TekLan VPN for Steam Deck, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch

Gaming devices fall into two groups: the Steam Deck, which is really a Linux PC and can run a VPN connection itself, and consoles, which can't. Here's how to set up each, and what to expect once you're playing.

Quick answer

• Steam Deck: import a WireGuard profile from the VPN Dashboard in Desktop Mode, then go back to Gaming Mode.
• PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch: put TekLan VPN on your router and send just the console through it.
• For games: pick a location near you and use WireGuard.

Steam Deck

SteamOS can import a WireGuard connection in Desktop Mode and keep it running when you go back to Gaming Mode.

1. Sign in at teklanvpn.com/account, open your VPN service, choose Manage VPN Dashboard, then Add device. Name it "Steam Deck" and choose WireGuard.
2. On the Deck, press the Steam button, choose Power, then Switch to Desktop.
3. Get the profile onto the Deck. The easiest way: in the Dashboard choose Send profile, then Get code. On the Deck, open dash.teklanvpn.com/get in a browser and enter the code. It works once, within 15 minutes.
4. Open System Settings, then Connections. Add a connection, choose the option to import a VPN connection, and pick the downloaded .conf file.
5. Turn the connection on from the network icon in the taskbar, then choose Return to Gaming Mode. Check the connection is still active before starting a game.

If your SteamOS version's network settings don't offer WireGuard import, stop there and use a router instead. Don't paste the file into an online converter: it contains the Deck's private key. The full walkthrough is in the Steam Deck guide.

PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch

Consoles have no VPN settings, so TekLan VPN runs on your router and the console connects through it:

1. Set up a router that has a WireGuard or OpenVPN client with a TekLan profile. Our post on putting TekLan VPN on your router covers it step by step.
2. In the router's VPN policy or per-device rules, add only the console, so the rest of the house isn't affected.
3. Restart the console's network connection and run its connection test.

Guides: PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.

What to expect in online games

• Pick a nearby location. Your traffic goes to the TekLan server first, then to the game server. A location close to you, or close to the game's servers, keeps the detour short. The TekLan VPN apps show the ping for each location, which is a good guide.
• Use WireGuard where you can. It's the lighter protocol and usually the better choice for games.
• Some games don't allow VPNs. Anti-cheat systems, regional rules and some online services can turn away connections from VPN addresses even when the VPN is working perfectly. If a game won't connect over the VPN but everything else does, that's usually why.
• NAT type and voice chat. Consoles often report a stricter NAT type over a VPN, which can affect hosting games or party chat. Sending the console through the VPN only when you need it avoids this the rest of the time.

Checking it works

On the Steam Deck, open a browser in Desktop Mode and check your IP address on an IP-checking website. For a console, add a phone to the same router VPN policy for a moment and check the phone's IP address, then run the console's network test.

Something not working? Open a ticket with the device, the router model if you're using one, and the game or service.

Frequently asked questions

Will a VPN lower my ping?

Usually not. It adds a stop on the way, so the aim is to keep the extra small by picking a nearby location.

Does the console use one of my plan's connections?

The router does, while its tunnel is up. Everything you send through the router shares that one connection.

Can I use the VPN on the Deck in Gaming Mode?

Yes. Once it's turned on in Desktop Mode, it stays active when you return to Gaming Mode.

Need a router that can do it? Our guide to choosing a VPN router will help, and the router guide has the setup steps.