ExpressVPN MediaStreamer: what is it and how to use it

Boost your streaming experience with ExpressVPN’s special feature

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Subscribing to one of thebest VPNsimmediately boosts your digital privacy, keeping you safer from snoopers and anyone who wants to monitor your online activities. But, that’s just one of the benefits you can get.

Born as a way to protect your data when browsing the web, VPNs have become even more popular for their other qualities. For example, they let you bypass the geo-restrictions that all the major streaming platforms apply to their content. With a click, you will be able to access worldwide catalogs of shows and movies from anywhere. Pretty amazing, isn’t it?

And one of the best providers in the game -ExpressVPN- responded to this use-case by including an additional tool that can make your streaming experience even better: its ownMediaStreamer.

There are several advantages of using this tool, together with some downsides. Read on to learn more about this ExpressVPN feature and when you should use it.

What is ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer

MediaStreamer is asmartDNStool from ExpressVPN that helps you access geo-restricted movies and TV shows, by spoofing your location.

Unlike a regular VPN, MediaStreamer doesn’t encrypt your traffic. That means it doesn’t do anything to protect you online - it’s merely a feature to help you watch overseas content.

But where it comes into its own is that, unlike a ‘regular’ VPN, MediaSteamer gives you greater flexibility over the devices you can stream through. So if you’ve tried - and failed - in the past to use a VPN on a smart TV or games console, MediaStreamer could be the solution.

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ExpressVPN is our #1 VPN for streamingThe world’s overall top provider is fast, secure, easy to use and comes with3 months extra freewith an annual plan. Get itrisk-free for 30 daysand try its unlocking prowess - it gets access to basically all the streaming sites you want, no matter where in the world you are. And with its exclusive MediaStreamer tool, there’s even more flexibility if you’re looking to stream on a variety of streaming devices.

ExpressVPN MediaStreamer - the advantages

With MediaStreamer, ExpressVPN’s mission statement is to improve your streaming experience. And in some cases, it’s better to use this tool in place of one of Express’s normal VPN servers.

Computers/Laptops: Windows and MacOs

Smart TVs: Apple TV (any generations), LG Smart TV, Samsung Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV

Gaming Consoles: PlayStation (3,4,5), Nintendo Switch, Xbox (360, Series X, One)

Routers: DD-WRT, Linksys, Netgear, Asus, Google Wi-Fi

First of all,MediaStreamer is the option to use on devices that don’t support your ExpressVPN app. These include gaming consoles, like PlayStation and Xbox, and some smart TVs.

It can alsoimprove your streaming qualityby offering faster speed connections. This is because the software operates through a way simpler technology than a VPN does.

On top of that, usingMediaStreamer is not included inExpressVPN’s five-device limit. So even if you’re already using your subscription with a bunch of other devices, you can still make use of MediaStreamer at the same time.

ExpressVPN MediaStreamer - the disadvantages

If you’re planning to use MediaStreamer, you should also be aware of the downsides - especially when it comes to your online safety.

If your main priority is protecting your online privacy, then MediaStreamer is not the tool for you. As it isn’t a VPN as such, itdoes not encrypt your dataleaving it vulnerable to cyber attacks.

Plus, it doesn’t really give you a new IP but it rather changes how a website sees yours. So, youcan potentially still be tracked by your service provider.

MediaStreamer alsolimits you to access US catalogs only. So if you’re a US-based Netflix subscriber and like the idea of watching a TV show that’s only available in the Canadian library, you won’t be able to use MediaStreamer to virtually relocate you and watch as if you were north of the border. (Only while using BBC iPlayer, will you be linked to a UK server.)

Although this could change in the future, at the moment you won’t have the same flexibility that an actualstreaming VPNcan give you.

How to set up MediaStreamer on your device

No matter which device you want to use MediaStreamer on, the first thing you need to do isregister your IP address on the ExpressVPN website. This will allow the service to recognize and grant your device access to the tool. Here a step-to-step guide to help you doing so:

As the process slightly differs with every device, checkExpressVPN dedicated tutorialsto help you doing so. If you want toset up ExpressVPN MediaStreamer on AppleTV, you can also head on our guide instead.

SmartDNS vs VPN: what’s the difference?

Both SmartDNS and VPN are tools that help to unlock geo-restricted content. And although the end goal is the same, the way they work is quite different.

VPNsare a technology that generally protect your internet connection and all the data coming from your device throughencrypted tunnels. They also overcome further types of online restrictions like DNS and IP blocks.

Asmart DNSon the other hand, operates through a combination ofDNSand proxy server technology.

A Domain Name System (DNS) is basically the index of the internet. Every time you type the name of a website on your device, the DNS looks up the IP address for you. While a proxy server - in the same way as a VPN - makes you anonymous when online by hiding your IP and storing your internet traffic. Unlike a VPN however, a proxy is less secure as it does not encrypt your data. (You can learn more about the differences in our dedicated guide toVPNs vs proxies.)

By using a SmartDNS, you will be able to select a specific DNS - rather than using the default offered by your internet service provider (ISP) - to operate your internet queries. These will be then reroute via a proxy server and the site or streaming service will pick up the proxy location instead of yours.

MediaStreamer troubleshooting: what to do if it stops working

Now that you are set up, you are ready to start watching and enjoying your favorite movies and TV series. But if you try to access geo-restricted content through MediaStreamer and keep receiving error messages, what should you do then?

It’s quite likely that you could have typed the IP address incorrectly, so we’d suggest that you go back and double check you’ve used the right one.

But if the MediaStreamer IP address corresponds, here’s some extra tips you can try out instead:

Make MediaStreamer run smoother with a DDNS

The majority of your everyday devices - from smartphones and tablets to laptops and network routers - are likely to operate through dynamic IP addresses rather than static. The manner in which these IPs change from time to timecouldmake it difficult using MediaStreamer.

But setting up a DDNS can considerably help you improving your streaming experience.

A DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name System) equips you with a fixed reference, so-called static hostname, that can be used to connect your smart DNS. In this way, you will be able to overcome any connection issues - no matter if your IP address keeps changing.

It’s a little bit convoluted and involves using a separate dynamic DNS service provider (Express suggestsDynu) to obtain a DDNS hostname. But if you intend on using MediaStreamer frequently, it could be worth the extra few steps - ExpressVPN has a fullstep-by-step guide on how to do it on its website.

Chiara is a multimedia journalist committed to covering stories to help promote the rights and denounce the abuses of the digital side of life—wherever cybersecurity, markets and politics tangle up.She mainly writes news, interviews and analysis on data privacy, online censorship, digital rights, cybercrime, and security software, with a special focus on VPNs, for TechRadar Pro, TechRadar and Tom’s Guide. Got a story, tip-off or something tech-interesting to say? Reach out to chiara.castro@futurenet.com

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