Maintaining a VPN connection while switching user profiles

PintOfGuinness

I'm in the process of setting up additional user profiles, however, I've noticed that when switching profiles, my VPN connection does not carry-over to the chosen profile (it does however remain connected in the admin profile).

My VPN app is installed and configured on the admin profile. If I establish a VPN connection and then switch to another profile, the VPN connection is not available; there is an internet connection, but outside of the VPN.

I've tried installing the VPN app in new profiles upon creation, via the "Install available apps" option, though the connection still does not persist.

Is there a setting somewhere that I have overlooked? Or, does each user profile need to have the VPN app installed and configured individually (and a new VPN connection established once logged in to another user profile)?

matchboxbananasynergy

Each user profile has its own VPN, with its own configuration. For all intents and purposes, in this aspect, you can think of each user profile as a separate phone. You need to install a VPN app or otherwise configure your VPN on each user profile you use.

This has the added benefit of allowing you to use different VPNs/servers to diversify your traffic per profile.

2dognight

matchboxbananasynergy
It's very cool the way it works. The one downside I've found is that since my VPN provider sees each user profile as another phone as well, I keep bumping up against the limit for connected devices allowed under my subscription.

PintOfGuinness

matchboxbananasynergy Thank you for clarifying, very helpful!

matchboxbananasynergy For all intents and purposes, in this aspect, you can think of each user profile as a separate phone.

Would this also be the case if downloading apps via Google Play within separate user profiles? If so, would apps within each separate user profile need to be updated profile-by-profile?

E.g. If one profile was for banking, and only had banking apps installed, would Google Play display app updates for only those banking apps in the active profile, or would it also display updates for other apps downloaded via Google Play in other profiles?

trilogy6202

2dognight he one downside I've found is that since my VPN provider sees each user profile as another phone as well

That surprises me. I only have one profile with an external vpn on so I haven't tested this myself but I thought that all profiles with vpn would count as one phone. Have you testest this with a wireguard vpn and the official wireguard app with the conf file from the provider?

2dognight

trilogy6202
I'm using OVPN's Android app (another sideload) which does use Wireguard:

https://www.ovpn.com/en/guides/android

I haven't tried any other VPN's with GOS yet so I don't know if others will behave the same (and I'm a total GOS noob so you should probably take everything I say with a grain of salt).

trilogy6202

2dognight

Okay, fair enough. I prefer Wireguard as is has less cpu overhead and is relatively easy to configure yourself. And as I said I assume that several accounts sharing the same config won't count towards your device limit.

Mullvad vpn seem to be recommended frequently in here and they allow you to download the config and use the official Wireguard app. Just some inspiration.

trilogy6202

2dognight Ha! first now did I realize that OVPN is a provider. I thought it was an abbreviation of OpenVPN hense my answer of prefering Wireguard above.

dazinism

PintOfGuinness

would Google Play display app updates for only those banking apps in the active profile, or would it also display updates for other apps downloaded via Google Play in other profiles?

App stores can only see apps installed on their user profile so will only offer updates for them.

If you have an app installed in multiple user profiles updating it anywhere updates it in all user profiles.

2dognight

trilogy6202
Yeah, based in Sweden with servers all over. They have several client apps for desktop iOS Android etc. Desktop clients use OpenVPN, and Android client uses Wireguard and is very easy to work with. Very serious about privacy, good support. I like them a lot.

GOS-user

I don't want to create a separate thread to avoid mess so I will post my question here. When trying to install a Proton vpn agent on my secondary space it...doeas't let me install it. The message appears: "Conflicting package". Any solution to that? Do I have to log out from my Proton vpn on the Owner space? I am on Proton Unlimited so that should not be the case. Thanks for any suggestions. Edit: I am a pixel 6a user.

GOS-user

GOS-user I can't add a screenshot for whatever reason so... The precise message reads (I used github's most recent release): "App not installed as package conflicts with an existing package". So there it is. Ah, and I checked the connection on the secondary space (dnsleaktest) in case the vpn in the Owner profile's function was extended to the 2nd space, it isn't.

MoonshineMidnight

GOS-user I'm on Proton VPN Unlimited. I have it on the admin profile and two user profiles (nice thing about Unlimited is you can use 10 devices on Proton VPN plus added benefits on Proton Mail, Drive, Calendar, etc. $12 a month for all). I just downloaded the APKs from GitHub on each profile, logged-in, and they work fine. I also have Obtainium on all three profiles as that notifies me of updates for all my apps, and I get them all from the source on GitHub. If Obtainium notifies me of updates on one profile, I know to do it on the other profiles. Just a click to update on Obtainium with a link set to the GitHub APKs.
https://github.com/ImranR98/Obtainium

N1b

GOS-user while apps are separated via profiles, you still need to use the same app version on each profile to avoid the conflict you're describing. I assume you try to install ProtonVPN from a different source (e.g. Play Store vs. F-Droid) or an older version of the one already installed in another profile.

If ProtonVPN is already installed on your owner profile, you can simply push it to the desired user profiles in the profile settings ("Install available apps"). This way you could for example use the owner profile for the sole purpose of installing and updating all your apps and push them to their related user profiles where you actually use them and feed them the required data.

GOS-user

N1b I followed the latter instruction and I think it worked. Thank you and bless your soul good man.

strangesleep

Hi, I have a problem with VPN on all users except the owner. I use xray vpn, my configs are good and work on owner and other phones, but when I try to run it on user, I have failure. It doesn't start! What can I do? Help me please(

roamer4223

strangesleep I might be able to help, not sure though. Can you send me a link to this x-ray VPN so I can make sure I know what app/provider you're using? Or are you using the WireGuard® or OpenVPN app? I'm not an expert or anything by the way but have fiddled with a fair few VPNs in my time lol so thought I would try and help

OkayLetaDoThis

Anyone having success with tailscale VPN as always on with multiple vpns? I am trying to set them both up as always on vpns, with the owner profile as able to run in the background. As a result, when I switch profiles the VPN stops and I have to manually connect again.