Best VPNs for Nvidia Shield TV

Luckily, there is a workaround for just this problem to get around these content blocks. Setting up a VPN for your Nvidia device seems like a reasonable choice, especially if you value privacy alongside the benefit of worldwide content access, but is it difficult to install it onto your Nvidia TV? Spoiler alert: not at all.

Using VPN with Nvidia Shield TV

Pairing your Nvidia streaming device with a VPN provides two major benefits: freedom and privacy. Being able to access geo-blocked content from any part of the world is the main selling point of a VPN for most people. Streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu tend to block some of their media depending on the region you’re accessing them from. The same can be said of Kodi, who may also stop you from using certain add-ons in your country.

And don’t forget ISP bandwidth throttling, which can be a nightmare if you prefer seamless HD movie experiences. Activating VPN encryption eliminates the needless obstacles that your ISP might put in place, resulting in a faster and more stable connection.

VPN protection is meant to be flexible so users can change their settings according to their current activity and device. Since the Nvidia Shield TV is largely intended as a streaming and gaming device, privacy isn’t one of your top priorities. As such, when it comes to utilizing security protocols, it is better to always opt for the fastest option. If the settings aren’t labeled in this way then just pick either OpenVPN or PPTP. As for the country selection, disguising yourself as a U.S. citizen will ensure most content is unblocked that might have been previously held hostage, but feel free to experiment with other locations like Germany, China or Canada.

Nvidia Shield TV VPN setups

Since Nvidia Shield TV uses Android OS, installing a VPN isn’t any more complicated than handling an app on your smartphone. There is one catch though: most VPN apps aren’t directly available from the Google Play Store. This doesn’t mean that setting up a VPN is illegal, just that extra steps need to be taken.

First acquire the setup file, either by downloading it through your preferred Nvidia Shield TV browser or by copying it over from a USB Flash Drive. Make sure to have a valid account for the VPN provider before doing so, since you’ll need the login credentials later on.

Head to the settings menu and choose “Security & restrictions” where the “Unknown sources” option should be accepted, otherwise the system will prevent you from running the downloaded file. You will also need file management software in order to access the setup file and install it, and in this regard ES File Explorer is universally recommended.

Now all that is left is to find the VPN setup file in your file manager and open it. The installation window will briefly guide you through the basics, but the process automatically optimizes the VPN options for you. And voila! You have successfully added VPN protection to your Nvidia Shield TV, congratulations! Feel free to log in and enjoy unrestricted streaming with full privacy.