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How to set up Surfshark on Android TV

Updated:

 
 

In this tutorial, you will learn how to install the Surfshark VPN app on your Android TV or Android box. 

You will need an Android TV or Android box running Android 7.0 or later and an active Surfshark subscription, which you can purchase on the Surfshark pricing page.

NOTE: The app does not support Ethernet cable connections on Android TVs running Android 9 and 12. Additionally, if your Android TV device is running Android OS 6.0 but under OS 7.0, you will need to download and install the Surfshark .apk app.

 

Install the Surfshark app

 

  1. Open the Play Store on your Android TV and search for Surfshark.
    Play Store search for surfshark showing the Surfshark VPN listing
      
  2. Press Download or Install.
    Play Store Surfshark listing with Install highlighted
      

Log in to the app

 

  1. Once the installation is complete, you can either click Open or find the Surfshark icon in the installed apps menu and press on it.
      
  2. Click Log in.
    Surfshark TV welcome screen with Log in and Create account buttons
      
  3. Enter the email address you used when registering and your password. Click Log in.

    Alternatively, you can log in using the Surfshark app on your mobile device. To do that, open your phone's camera and take a picture of the QR code, or enter a login code. You can find it in Settings > Account > TV login, then enter the code shown in the Surfshark app.
    TV login screen with a QR code, email and password fields, and Log in

 

Connect to the VPN

 

Once you log in, you will see the homepage of the Surfshark app. Here, you can see the VPN connection status, the list of locations, and a button to connect.
 

  1. Press the Quick-connect button, and the app will instantly connect you to the fastest available server.
    Surfshark TV home showing Not connected with Quick-connect highlighted
      
  2. When connecting to a VPN server for the first time, accept the connection request in the pop-up window by pressing OK.
    Connection request dialog with OK highlighted
      
  3. You can also connect to the Faster server or the Nearest country. 

    To do so, click on the button of your preference, as indicated below.
    Locations list with Fastest location and Nearest country highlighted while connected to Netherlands
      
  4. Once you connect, you will see the connection status on the app's homepage.

    If it is green and says CONNECTED, your internet connection is secured.
    Connected status showing Netherlands with a Disconnect button

 

Manage Surfshark locations

 

Surfshark has 4500+ servers in 100 countries. Choose a server, click it, and you're done.

  1. You will find the list of locations on the left side of your screen. Use the search bar or scroll down until you find a specific country. Click on the flag icon of your preferred location, and you will instantly connect to it.
    Locations list and search bar highlighted next to a connected Albania status
      
  2. To save your favorite locations, press the star on the right side of the location. This server will now appear in your Favorites list.
    Favourites section with Albania starred and highlighted
      
  3. The bubble icon next to the star indicates how loaded the Surfshark servers are in a specific location; in other words, how many people are connected to servers in that location.

    The first bubble in this picture indicates that Surfshark servers in Germany are under a heavy load at the moment. The second bubble shows that only a few people are connected to Surfshark servers in Japan.
    Germany and Japan location rows with server-load dots labeled 1 and 2
      
  4. You may have noticed the Static IP and MultiHop tabs at the top of your Surfshark app.
    Locations, Static IP, and MultiHop tabs highlighted

    Static IP – you will get the same IP address each time you connect to the Static IP servers.

    MultiHop – you'll connect through two different VPN servers. You can also choose both of these servers.

 

Manage Surfshark features

 

In the features tab, you'll be able to find two features.
Features tab highlighted showing CleanWeb on and Bypasser toggles

Enable CleanWeb. It’s a feature that blocks ads, trackers, malware, and phishing attempts.

Access Surfshark Bypasser. It’s a feature that allows specific apps & websites to bypass the VPN tunnel.
 

 

Manage Surfshark settings

 

Customize your Surfshark app to suit your preferences. Go to the Settings tab.
Settings gear highlighted with VPN settings, App settings, and My account

Click on VPN settings.VPN settings showing Quick-connect location, Auto-connect, Kill switch, and Protocol

Here, you can:

  • Enable Auto-connect.
      
  • Select your Quick-connect location.
      
  • Enable KillSwitch. This feature protects you from unexpected VPN disconnections.
      
  • Change the connection protocol.
      
  • Enable Small packets. This feature improves connectivity on slower networks.
      

Click on My account.
My account page with Enter login code, email, and Custom plan details

 

Here, you can do the following:
 

  • Check your current subscription plan.
     
  • Log out of your account.
     
  • Enter a login code.


Switch to App settings.
App settings showing version, language, analytics, and crash report toggles

 

Here, you can do the following:

  • Change the app language.
     
  • See the current app version.
     
  • Choose whether the app sends crash reports.
  • Choose whether the app sends usage analytics.
  • Send diagnostics.

 

Ensure your connection is successful

 

Check whether your connection is successful after setting up a VPN. You can do it by performing an IP leak test and a DNS leak test on our website.




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