How to Install PureVPN on Any Device (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)

You just bought a PureVPN subscription and now you’re staring at the download page wondering where to start. Or maybe you need PureVPN on three different devices — a Windows laptop, an iPhone, and a Fire Stick — and you’re not sure if the process is the same for each. It isn’t.

Knowing how to install PureVPN correctly on each platform saves you the frustration of broken connections and missed permission prompts. PureVPN runs on 20+ platforms, and each has its own method. Some use native apps you download in seconds. Others — like Linux, routers, and smart TVs — require a few more steps. This guide covers all of them, from the simplest app install to the manual WireGuard and OpenVPN configurations that advanced users need.

If you’re still deciding whether PureVPN is right for you, check out our full PureVPN review first. Otherwise, jump straight to the platform you need below — everything is in one place, ordered by device, with numbered steps you can follow in real time.

Before You Begin: PureVPN Setup & Account Creation

Before you install PureVPN on any device, you need an active subscription and login credentials. Here’s how to get set up in under five minutes.

1. Go to purevpn.com — open your browser and navigate to purevpn.com.
2. Choose a plan — PureVPN offers three tiers: Standard ($2.15/mo on the 2-year plan), Plus ($3.15/mo), and Max ($3.55/mo). The Standard plan is enough for VPN-only use. Plus adds a password manager and file encryption. Max adds dark web monitoring and data removal. All plans include unlimited bandwidth and connections on up to 10 devices.
3. Create your account — enter your email address and choose a payment method. PureVPN accepts credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, and cryptocurrency. After payment, your credentials are emailed to you immediately.
4. Access your dashboard — log in at my.purevpn.com. This is where you find download links for all platforms, your VPN credentials for manual setup, and config files for routers.
5. Download your app — go to the Download section in the dashboard, or visit purevpn.com/download directly and pick your platform.

How to Install PureVPN on Windows

PureVPN has a native Windows app that works on Windows 10 and Windows 11. The installer sets up a virtual network adapter automatically — this is what creates the encrypted tunnel. You’ll need administrator rights on your PC for that step.

Supported protocols on Windows

The Windows app supports WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN (TCP and UDP). WireGuard is the default and gives you the fastest speeds. OpenVPN is the better pick when you’re on a restrictive network like a hotel or corporate Wi-Fi.

Step-by-step installation

1. Open your browser and go to purevpn.com/download.
2. Click Download for Windows. The installer file (named something like purevpn_setup.exe) will download to your Downloads folder.
3. Open your Downloads folder and double-click purevpn_setup.exe.
4. Windows will show a User Account Control prompt asking “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?” Click Yes. This is required so the installer can create the virtual network adapter.
5. Read the terms and conditions, check the acceptance box, then click Next to begin installation.
6. Wait 30–60 seconds while the app installs. PureVPN will launch automatically when it’s done.
7. Click Log In on the welcome screen.
8. Enter the email address and password you used when creating your PureVPN account, then click Login.
9. If prompted, select a purpose (streaming, privacy, gaming, etc.) — this helps the app suggest the best server for your needs. You can skip this step.
10. Choose a protocol from Settings — leave it on Automatic if you’re unsure. The app will select WireGuard by default.
11. Pick a server location from the list or let the app choose the fastest one automatically, then click Connect.

Enable the Kill Switch on Windows

PureVPN’s Kill Switch cuts your internet connection if the VPN drops unexpectedly, preventing your real IP from leaking. To enable it: open the app, go to Settings → Security, and toggle Kill Switch on. This is especially useful if you’re torrenting or doing anything where a sudden IP exposure would be a problem.

How to Install PureVPN on Mac

The PureVPN Mac app supports macOS 12 (Monterey) and later. It uses WireGuard and IKEv2 as the primary protocols, plus OpenVPN UDP. The installation is straightforward, but macOS requires an extra permission grant for the VPN configuration — you’ll need to approve it in System Settings.

Step-by-step installation

1. Go to purevpn.com/download and click Download for Mac. A .dmg file will download.
2. Open the downloaded .dmg file by double-clicking it.
3. Drag the PureVPN icon into the Applications folder when the installer window appears.
4. Open your Applications folder and double-click PureVPN to launch the app.
5. macOS will ask if you want to open an app downloaded from the internet. Click Open.
6. The app will prompt you to add a VPN configuration to your system. Click Allow when macOS shows the System Settings VPN permission request. If you miss this, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → VPN and approve PureVPN manually.
7. Enter your PureVPN email and password, then click Log In.
8. Select a server location — or use the Best Location option for the fastest available server — and click Connect.

Split Tunneling on Mac

PureVPN’s Mac app includes split tunneling, which lets you choose specific apps to route through the VPN while others use your normal connection. You’ll find this in Settings → Split Tunneling. Useful if you want to use the VPN for your browser but keep a local app like a printer running without it.

How to Install PureVPN on iPhone & iPad

PureVPN has an iOS app for iPhone and iPad running iOS 16 or later. It’s available directly from the App Store and includes a 7-day free trial — no credit card required to start the trial on iOS. If you’re comparing options before committing, our roundup of the best mobile VPN apps for Android and iOS covers how PureVPN stacks up against the top alternatives.

Protocols on iOS

The iOS app supports WireGuard and IKEv2. WireGuard is faster; IKEv2 handles network switching better (useful if you move between Wi-Fi and cellular during a call or download).

Step-by-step installation

1. Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Search for PureVPN and tap the official app (published by GZ Systems Limited).
3. Tap Get to install the app. Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple ID password if prompted.
4. Once installed, tap Open to launch PureVPN.
5. Tap Log In and enter your PureVPN email address and password.
6. iOS will display a prompt: “PureVPN would like to add VPN configurations.” Tap Allow. If you deny this, the app cannot create a VPN connection.
7. You may also be prompted to enter your iPhone passcode or use Face ID to confirm the VPN profile installation. This is a standard iOS security step.
8. Choose your preferred protocol in Settings (WireGuard is recommended for most users).
9. Select a server location and tap Connect. A VPN badge will appear in your iPhone status bar when the connection is active.

How to Install PureVPN on Android

The PureVPN Android app works on Android 8.0 and later. It’s available on Google Play and supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 — giving you more protocol flexibility than the iOS version. A 7-day free trial is available on Android as well.

Install from Google Play (recommended)

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Android phone or tablet.
2. Search for PureVPN and tap the official app.
3. Tap Install and wait for the download to complete.
4. Tap Open to launch the app.
5. Tap Log In, enter your PureVPN email and password, and tap Sign In.
6. Android will show a connection request dialog. Tap OK to allow PureVPN to set up the VPN connection.
7. Select your preferred server location and tap Connect. A key icon will appear in the Android notification bar when connected.

Install via APK (Android TV, sideloading, devices without Play Store)

If your Android device doesn’t have the Google Play Store — including some Android TV boxes, Huawei phones without GMS, or Amazon Fire tablets — you can install PureVPN using an APK file directly.

1. On your Android device, go to Settings → Security (or Settings → Apps → Special app access on newer Android versions) and enable Install from Unknown Sources or Allow this source for your browser app.
2. Open the browser on your device and go to purevpn.com/download.
3. Tap Download APK for Android.
4. When the download completes, open the .apk file from your notifications or Downloads folder.
5. Tap Install and confirm the security prompt.
6. Launch PureVPN, log in with your credentials, and connect.

PureVPN Linux: How to Install via GUI App or Manual Config

PureVPN is one of the few commercial VPN providers that offers a full GUI (graphical interface) Linux app — you don’t need to type terminal commands to use it. That said, advanced users who prefer manual protocol setup via WireGuard or OpenVPN can do that too. This section covers both approaches.

Supported Linux distributions

PureVPN’s native Linux app officially supports:

• Ubuntu 20.04, 22.04, 24.04
• Debian 10, 11, 12
• Fedora (recent releases)
• Linux Mint (Ubuntu-based versions)
• Kali Linux (Debian-based)

For other distributions, use the manual WireGuard or OpenVPN method described below.

Option A: Install the native Linux GUI app (Ubuntu / Debian)

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Download the PureVPN .deb package from purevpn.com/download, or use the direct terminal command provided in your PureVPN dashboard under Downloads → Linux.
3. Navigate to your Downloads folder:
   cd ~/Downloads
4. Install the package with apt:
   sudo apt install ./purevpn_*.deb
5. Enter your system password when prompted.
6. Launch PureVPN from your application menu or run purevpn in the terminal.
7. Log in with your PureVPN email and password in the GUI.
8. Select a server and click Connect.

Option B: Manual WireGuard setup (all distros)

If you prefer WireGuard directly without the GUI app, or your distro isn’t on the supported list:

1. Install WireGuard on your system. On Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt install wireguard. On Fedora: sudo dnf install wireguard-tools.
2. Log in to your PureVPN dashboard at my.purevpn.com.
3. Go to Downloads → Linux → Manual WireGuard and download the .conf configuration file for your chosen server location.
4. Copy the config file to the WireGuard directory:
   sudo cp ~/Downloads/purevpn-wg-us.conf /etc/wireguard/
5. Start the VPN connection:
   sudo wg-quick up purevpn-wg-us
6. To stop the connection:
   sudo wg-quick down purevpn-wg-us
7. To connect automatically at startup:
   sudo systemctl enable wg-quick@purevpn-wg-us

Option C: Manual OpenVPN setup

1. Install OpenVPN: sudo apt install openvpn (Ubuntu/Debian) or sudo dnf install openvpn (Fedora).
2. Download PureVPN’s OpenVPN config files from your dashboard under Downloads → Manual Config → OpenVPN.
3. Extract the zip file and navigate to the folder:
   cd ~/Downloads/purevpn-openvpn/
4. Connect using the UDP config for speed:
   sudo openvpn --config us_new.ovpn
5. Enter your PureVPN VPN username and password when prompted. These are separate from your website login — find them in your dashboard under My Account → VPN Credentials.

How to Install PureVPN Browser Extension

PureVPN offers browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Opera, UC Browser, Yandex Browser, and several others including IceCat, Iridium, Torch, Vivaldi, and Waterfox — over 10 browsers in total. The extension installs in seconds from your browser’s official extension store.

Install on Chrome

1. Open Chrome and go to the Chrome Web Store.
2. Search for PureVPN and click the official extension.
3. Click Add to Chrome, then confirm by clicking Add extension in the popup.
4. The PureVPN icon will appear in your Chrome toolbar. Click it.
5. Log in with your PureVPN account credentials.
6. Select a server location from the dropdown and click Connect.

Install on Firefox

1. Open Firefox and go to addons.mozilla.org.
2. Search for PureVPN and click the official add-on.
3. Click Add to Firefox and confirm the permissions request.
4. Click the PureVPN icon in the toolbar, log in, and connect.

Install on Edge

1. Open Microsoft Edge and go to the Edge Add-ons Store (or install directly from the Chrome Web Store — Edge supports Chrome extensions).
2. Search for PureVPN, click Get, and confirm installation.
3. Log in via the toolbar icon and connect.

For Brave and Opera, the process is identical to Chrome — both browsers support Chrome Web Store extensions. For Opera, you may also find PureVPN in Opera’s own add-on directory.

How to Install PureVPN on Android TV & Fire Stick

PureVPN works on Android TV boxes, Google TV, and Amazon Fire TV Stick (all generations). The install method differs slightly depending on your device.

Android TV (Google TV)

1. From the Android TV home screen, open the Google Play Store.
2. Search for PureVPN.
3. Select the official app and click Install.
4. Once installed, open PureVPN from your apps list.
5. Use your TV remote to navigate to Log In and enter your credentials. Tip: if typing on the remote is tedious, open the PureVPN app on your phone and use the “Sign in with QR code” option if available, or log in via the web at my.purevpn.com first to pre-configure your account.
6. Select a server and press Connect.

Amazon Fire TV Stick

1. On the Fire Stick home screen, go to the Find tab and open the Amazon Appstore.
2. Search for PureVPN. If the official app appears, click Get to install it directly.
3. If PureVPN is not available in your country’s Appstore, use the sideload method: go to Settings → My Fire TV → Developer Options and enable Apps from Unknown Sources.
4. Install the Downloader app from the Amazon Appstore (this is the standard sideloading tool for Fire Stick).
5. Open Downloader and enter the URL for PureVPN’s Android APK: purevpn.com/download. Navigate to the Android APK download link.
6. Download and install the APK file.
7. Open PureVPN, log in, and connect to a server.

How to Install PureVPN on a Router

Installing PureVPN on your router protects every device on your home network — including smart TVs, game consoles, Chromecasts, and any other gadget that can’t run a VPN app on its own. One router connection counts as one device against your 10-device limit, but covers unlimited devices behind it.

PureVPN supports manual configuration on DD-WRT, Tomato, Asus, Belkin, D-Link, Arris, Netgear, pfSense, and Linksys routers. It also sells pre-configured routers if you’d rather skip the manual setup entirely.

General setup steps (all supported routers)

1. Log in to your PureVPN dashboard at my.purevpn.com.
2. Go to Downloads → Router and download the configuration files for your chosen protocol and server location. PureVPN provides OpenVPN (.ovpn), WireGuard (.conf), and IKEv2 config files.
3. Note your VPN Username and Password from the dashboard — these are different from your website login credentials.
4. Open your router’s admin panel by entering its IP address (commonly 192.168.1.1) in your browser.
5. Log in with your router’s admin credentials.
6. Navigate to the VPN or OpenVPN client section of your router’s settings. The exact location depends on your router firmware.

DD-WRT routers

1. In the DD-WRT admin panel, go to Services → VPN.
2. Enable OpenVPN Client.
3. Paste the contents of PureVPN’s .ovpn config file into the fields — server address, port, CA certificate, client certificate, and client key fields each get the relevant section of the config.
4. Enter your PureVPN VPN username and password.
5. Click Save then Apply Settings.
6. Go to Status → OpenVPN to verify the connection shows “Connected.”

Asus routers (ASUSWRT native firmware)

1. Log into the Asus admin panel.
2. Go to VPN → VPN Client.
3. Click Add profile, select OpenVPN or WireGuard.
4. Import the config file downloaded from PureVPN dashboard.
5. Enter your VPN credentials and save.
6. Click Activate to start the VPN connection.

Alternative: PureVPN Dedicated Server add-on

If router setup feels too complex, PureVPN offers a Dedicated Server add-on (from $14.99/mo) that gives you an exclusive server. This is especially useful for remote work scenarios and gives your team a fixed IP without the router configuration hassle.

How to Install PureVPN on Smart TV & Game Consoles

Samsung, LG, Sony, and other smart TVs don’t have a native PureVPN app and don’t allow VPN app installations directly. PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch also can’t run VPN apps. You have two options: use SmartDNS or connect through a router that already has PureVPN installed.

Option 1: SmartDNS (smart TVs)

SmartDNS changes your TV’s DNS settings so it can access geo-restricted content. It doesn’t encrypt your traffic the way a VPN does, but it’s simpler to set up and doesn’t slow down your streaming speeds. PureVPN provides SmartDNS servers in your dashboard.

1. Log in to your PureVPN dashboard and go to Tools → SmartDNS. Note the DNS server addresses provided.
2. On your smart TV, go to Settings → Network → Network Status (Samsung) or Settings → All Settings → Network → Wi-Fi Connection → Edit (LG).
3. Find the DNS settings field. Change from “Automatic” to Manual.
4. Enter the PureVPN SmartDNS IP addresses.
5. Save and restart your TV. Your TV can now access geo-restricted content on supported services.

Option 2: Router method (smart TVs and game consoles)

If you’ve installed PureVPN on your router (see the previous section), any device connected to that router — including your PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Samsung TV, Roku, Chromecast, and Nvidia Shield — automatically routes through the VPN. No per-device setup needed.

1. Complete the router installation steps from the previous section.
2. Connect your smart TV or game console to the same Wi-Fi network as your VPN-enabled router.
3. All traffic from that device now goes through PureVPN automatically.

Manual Protocol Setup

For devices that don’t support the PureVPN native app — including certain Linux distros, pfSense firewalls, older Android devices, and corporate environments where custom apps aren’t allowed — you can set up PureVPN manually using WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, or L2TP/IPSec.

Where to get your config files

1. Log in to my.purevpn.com.
2. Go to Downloads or Tools → Manual Configuration.
3. Select your protocol (WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, or L2TP) and your server region.
4. Download the config file(s) or note the server address, credentials, and certificates shown on screen.

IKEv2 manual setup on Windows 10/11

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → VPN → Add a VPN connection.
2. Set VPN provider to Windows (built-in).
3. Enter a connection name (e.g., “PureVPN IKEv2”).
4. Enter the server address from your PureVPN dashboard.
5. Set VPN type to IKEv2.
6. Set sign-in info to Username and password.
7. Enter your PureVPN VPN username and password.
8. Click Save, then click the VPN connection to connect.

IKEv2 manual setup on iPhone / iPad

1. Go to Settings → General → VPN & Device Management → VPN → Add VPN Configuration.
2. Set Type to IKEv2.
3. Fill in the Description (e.g., “PureVPN”), Server (from dashboard), Remote ID (same as server address), and Local ID (leave blank).
4. Set Authentication to Username, then enter your VPN credentials.
5. Tap Done and toggle the VPN connection on.

Troubleshooting PureVPN Installation Issues

Most PureVPN installation problems come down to a handful of common causes. Here’s how to fix the most frequent ones.

TAP adapter installation fails on Windows

Symptom: The PureVPN installer finishes but the VPN can’t connect. Device Manager shows the TAP-Windows adapter with an error flag.

Fix:

1. Right-click the PureVPN installer and select Run as administrator. The TAP adapter requires admin rights and silently fails without them.
2. If the problem persists, open Device Manager → Network Adapters, right-click the TAP adapter, and select Update driver.
3. As a last resort, uninstall PureVPN, manually remove the TAP adapter from Device Manager, restart your PC, and reinstall PureVPN fresh.

VPN won’t connect on iOS

Symptom: The app opens but connecting fails immediately, or you never got the VPN permission prompt.

Fix:

1. Go to Settings → General → VPN & Device Management and check if PureVPN is listed. If not, delete the app and reinstall it, then approve the VPN configuration prompt when it appears.
2. Check your internet connection — the VPN needs an active connection to establish the tunnel.
3. Try switching protocols in the PureVPN app settings from WireGuard to IKEv2, then attempt to reconnect.
4. Restart your iPhone and try again.

Android APK install blocked

Symptom: Android shows “App not installed” or blocks the APK from running.

Fix:

1. Go to Settings → Apps → Special app access → Install unknown apps and enable it for the browser or file manager you’re using to open the APK.
2. Make sure you downloaded the APK from purevpn.com — not a third-party site. Delete the file and re-download if in doubt.
3. Check that you have enough storage space. An APK install can fail silently if storage is nearly full.

Linux dependency error during install

Symptom: apt install fails with “dependency problems” or “unmet dependencies.”

Fix:

1. Run sudo apt update to refresh your package lists.
2. Then run sudo apt --fix-broken install to resolve dependency conflicts automatically.
3. Re-run the PureVPN install command after the fix completes.
4. If that doesn’t work, check the PureVPN Linux download page for the exact dependencies required (typically libssl and libcurl packages) and install them manually with sudo apt install [package-name].

VPN connects but there’s no internet

Symptom: PureVPN shows “Connected” but no websites load.

Fix:

1. Try a different server location — the server you picked may be temporarily overloaded or down.
2. Switch protocols. If you’re on WireGuard, try OpenVPN UDP.
3. Check if a firewall is blocking VPN traffic. On Windows, temporarily disable the firewall to test, then add a PureVPN exception if that resolves it.
4. Flush your DNS cache. On Windows: run ipconfig /flushdns in an elevated Command Prompt. On Mac: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache.

Slow speeds after connecting

Symptom: Internet becomes noticeably slow when the VPN is active.

Fix:

1. Switch to WireGuard if you’re using OpenVPN — WireGuard is significantly faster on most connections.
2. Connect to a closer server. A server 10 ms away will always outperform one that’s 200 ms away.
3. Use the Best Location option in the PureVPN app to automatically connect to the lowest-latency server available.
4. If you’re on a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band, switch to 5 GHz — the extra throughput headroom helps mask VPN overhead.

Frequently Asked Questions: How to Install PureVPN