2026 Complete Guide to GL.iNet Router VPN Configuration With PIA

It is time to set up VPN capabilities on a travel router. 2026 Complete Guide to GL.iNet Router VPN Configuration With PIA In this one, we are going to continue our series on the GL.iNet travel router. The last article covered unboxing it and going through the settings in the firmware. Now we are going to connect it to a network and set up the VPN capabilities with Private Internet Access (PIA).

Why You Need a VPN When Traveling

If you are somebody who uses public Wi-Fi at hotels while traveling or at coffee shops, all of your data is transmitted across an unencrypted network. That is where PIA comes in. All of your data is hidden and protected on their private infrastructure.

PIA has a no-log policy, so all of your data activity is seen by you and you alone. PIA also allows you to change your IP address to one of over 80 countries as well as all 50 US states. This comes in very useful for gamers looking to connect to multiplayer servers in different regions or countries.

Step 1: Connect the Travel Router to a Network

To set this up at a location like a hotel or a Starbucks that has public Wi-Fi, you want to set the router up as a repeater. Here is how to do it:

On the main screen, click on “Repeater”
Click “Connect”
A screen will pop up showing the available networks
Choose whatever network you want to connect to
If the network requires a password, enter it. Open guest networks like Marriott Bonvoy will not require a password
If you want to remember this network for future visits, click “Remember”
There are advanced settings available if you need to configure other things such as channels
Hit “Apply” and the router will begin connecting
Once connected, the network indicator will turn green and you will see all of your network information displayed in the middle of the screen

At this point, the GL.iNet router is connected via Wi-Fi and is sharing the network to all devices connected to it.

Step 2: Set Up the VPN Client

Now it is time to set up the VPN. Here is how to configure Private Internet Access as your VPN provider:

Go to the VPN dashboard
Click on “VPN” and then “OpenVPN Client”
The router defaults to NordVPN. If that is your provider, go ahead and use the wizard. Otherwise, click “Add Manually”
Type in “Private Internet Access” as the name
On the right side, you will see an option to select a file or drag one in. You need to get this file from PIA first

Getting the OpenVPN Configuration File from PIA:

Log into your PIA account
Click “Downloads”
Scroll to the bottom and find the “OpenVPN Configuration Generator”
Click on it and choose the following settings:
- OpenVPN 2.4 or newer
- Linux as your operating system or platform (since the router runs OpenWRT)
Choose the VPN server you want to connect to. For example, if you travel to the east coast and like to stream, you can choose “US East Streaming.” There are also options for South America, Europe, Asia, and many more
Click “Generate” and it will create a configuration file for you

Back on the Travel Router:

Click “Select a File” and choose the configuration file you just downloaded
Once uploaded, you will see a confirmation that says “Upload Successful”
Enter your PIA username and password
Click “Apply” and the server configuration will be saved
Click the three dots next to your configuration and click “Start”
The status indicator will turn yellow while connecting and then go green once connected

Step 3: Test the VPN Connection

Once connected, any device that connects to the travel router will automatically be routed through the secure VPN. You do not need to set up VPN clients on all of your individual devices. This one device handles everything.

To verify the connection is actually going through PIA, go to privateinternetaccess.com and check “What is my IP.” You should see your connected IP showing as a United States address through the server you selected, confirming that your traffic is going through the Private Internet Access VPN without any client installed on your computer.

Toggling the VPN On and Off

On the toggle button settings, you can turn the VPN on and off easily because it is set to OpenVPN client mode. On the main screen, you will see a small light next to the VPN indicator when it is connected and turned on.

To toggle it off, simply slide the little button on the side of the router. The VPN will disconnect. To turn it back on, slide it again. It takes about 15 seconds to reconnect, which is very reasonable.

This is especially useful when you are out traveling and something is not loading because the VPN is being blocked by the network you are connected to. You can simply turn the VPN off without having to go into every phone or family member’s device to change any settings.

Bonus: Combining the Travel Router with a Travel NAS

If you have a travel NAS, you can plug it into this travel router using the included network cable. This gives you high-speed connections for uploading and backing up all your files, videos, and pictures while you are on vacation.

FAQ

What is the GL.iNet travel router?

The GL.iNet travel router is a compact portable router that allows you to connect to public Wi-Fi networks and share that connection to your devices, with added features like VPN support built into the firmware.

Why should I use a VPN on a travel router?

Public Wi-Fi networks at hotels and coffee shops are unencrypted, which means your data can be exposed. A VPN encrypts all of your traffic and protects your data on a private infrastructure.

What is Private Internet Access (PIA)?

Private Internet Access is a VPN provider with a no-log policy, servers in over 80 countries and all 50 US states, and strong privacy protection. It is a popular choice among networking enthusiasts for its reliability and cost effectiveness.

Do I need to install a VPN app on every device if I use this travel router?

No. Once the VPN is configured on the travel router, every device that connects to it is automatically routed through the VPN. There is no need to install or configure a VPN client on individual devices.

How do I know if my VPN is actually working on the router?

You can verify the connection by visiting the Private Internet Access website and checking “What is my IP.” If it shows an IP address associated with the VPN server you selected, the VPN is working correctly.

Can I turn the VPN on and off easily?

Yes. The GL.iNet travel router has a physical toggle button on the side that lets you turn the VPN on or off quickly without logging into the router settings or changing any device configurations.

Conclusion

Setting up VPN capabilities on the GL.iNet travel router is a straightforward process. By using Private Internet Access along with the OpenVPN client built into the router’s firmware, you can protect all devices on your travel network with a single setup. Whether you are at a hotel, a coffee shop, or any other public Wi-Fi location, this little device keeps all of your data secure without requiring any VPN client to be installed on individual devices.