How to Install a VPN on a Firestick (UK, 2026 Step-by-Step)

By the thebestvpnproviders team · Published 15 October 2026

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A VPN on your Amazon Fire TV Stick encrypts the traffic between the stick and the VPN server. That helps on shared or public Wi-Fi and keeps your browsing private from your internet provider. This guide covers the two ways to install one: the easy way from the Amazon Appstore, and sideloading with the Downloader app if your VPN has no Appstore app.

Before you start

• A Fire TV Stick or other Fire TV device signed in to your Amazon account.
• A paid VPN subscription (or a free plan, if your provider offers one on Fire TV). Check that the provider supports Fire TV before you pay.
• Your VPN username and password, or a login code from the provider’s website.

Method 1: Install a VPN from the Amazon Appstore (recommended)

Several big VPN providers, including NordVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN and IPVanish, publish Fire TV apps in the Amazon Appstore. Availability can change, so search the Appstore for your provider first.

1. From the Fire TV home screen, go to Find (the magnifying glass) and choose Search.
2. Type the name of your VPN, for example “NordVPN” or “Surfshark”.
3. Select the app and choose Get or Download.
4. Open the app and sign in. Many apps show a code or QR code that you confirm on your phone or computer.
5. Accept the Android VPN connection request when it appears. This is the system permission that lets the app create a VPN tunnel.
6. Choose a server (for UK services, a UK server) and connect.

If you don’t have a VPN yet, NordVPN and Surfshark both offer Fire TV apps in the Amazon Appstore and a 30-day money-back guarantee, according to their websites.

Method 2: Sideload a VPN with the Downloader app

Use this only if your provider tells you to, for example because its app isn’t in the Appstore in your region. Only install files from your VPN provider’s official website.

1. Install Downloader (by AFTVnews) from the Amazon Appstore.
2. Turn on developer options: go to Settings > My Fire TV > About and select your device name seven times, until a message says you are a developer. On older models, Developer options may already be visible.
3. Go to Settings > My Fire TV > Developer options and allow Install unknown apps (or Apps from Unknown Sources) for Downloader.
4. Open Downloader and enter the download URL or the Downloader code that your VPN provider publishes on its own help pages. Codes differ by provider and can change, so take them from the provider, not from third-party lists.
5. Install the file when prompted, open the VPN app, sign in and connect.
6. When you’re done, switch Install unknown apps off again for Downloader.

Check that the VPN is working

• The VPN app should show Connected and the server location.
• Open the Silk browser and visit an IP-check page; it should show the VPN server’s location, not your home location.
• If an app or website stops loading, try a different server in the same country or turn the VPN off for that app if your provider supports split tunnelling.

Common problems

• The app isn’t in the Appstore: check that your Amazon account country matches where you live, or use Method 2 with the provider’s official instructions.
• Slow streaming: pick a server closer to you, try a different VPN protocol in the app’s settings, or use a wired Ethernet adapter if your Wi-Fi is weak.
• A streaming app blocks you: some services detect VPNs. See our guide to fixing BBC iPlayer VPN problems.

Is it legal to use a VPN on a Firestick in the UK?

Yes. Using a VPN is legal in the UK, but anything illegal without a VPN, such as watching pirated streams, is still illegal with one. Read more in our guide: Is it legal to use a VPN in the UK?

Our reviews: NordVPN review · Bitdefender VPN review

About the author

This guide was written by the thebestvpnproviders team. We write plain-English VPN guides for UK readers. Our recommendations are editorial opinions based on providers’ published information, not lab tests. How we work · See our VPN picks.