How to Use a VPN on PS5 (3 Methods: Router, PC Sharing, Smart DNS)

By the thebestvpnproviders team · Published 15 October 2026

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The PlayStation 5 can’t run VPN apps, so you can’t install a VPN on the console itself. You can still put a PS5 behind a VPN in three ways.

Method 1: Set up the VPN on your router

If your router supports VPN client connections (common protocols are OpenVPN and WireGuard), every device on that network uses the VPN, including your PS5.

1. Check that your router supports VPN client mode. Many ISP-supplied routers don’t, but some third-party routers do.
2. Follow your VPN provider’s router guide to add its configuration files or settings.
3. Connect the PS5 to that router by Wi-Fi or Ethernet, then run Settings > Network > Connection Status > Test Internet Connection.

Pros: it covers every device. Cons: setup is more technical, and everything on that network goes through the VPN unless your router supports policy routing.

Method 2: Share a VPN connection from a Windows PC

1. Install and connect your VPN app on a Windows PC.
2. Share the connection, either with Windows Mobile hotspot (Settings > Network & internet) or with Internet Connection Sharing over an Ethernet cable. Some VPN apps need extra steps, so check your provider’s guide.
3. On the PS5, join the PC’s hotspot or connect the Ethernet cable, then run the connection test.

Pros: you don’t need a special router. Cons: the PC has to stay on, and it adds another step that can slow things down.

Method 3: Smart DNS

Some VPN providers offer a Smart DNS service. You enter its DNS server addresses in the PS5’s network settings (set the DNS settings to Manual). Smart DNS can change how some services see your location, but it doesn’t encrypt your traffic and doesn’t hide your IP address, so it isn’t a real VPN.

Will a VPN help gaming?

Usually not for speed. A VPN adds an extra hop, which often raises ping. It can help if your internet provider routes game traffic badly, but results vary. We haven’t run our own latency tests. Check PlayStation’s own connectivity support pages if you have network problems, and read PlayStation Network’s terms before using a VPN for region-locked content.

Want a VPN with router guides? NordVPN and Surfshark both publish router setup instructions. More options: our VPN picks. Setting up a TV stick too? Read how to install a VPN on a Firestick.

Our reviews: NordVPN 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.