Internet not working when "block connections without VPN" is enabled.

ben-yao26

I don't know what happened but today, my VPN behavior changed in a weird way. I have a Pixel 9a with the latest version of GOS (2025110800). I'm using proton VPN with the paid plan. Today my cell service was painfully slow so I wanted to connect to my school's wifi, which blocks VPN connections. I turned off my VPN to connect to the school wifi (which didn't even work). After I connected my VPN again, the internet didn't work. I messed around a little and figured out that if I turned the "block connections without VPN" off, my internet would work, even though I was still connected to the VPN. Proton VPN shows that it's connected. I don't know if this is relevant or not, but I'm using a blocking app called Andoff that has effected my phone functionality some. I installed it with ADB and it has ownership privileges on my phone. I also have NextDNS with "block bypass methods" enabled. The thing is that I had both of these things (Andoff and NextDNS) before and my internet worked, even with "block connections without VPN" enabled. Does anyone know what's wrong or how to fix this? Thanks so much.

chinook

ben-yao26 I had something similar yesterday, weird too.

So I wanted to test this infamous Ryanair app in a sanitised environment.
I created a new profile, new google account, installed Cloudflare's WARP and started it.

With the WARP on (acts as VPN of course) and the "block connections without VPN" OFF, Google Play worked.
With the WARP on and the "block connections without VPN" on, Google Play was claiming I'm offline.
With the WARP on and the "block connections without VPN" on, couple of other test apps could normally access the internet.

I have the same problem today.

trilogy6202

I suggest that you start by checking if your problems are dns related. If you have Termux installed, you could try to ping openwrt.org ip with the command ping 64.226.122.113. If that returns lines with response times it means that your phone can connect to ip addresses and that the issue is most likely dns related. To stop pinging press [Crtl] then [c].

Another thing to check is if Private DNS (dns-over-https) is enables on your phone as this in known to cause problems with vpn connections. Maybe a recent update of Andoff have triggered it to update this setting, idunno?

Also, what error message do you get if you try to visit a website?

ben-yao26

Thanks for trying to help. I don't know how, but the problem resolved itself overnight

nandohyphen1

ben-yao26 just wanted to let you know, I've had this exact same problem. It always happens after I update the app. Every time. I've stopped updating it for a while now. Sometimes after an update its down for at least a week for me. Even contacting Proton doesn't help. I have the free plan and I plan to keep it that way, since I'm not paying for something that doesn't even work after being updated. I made this post a while back
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/24454-trouble-connecting-to-proton-vpn

ben-yao26

Well, my internet stopped working again. Same problem. Ugh. I can just turn off "block connections without VPN" but I'd rather leave it on.

nandohyphen1

ben-yao26 sorry. I honestly never even found a proper fix but to just turn it off and try a week later. I personally may just give up on Proton VPN and try something else. Not sure what the problem could be. Where did you install it from (F Droid, Aurora Store, Google Play, the app APK)? I installed it from F Droid and Proton said to download it from their website, so I did. Still have problems. I'll see if I can find that email and I'll post their reply here

c86

ben-yao26

Out of curiosity in regards to your issues connecting to your school WiFi...if you go into your Network and Internet settings and hit the gear icon then Privacy, do you use per connection MAC randomization? Perhaps adjusting this setting could help?

When you had issues connecting and turned your VPN off, did you only turn it off or did you delete it from the VPN slot then reconnect? I've found if I encounter unexpected behaviour, that deleting the VPN from phone settings then setting it up again has helped.

If there's any random connection issues, usually just rotating my VPN server / connection resolves it.

nandohyphen1

nandohyphen1 I'll see if I can find that email and I'll post their reply here

I must have deleted it, as I can't find it. But they just said to try installing Proton VPN from a different source