacy. Be sure to take advantage of the app’s specialty servers as well to enhance your experience.
What do you think of NordVPN on FireStick? If you have any questions or comments, please share them below!