PIA VPN Setup and Features for Android TV Boxes

Use this guide to install the Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN, adjust key settings, and get familiar with the main features available on Android TV boxes.

Note: Android TV boxes vary by model and Android version, so these instructions are general. Your menus may look different, and PIA VPN may not work on every device.

How to Set Up PIA VPN on Your Android TV Box

Follow these steps to install PIA VPN, log into your account, and connect.

  1. Press the Home button on your remote and select Apps in the top-left corner.

    Android TV home screen navigation bar with the "Apps" tab highlighted inside a green box.

  2. Select Google Play Store.

    Android TV Apps screen showing installed apps with a focused overlay on the Google Play Store icon, which is highlighted by a green box.

  3. Search for Private Internet Access.

    Google Play Store search interface on Android TV, showing the text search bar with "private internet access" typed inside and enclosed in a green box.

  4. Select Install.

    Private Internet Access VPN listing page on the Google Play Store, showing app details with the "Install" button highlighted by a green box.

  5. Select Open once PIA VPN is installed. You can also open the VPN from Home screen > Apps.

    Private Internet Access VPN listing page on the Google Play Store after installation, showing the "Open" button highlighted inside a green box.

  6. Select Login and enter your PIA VPN credentials. 

Note: You need an active PIA VPN subscription to sign in. If you don’t have one, see our guide to getting a PIA VPN subscription on Android.

  1. Enable the app’s permissions when prompted; they let PIA VPN identify networks and set up connections. You should now see the app’s main screen.
  2. Select the Power button to connect to the VPN. When the power button turns green, your VPN connection is active. 

To verify your VPN works correctly, visit our What's My IP Address? page.

PIA VPN App Features and Settings

The sections below explain the main app controls and settings available on Android TV.

Main Dashboard

When you open the app, you'll see the main dashboard, where you can quickly connect to the VPN and access your most commonly used options.

  • Connect or disconnect the VPN: Select the Power button to connect to or disconnect from the last VPN server you used.
  • Change your VPN location: Select the displayed VPN location to browse the full server list or add locations to your favorites.
  • Check your VPN IP address: When connected, your current VPN IP address appears on the dashboard.
  • Connect to a recent or favorite server: Open Quick Connect to access your recently used and favorite VPN locations.

Main Menu

To access additional settings, select the cog icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.

From here, you can manage the following settings: 

Account

Here, you can see your username and the expiry date for your current PIA VPN plan. You can also log out of your account.

Dedicated IP

If your subscription includes a Dedicated IP, you can activate it from the Dedicated IP menu.

  1. Open Dedicated IP.
  2. Paste your Dedicated IP token into the text field.
  3. Press Enter on the virtual keyboard.

Once activated, you'll receive the same VPN IP address each time you connect while keeping all VPN protection enabled.

For more information, see the PIA Dedicated IP support page.

Per App Settings

Use Per App Settings to choose which apps use the VPN and which bypass it. This is useful if you want to keep the VPN enabled while allowing specific apps to connect directly to the internet.

  1. Open Per App Settings.
  2. Select an app to toggle VPN protection.
  3. Check the lock icon:
    • A green lock means the app uses the VPN.
    • A red lock means the app bypasses the VPN and uses your regular internet connection.

To learn more about this feature, visit our guide on Per App Settings. 

General Settings

This menu includes several connection and troubleshooting options:

General

Use these options to control when the VPN starts and connects automatically.

  • Launch on System Startup: Start PIA automatically when your Android TV turns on.
  • Connect on Launch: Connect to the VPN whenever you open the app.
  • Connect on app update: Reconnect the VPN automatically after the app finishes updating.
Protocols

Use these settings to customize how the VPN connects.

  • Change the VPN protocol: Select Protocol Selection to switch between WireGuard and OpenVPN.
  • Enable Use Small Packets: Turn this option on if you're experiencing compatibility issues with certain routers or networks.
  • View the handshake certificate: Open Handshake to see the certificate used when establishing your VPN connection.

If you select OpenVPN as your VPN protocol, you can customize these additional connection settings: 

  • Choose the transport protocol: Select Transport to switch between UDP and TCP. UDP is the default and generally offers better performance for streaming.
  • Adjust encryption: Select Data Encryption to choose between AES-128-GCM for improved performance on some devices or AES-256-GCM for stronger encryption.
  • Change the connection port: Select Port and choose from 8080, 853, 123, or 53 if you're having connection issues on your network.
Networks

These settings control DNS, port forwarding, and local network access.

  • Change your DNS resolver: Open DNS to use a different DNS resolver if you're experiencing DNS-related issues. PIA DNS is selected by default.
  • Request Port Forwarding: Turn this to open an incoming port for compatible applications. This can help if your ISP or network blocks certain connections.
  • Allow LAN traffic: Enable this feature if you need to communicate with devices on your home network while connected to the VPN. Leave this disabled when using public Wi-Fi.
Privacy

PIA MACE blocks domains associated with ads, trackers, and malware before they reach your device.

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to the Privacy tab.
  3. Turn on PIA MACE.

Help

To access troubleshooting and support options, select the ? icon on the home screen. From there, you can: 

  • Check the app version: Open Version to see which version of PIA VPN is installed. If an update is available, you can also install it from this screen. 
  • Send a debug log: Select Send Debug Log to Support to generate a support reference ID and send diagnostic logs to the PIA Support team.
  • Share anonymous diagnostics: Turn on Help Improve PIA to send anonymous connection statistics that help improve the app.
  • View the Privacy Policy: Open Privacy Policy to read how PIA handles and protects your data.
  • View legal information: Open About to view licensing information and other legal notices related to the PIA VPN app.

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