Most modern gaming platforms support the use of a VPN to connect to their online services and play with others. If you haven’t used something of this sort until now, it’s not a bad idea to look into it in some detail. PlayStation 4 players are among those who can benefit from a good VPN, and that even includes those who don’t play online all the time.
This is due to the way most gaming platforms work, and the PlayStation 4 network is no different than most others in this regard. Just take some time to learn about the benefits of a VPN in your gaming, and how to enable it on your PS4, and you should be able to have things up and running in practically no time.
Do You Need a VPN?
The first question that comes to most gamers’ minds when they first start learning about VPN services is whether it’s worth investing in one in the first place. While it’s true that some players out there will not see much use from this, they’re becoming an exception rather than the norm these days, and it’s important to understand the risks of connecting in an insecure manner.
Even if you never get targeted by anyone with malicious intentions seeking to gain access to your private details, you might still have to deal with content restrictions and other annoying issues that can arise from playing in regions with heavy-handed online content policies.
Connecting Through Your Router
Once you’ve obtained a VPN subscription, the easiest way to set it up on your PS4 is to connect through your router directly. To do this, go into your router’s control panel, and look for any options related to “VPN”, “tunneling”, “proxy”, or something similar. Enter the settings given to you by your VPN provider and ensure that the connection is set up (sometimes you may need to reset your router for any changes to take effect).
Then, connect your PS4 to your router, and you should find yourself connected through a VPN. Keep in mind that this will also apply to any other devices in your household connecting through the same router, so if you want to use this VPN subscription exclusively for gaming on your PS4, that might complicate things somewhat.
Connecting Through Your PC
Another option is to use your PC to connect to the VPN service and run your PS4’s connection through it. To do this, install the VPN client used by your service provider, then connect your PS4 and your PC with an Ethernet cable. From your Windows Network Adapter Settings, go to Sharing, and enable the checkbox that says ‘Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection’.
Then, all you have to do is set up your PS4 to connect through a LAN cable instead of over Wi-Fi, and you’re all done. Make sure you verify that you’re connected over the VPN before using your new connection for anything serious.
Connecting Through Your Mac
The procedure is somewhat similar to the one on PC. You need to connect your Mac and PS4 with an Ethernet cable, and then go to System Preferences -> Sharing on your Mac. Select Internet Sharing and go through the settings to share your current connection over an Ethernet cable. After that, you just have to run the VPN client on the Mac and keep the device on at all times.
Again, verify that your PS4 is connected over the VPN by checking your IP address or running a similar test procedure. If you intend to use this connection for anything where your privacy will be of significant value, you should take the extra time to ensure that you’ve set it up properly in the first place.
Once you’ve done the initial setup, using a VPN on your PS4 should be a seamless and hassle-free process. You shouldn’t need to do anything specific yourself, and your system will alert you if there are any issues with your connection that require your attention. Other than that, make sure to always be on the lookout for any new deals on the VPN market. It’s an active field with constant development from multiple sides, and it’s common for new deals to pop up that might be more attractive than what you’re currently using. Depending on how your current VPN service contract is structured, you might not be able to switch immediately, but it’s still good to keep an eye out.
