Protectingyour devices
How many devices can be connected to the router?
Can I select which devices are protected by the VPN?
How do I set a static LAN IP for a device?
How do I remove an inactive device from the router?
Why do some devices appear twice on my dashboard?
How do I identify unnamed devices on my dashboard?
Can I set up a guest Wi-Fi network?
Does Aircove have Network Lock?
Advanced settings
How do I configure port forwarding?
How do I configure Dynamic DNS?
How to I set up a static WAN IP?
How can I configure custom DNS?
How can I reset my router to default settings?
Why is my router reaching out to unexpected domains?
There are multiple ways to set up your ExpressVPN router. You can connect your ExpressVPN router to another Wi-Fi network, to an Ethernet switch, or have it as part of a mesh network. You can also use it with Wi-Fi extenders, and even daisy-chain multiple ExpressVPN routers. Learn more.
By default, all devices connected to your router are protected by the VPN. If you want some devices not to use the VPN or receive an internet connection, you can use the Device Group feature to create a new device group without VPN protection or the internet and assign devices to it. Learn more.
Every device has a default MAC address used by routers to identify it on a network. If it uses a randomized MAC address instead of the default one, this might cause it to appear more than once on your router dashboard. Learn more.
It is currently not possible to set up a separate guest Wi-Fi network. In the meantime, you can use the Device Groups feature which allows you to create a new group and assign your guests to it. Note that all the device groups are still connected to the same local network. Learn more.
Yes, the Network Lock feature is built into your Aircove. If your VPN drops, Network Lock is activated to disable all internet traffic. This protects your IP address and other sensitive information from being exposed. When your VPN connection is restored, your secure internet access resumes. Network Lock cannot be turned off manually on Aircove.
Access
expressvpnrouter.com in a web browser on any device connected to the router. Go to Network Settings > Wi-Fi Settings. From there, you can change your settings such as the network name, password, channel, WPA3 security, and visibility. Learn more about how to choose the optimal Wi-Fi settings.
By default, your ExpressVPN router will automatically install any available updates daily at 4 a.m. If you want to update your router manually, you can download the latest firmware from
expressvpn.com/latest#router. After that, go to your router dashboard, then navigate to Advanced Settings > Software Update to install the firmware. Learn more.
You can power Aircove Go with a USB Power Delivery (PB) power bank but as Aircove Go does not support the PD protocol, your power bank will need to supply 5V at 3A. For the best performance we recommend using Aircove Go with its supplied power adapter.
There are many different brands and models of power banks on the market, and they can vary in their quality and performance. As such, if the first power bank you try does not seem to work as expected, we suggest trying a different one.
Note: We recommend dedicating the power bank to only the Aircove Go. Some power banks may briefly disconnect all connected devices when you connect a new device to it, which would force a reboot of the Aircove Go.
From your router dashboard, go to Network Settings > Internet Settings, and select Static IP as your connection protocol. Learn more about static IPs and other ways to connect to your internet service provider.
Whether or not you should install a VPN on your router depends on your individual needs and circumstances. If you want increased security, privacy, and access to content on numerous devices, a router-based VPN makes sense. When deciding, keep these additional factors in mind:
- Router compatibility: Not all routers support VPN functionality. Older routers in particular might lack compatibility.
- Internet speed: If your internet connection is already slow, a VPN can potentially further reduce its speed.
- Technical proficiency: If configuring network settings seems intimidating, hiring a professional to help set up the VPN on your router, or buying a router with built-in VPN functionality like Aircove from ExpressVPN, might be a better choice.
Yes, there are routers with built-in VPNs. The website Flashrouters specializes in routers with VPN software preinstalled. But our (admittedly biased) favorite is ExpressVPN Aircove, our own powerful router with ExpressVPN functionality built-in. In most cases, you still need a subscription to the VPN service for the VPN to work; otherwise, the routers can also be used as normal without VPN.
No, not all routers support VPNs. In fact, most consumer routers are not compatible with VPN installation. One reason is VPNs require enough processing power and memory, which consumer routers often do not have.
Yes, you can install a VPN on an Xfinity router, but it can be a bit tricky. Comcast does not officially support VPNs on their routers, so you will need to do some research and follow the instructions carefully.
1. Purchase a VPN that is compatible with Xfinity routers. A popular VPN that works with Xfinity routers is ExpressVPN.
2. Enable bridge mode on your Xfinity router. This will allow your router to act as a modem only, and pass all traffic through to your VPN-enabled router.
3. Connect your VPN-enabled router to your Xfinity router using an Ethernet cable.
4. Configure your VPN on your router. This will vary depending on the VPN provider and router model.
Simply put, a VPN router is a router that has been configured to connect to a VPN server. This allows all devices that connect to the router to be protected by VPN encryption and change of IP address, even if VPNs normally cannot be installed on the devices themselves (think smart TVs, IoT devices, and gaming consoles).
VPN routers are a great way to protect your entire home network. When you connect your devices to a VPN router, all of your traffic is encrypted and routed through the VPN server. This means that your ISP, government, or anyone else who might be monitoring your traffic will not be able to see what you are doing online.
A VPN router encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a VPN server before it reaches its destination. This hides your real IP address and makes it difficult for anyone to track your online activity.
For example, when you access a website without a VPN, your ISP handles the connection, assigning you a unique IP address that identifies you to the visited website. Your ISP can monitor your browsing activity and link it to you through this IP address.
At its core, a VPN router functions like a regular router. It connects your local network (LAN) to the internet by directing traffic between your devices and the ISP. It assigns local IP addresses to devices on your network and manages the flow of data packets.
To set up a VPN connection, the router needs configuration details, including the VPN server address, authentication credentials (username and password or cryptographic keys), and the chosen VPN protocol.
Authentication ensures a secure connection between the VPN client (i.e., your router) and the VPN server. Mathematical processes verify the identities of both ends, ensuring that they communicate exclusively with each other. This prevents unauthorized parties from intercepting or manipulating the data being transmitted.
Data inside the tunnel is encrypted, ensuring that only the intended recipient (the VPN server) can decrypt and understand the information. This encryption guarantees the privacy of your internet traffic. Even your ISP is unable to see the actual contents of your data.
From routers equipped with built-in VPN functionality to compatible routers that support a downloaded VPN, and even innovative VPN router boxes designed to seamlessly connect with existing network infrastructure, the market offers various choices tailored to diverse needs.
Flashing custom firmware for VPNs means replacing the default firmware on your router with third-party firmware that is specifically designed for VPN use. Two popular choices are DD-WRT and Tomato which both support free and open-source software:
In addition to DD-WRT and Tomato, there are other alternative firmware options available, such as OpenWRT and FreshTomato. These firmware options offer similar features to DD-WRT and Tomato, but they may have different strengths and weaknesses.
Aircove employs Wi-Fi 6 technology, offering fast and stable internet speeds for all connected devices. With speeds up to 1,200 Mbps for 5 GHz devices (and 600 Mbps for 2.4 GHz devices), even bandwidth-intensive activities like 4K streaming can be performed smoothly across multiple screens.
The Device Groups feature allows you to organize devices and connect them to different VPN locations. This is particularly useful when you have specific privacy or geo-restriction needs, enabling you to tailor your protection to different scenarios.
Aircove prioritizes security. It has undergone audits by cybersecurity firm Cure53, incorporates automatic updates to keep up with the latest security enhancements, and features a VPN kill switch to prevent data leakage if your VPN connection drops. Built-in advanced protection features, like parental controls and ad blocking, offer even more control.
Aircove Go provides all the benefits of an Aircove router, but in a palm-sized, portable, traveler-friendly package. If you want to access public Wi-Fi in a place like an airport or a hotel, just connect Aircove Go to the Wi-Fi network, and all your devices using Aircove Go will enjoy the benefits of VPN, including strong encryption and location changes. (You must have an active ExpressVPN subscription to use the VPN functionality of Aircove routers.)
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