Your TV is one of the busiest devices in your home. It streams video, runs apps that collect usage data and often stays connected all day. Putting a VPN on it works the same way as on a phone: traffic from the TV travels through an encrypted tunnel to a VPN server, and the apps you use see the server's IP address instead of your home connection's.

The tricky part on a TV is usually typing. Nobody enjoys entering an email address and a code with a remote control. This guide shows how to install VPNRice on Android TV or Google TV and sign in by scanning a QR code with your phone, so you never have to type a password on the TV.

What you need

  • A TV or streaming box running Android TV or Google TV, version 7.0 or later. Google TV is built on Android TV, so the same app works on both.
  • Access to Google Play on the TV. Most Android TV and Google TV devices include it.
  • The VPNRice app on your phone, signed in with an email account. You'll use it to approve the TV. If you've only used VPNRice as a guest, add an email in the phone app first (Account tab, then add email).

To check your Android version on the TV, open Settings, then look for Device Preferences or System, then About, and find the version number. Menu names vary slightly between manufacturers.

If your TV runs a different operating system, the Android TV app won't install on it. In that case you can protect individual devices such as phones and computers instead.

Step 1: Install VPNRice from Google Play

There are two simple ways to install the app.

On the TV itself

Google's help pages describe the same basic flow for both platforms:

  1. On Google TV, press the Assistant button on your remote or select Search on the home screen. On Android TV, go to Apps and open the Google Play Store, then select Search.
  2. Say or type VPNRice.
  3. Open the VPNRice app page and select Install.

When it finishes, VPNRice appears in your apps. On Google TV you can move it nearer the front of the "Your apps" row by holding the Select button on it and choosing Move.

From your phone or computer

You can also open the VPNRice listing on Google Play in a browser, signed in with the same Google account that your TV uses, and choose your TV as the device to install on. The download link is on our Android TV download page.

Step 2: Sign in with a QR code

Open VPNRice on the TV. The sign-in screen shows Sign in with QR with a quick explanation: scan using the phone app you are signed in to. It's already highlighted, so just press Select on your remote.

The TV now shows a QR code with the instruction "Open VPNRice on your phone (signed in) and scan this code". On your phone:

  1. Open the VPNRice app.
  2. Go to the Account tab.
  3. Tap Scan QR to sign in a device.
  4. Point the camera at the QR code on your TV.

After a moment the TV confirms that you're signed in and opens the main screen. If your phone camera has trouble reading the code, for example because of glare on the screen, the TV also shows a short code under the QR that you can enter on your phone instead.

Don't have the phone app yet? The TV sign-in screen has a Get the mobile app button that shows a QR code linking to the download.

If you see "Device limit reached"

Each account can be used on several devices, up to a limit. If you reach it, the TV will tell you. Open the phone app, go to Account, then Manage devices, remove a device you no longer use and scan again.

Step 3: Connect for the first time

On the Connect screen, select the large connect button. Because this is the first time, Android shows a system Connection request dialog asking whether you trust VPNRice to set up a VPN connection. Android's developer documentation explains that this dialog appears before any VPN app can become active for the first time. Select OK.

Once connected, you'll see the connection status and the server location in the app. Android also shows a key icon or a notification while a VPN is active, depending on your device.

By default VPNRice picks a server for you automatically. Your TV traffic now goes through the encrypted tunnel.

Step 4: Choose a server and protocol

Picking a location

Open the Servers tab with your remote's arrow keys. VPNRice has servers in 39 countries. Select a country to connect there. Some locations are available on the free tier and others with Premium; the app marks which is which, and Premium prices for your country are shown in the app.

For streaming, a nearby server generally gives a shorter route and a smoother picture. If playback stutters, try a different server in the same region.

Picking a protocol

In the Account tab, open Protocol. You'll see:

  • Automatic (recommended), which picks a protocol and switches if a connection fails.
  • WireGuard, a modern, efficient protocol.
  • RiceGuard, WireGuard with extra packet obfuscation.
  • RiceGuardX, a TLS-based protocol built on VLESS and REALITY.

Most people should leave it on Automatic. Our explainer on WireGuard and modern VPN protocols describes the differences in plain language.

Step 5: Optional settings

  • Ad blocker. In the Account tab you can turn on ad and tracker blocking where available for your plan.
  • Kill switch. On Android, VPNRice's kill switch relies on Android's Always-on VPN setting together with "Block connections without VPN". Android Help explains where these switches live on phones. On TVs, whether the VPN settings screen is available depends on the manufacturer, so you may not see the option on every model.
  • Language. VPNRice is available in many languages; change it in the Account tab.

Troubleshooting

  • The app doesn't appear in Google Play on the TV. Make sure the device runs Android TV or Google TV 7.0 or later, and that you're signed in to Google Play on the TV.
  • The QR code won't scan. Reduce glare, step closer, or use the short code shown under the QR. Check that your phone app is signed in with an email account.
  • A streaming app shows an error or plays slowly. Try another server, or switch the protocol back to Automatic. Some services limit access from VPN addresses; disconnect if you need to use one of them.
  • Casting from your phone stops working. Casting usually relies on devices finding each other on the local network. Disconnect the VPN on the TV while casting if needed.
  • Nothing loads after connecting. Disconnect, wait a few seconds and reconnect. If that doesn't help, choose a different server or restart the TV.

Quick recap

  1. Install VPNRice from Google Play on your Android TV or Google TV.
  2. Choose Sign in with QR and scan the code with the VPNRice app on your phone.
  3. Accept Android's connection request the first time you connect.
  4. Leave server choice and protocol on automatic, or pick your own.

That's all it takes to protect your living-room screen. Download VPNRice for your TV and your other devices, and use one account across all of them.