ExpressVPN Updates Apple TV App With New Home Screen, More VPN Protocols, and Built-In Speed Test

I’ve been testing VPNs on streaming devices for years, and the biggest complaint I hear isn’t about speed or server counts — it’s about the TV experience. Trying to navigate a VPN interface with a remote, selecting servers with a D-pad, and actually knowing if your connection is fast enough for 4K… it’s always been clunky.

ExpressVPN just pushed version 12.60.0 to Apple TV on June 3, 2026, and it addresses some of those exact frustrations. The update brings a redesigned home screen, additional VPN protocol options, and a built-in speed test — features that make the TV app actually usable rather than just tolerable.

Here’s what’s new, what it means for your streaming setup, and where ExpressVPN still falls short compared to what we’ve tested on Firestick.

What’s New in ExpressVPN Apple TV App v12.60.0

ExpressVPN released this update on June 3, 2026, bringing three significant changes to the tvOS experience:

Redesigned Home Screen

The new home screen prioritizes quick-connect functionality. Instead of digging through menus to find your usual server, the app now surfaces your favorite locations front and center. This matters on a TV interface where every extra click feels like a commitment — you’re across the room with a remote, after all.

The redesign also introduces a connection status widget that stays visible while browsing server options. You can see your current location, connection quality, and IP status without losing your place in the server list.

Additional VPN Protocols

The update adds protocol options beyond what was previously available on tvOS. Users on tvOS 17 or later can now switch between OpenVPN, IKEv2, and ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol directly from the app settings.

ExpressVPN

This is a meaningful addition for power users who’ve been stuck with whatever ExpressVPN decided was optimal. Now you can manually select based on your network conditions — Lightway for speed, OpenVPN for reliability on restrictive networks.

Built-In Speed Test

The headline feature is the integrated speed test. Previously, you’d need to exit the VPN app entirely, open a separate speed test, and then try to remember if those numbers meant anything with the VPN active.

Now you run the speed test from inside ExpressVPN, which gives you real-world throughput data while connected. On my 500 Mbps baseline connection, ExpressVPN averaged 310 Mbps in our latest Firestick VPN testing — the Apple TV speed test should give Fire TV users similar visibility.

What This Means for Firestick Users

Here’s the reality: this update is Apple TV specific. ExpressVPN hasn’t announced an equivalent refresh for the Fire TV app, and based on our current VPN coverage, the Fire TV experience still requires either:

• The native ExpressVPN Fire TV app (if available in your region)
• Sideloading via Downloader
• Router-level VPN configuration

The sideloading process works, but it’s not the seamless QR-code sign-in that Apple TV users now enjoy. On Fire TV, you’re typically downloading an APK, enabling apps from unknown sources, and navigating a less-polished interface.

That said, the underlying improvements in v12.60.0 suggest ExpressVPN is investing in its TV app strategy. Features that debut on Apple TV often migrate to other platforms within 3-6 months. If you use ExpressVPN across devices, the Apple TV update signals the company’s direction.

How It Compares: ExpressVPN vs Surfshark vs NordVPN

I tested all three of these VPNs as part of our 2026 Firestick VPN roundup. Here’s where they stand for TV app experience:

Surfshark earns the top spot in our overall rankings because it has a native Fire TV app, unlimited simultaneous connections, and costs less than half of ExpressVPN’s price. The Apple TV update doesn’t change that math for Firestick users.

ExpressVPN remains our pick for raw streaming reliability — in three months of testing across Netflix US, UK, and Canadian libraries, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max, ExpressVPN worked every single time. NordVPN and Surfshark each had 2-3 hiccups where I needed to switch servers.

Surfshark

NordVPN sits at #3 with the most server count (5,500+) and solid speeds, but lacks a native Fire TV app. If you’re primarily an Apple TV household, NordVPN is worth considering — but Surfshark still wins on value.

Pros and Cons

The Bottom Line

ExpressVPN’s Apple TV update (v12.60.0) is a genuine improvement for tvOS users — the speed test alone solves a real pain point that’s existed since VPN apps landed on streaming platforms. The redesigned home screen and protocol options are welcome additions, even if they’re overdue.

But here’s the reality check: if you’re on a Firestick, this update doesn’t directly help you. ExpressVPN’s Fire TV app hasn’t received an equivalent refresh, and the sideloading experience remains less polished than what Apple TV users now get.

For most Firestick users, Surfshark remains the smarter buy — native Fire TV app, unlimited devices, and speeds that never left me waiting for a stream to load. ExpressVPN earns its premium through reliability, not features. If you’ve already committed to ExpressVPN, this Apple TV update signals the company is finally taking TV interfaces seriously.

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Last updated: June 2026