How to Install Surfshark On A Router? [Updated April 2022]

Configuring Surfshark on a router is one of the best ways to keep all your devices safe and secure while browsing the internet. Not only that, but it also allows you to unblock any website or service that might be blocked in your region.

That’s how VPNs work. You can geo-spoof your location to any part of the world and use that country’s services with ease. And Surfshark is the perfect choice for your VPN provider as it offers over 3200 servers in 65+ countries.

In this article, we’ll show you how to install Surfshark on a router with step-by-step guidelines so you can bypass all the geo-restrictions that come your way.

Surfshark works best with Asus routers. Other than that, it only works with routers that support famous third-party firmware like DD-WRT or Tomato.

For an Asus router, the installation process is easy. But that’s not the case for DD-WRT or Tomato routers. Because you’ll need to flash your router first if it’s not flashed. And that is a risky process.

By flashing, you’re basically changing your router’s operating system which can unlock various features like SSID Control, uPnP Settings, or VPN Support.

So make sure you do your homework before flashing your router or you’ll end up damaging your router’s normal functionality.

However, if you don’t want to flash your router and you’re planning on purchasing a new one, then consider getting a pre-flashed router. One of the authentic providers in the market is FlashRouters.

Once you have a compatible router, you can install Surfshark VPN on it in no time and secure all your devices.

So without further ado, let’s get started!

For more information on Surfshark VPN, visit our guide: How Does Surfshark VPN Work

How to Install Surfshark On A Router?

Surfshark VPN only supports AsusWRT from popular routers and some other third-party firmware like DD-WRT or Tomato.

If you have an Asus router then the installation process is easy. Although if you don’t, then you’ll need to check if your router is compatible with a third-party firmware like DD-WRT or Tomato. If it is, then you just need to flash the router.

How to Install Surfshark On ASUS Routers?

Asus routers are compatible with Surfshark VPN and configuring it is extremely easy. All you need to do is follow these simple steps:

Step 1: First, make sure you have an active Surfshark VPN plan.

Step 2: Now open a web browser and type in the IP address of your router into the address bar. It is usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. (Make sure your computer is connected to the router).

Step 3: Type in the login credentials for your router’s admin panel and sign in.

Step 4: On the left panel, click on the VPN tab.

Step 5: Click on the VPN Client tab.

Step 6: Click on Add profile.

Step 7: A box will appear with three tabs, PPTP, L2TP, and OpenVPN. Select OpenVPN.

Step 8: Now you have to enter the following details,

• Description: Give a name to your VPN connection.
• Username: Enter the username of your Surfshark account.
• Password: Enter the password of your Surfshark account.

Step 9: For the .ovpn file, visit this link and download the configuration files for the VPN server you wish to connect to.

Step 10: Select and import the downloaded .ovpn file.

Step 11: Uncheck the box that says “Import the CA file or edit the .ovpn file manually“.

Step 12: Click on OK.

Step 13: You’ll see a new profile in your VPN server list. Click on Activate. You can also add more VPN profiles and connect to different VPN servers.

You’ll witness a blue tick appear in the Connection Status column indicating a successful VPN connection.

How to Install Surfshark On DD-WRT Routers?

DD-WRT is an open-source firmware that is compatible with a large number of routers. It is considered the best firmware as it unlocks a wide range of features for users, including VPN support.

However, before installing, make sure your router supports the DD-WRT firmware. If it supports it, then you’ll need to flash your router.

Flashing is a risky process if you don’t know what you’re doing. It can damage your router’s normal functionality and you also won’t be able to claim your warranty.

So make sure you do your research work before you flash your router. To see if your router is compatible, visit this link and download the necessary files to flash your router. You can also follow this detailed guide for a smooth flashing process.

Once you have flashed your router with the DD-WRT firmware, we’ll need to install Surfshark VPN on the router. Keep in mind that for a VPN connection, your router must have 8 MBs of flash memory.

After the checklist is completed, follow these simple steps to configure Surfshark VPN on your router.

Step 1: Go to your router’s admin panel by typing in 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.

Step 2: Now enter your username and password to sign in to your router’s admin panel.

Step 3: On your DD-WRT router’s control panel, click on the Setup tab in the top left corner.

Step 4: Find Network Address Server Settings under Network Setup.

Step 5: Now enter the following in Static DNS 1 and Static DNS 2:

• For Static DNS 1: 162-252-172-57
• For Static DNS 2: 149-154-159-92

Step 6: Make sure “Use DNSMasq for DNS” and “DHCP Authoritative” are checked.

Step 7: Click on Save and then on Apply Settings.

Step 8: Now, to set up the OpenVPN client, go to the router’s control panel again and click on the Services tab on top.

Step 9: Then click on the VPN tab.

Step 10: Under the OpenVPN Client tab, click on Enable next to “Start OpenVPN Client“. We need to enter the details which popped open when we clicked Enable.

Step 11: For Server IP/Name, open a new tab. Go to the Surfshark website and log in with your Surfshark VPN credentials.

Step 12: On the left panel, click on Manual Setup.

Step 13: On the right panel, click on the Locations tab. Choose a server by searching or finding it in the list.

Step 14: Copy the hostname under the country name and paste it into Server IP/Name.

Step 15: The default port number should be 1194. If it’s not, enter 1194 in Port.

Step 16: Click on the drop-down menu for Encryption Cipher and select “AES-256-GCM“.

Step 17: Select “SHA512” in the Hash Algorithm.

Step 18: Click on Enable next to User Pass Authentication.

Step 19: For Username and Password, head to the Surfshark website with your account logged in.

Step 20: Click on Manual Setup on the left panel and then click on Credentials on the right panel.

Step 21: Copy and paste the credentials from the Surfshark website to the Username and Password fields in your router’s settings.

Step 22: Click on the Enable button next to Advanced Options. This will pop open up some more options.

Step 23: Click on the drop-down menu next to Compression and select “Disabled“. Keep other settings as they are.

Step 24: Now we have to fill three text fields, which are TLS Key, Additional Config, and CA Cert.

Step 25: Copy and paste the following texts below in the correct fields:

Step 26: Click on Save and then click on Apply Settings.

Step 27: Go again to the router’s control panel and click on the Status tab on top.

Step 28: Select the OpenVPN tab. “Client: Connected Success” should now be displayed in the State area. If it isn’t displaying, double-check to make sure everything is correct.

That’s it! You have now successfully installed Surfshark on your router.

And if you want to turn off the VPN, just go back to the Services section and click on the OpenVPN tab in your router’s control panel. Click on “Disable” next to OpenVPN.

Now that you have Surfshark installed on your router, you can enjoy an unlimited number of simultaneous connections and unblock any website or service that’s been blocked in your location.

Plus, with Surfshark’s military-grade encryption, you’ll be able to keep your online activity and data private from hackers, ISPs, and other third-party snoopers.

How to Install Surfshark On Tomato Routers?

Like DD-WRT, Tomato is a free and open-source firmware for routers.

If you’re using a Tomato router, the installation process is a little different. But don’t worry, we’ll walk you through it.

First, you have to make sure that your router supports Tomato firmware. Click here to see if your router is compatible with Tomato. And if it is, you can check out this article to flash your router’s firmware with Tomato.

Once you have Tomato installed on your router, you’ll need the Surfshark server address, your Surfshark service username, and password. To know how you can get these, follow the steps below:

For Surfshark Service Credentials

Step 1: Go to the Surfshark page here and log in with your Surfshark VPN credentials.

Step 2: On the left panel under Setup Methods, click on Router.

Step 3: Click on the Credentials tab on the right panel and you’ll see your Surfshark username and password.

For Surfshark Server Address

Step 1: Go to the Surfshark page here and log in with your Surfshark VPN credentials.

Step 2: On the left panel under Setup Methods, click on Manual.

Step 3: Click on the Files tab on the right panel.

Step 4: Now choose a server from the list or type the name of your desired server location in the search bar.

Step 5: The hostname/server address is the one mentioned under the name of the country. All you need to do is copy it and paste it where it’s needed.

Step 6: Now download the configuration file by clicking on the download button next to it.

Step 7: Choose UDP or TCP according to your preference and download the file.

Now that you have all the necessary information, you can set up the OpenVPN protocol on your router.

Installing OpenVPN On Router

Step 1: Log in to your router’s admin panel.

Step 2: Click on VPN and then head to OpenVPN Client.

Step 3: Click on the Basic tab in the top left corner.

Step 4: Enter the following information:

Step 5: Now click on the Advanced tab on top and enter the following information:

Step 6: Click on the Keys tab on top and open the configuration file in a text editor which we downloaded earlier in the “For Surfshark Server Address” section. Follow the instructions below

For Static Key: Copy and paste the text from <tls-auth> to </tls-auth> block. Don’t miss the “—–BEGIN OpenVPN Static key V1—–“ and “—–END OpenVPN Static key V1—–” lines.

For Certificate Authority: Copy and paste the text from <ca> to </ca> block. Don’t miss the “—–BEGIN CERTIFICATE—–” and “—–END CERTIFICATE—–” lines.

Step 7: Click on Save.

Step 8: Now click on “Start VPN Client 1” at the top right corner to enable your Surfshark VPN connection. You will not find the option if you’re having an older client, in that case, look for the Start button at the bottom.

Step 9: For the prevention of DNS leaks, click on the Basic Settings on the left panel. Click on Network. Under WAN Settings, click on the drop-down menu next to DNS Server and choose Manual. Then enter the following DNS addresses:

• 208.67.222.222
• 208.67.220.220 

That’s it, you have now successfully installed Surfshark on your router. You can now unblock any website or service like Netflix, HBO Now, and Hulu from anywhere in the world.

Why You Should Install Surfshark On Your Router?

Installing Surfshark on your router has a lot of benefits. Here are some of the most notable ones:

Surfshark VPN Pricing & Plans

If you’re looking for a high-quality and affordable VPN service, then Surfshark is the perfect choice for you. They offer three different plans:

To compare these plans with other VPN providers, visit our detailed guide: How Much Does a VPN Cost.

Frequently Asked Questions