If your VPN is blocking something, first identify what is affected: one website or app, devices on your local network, or all internet access. For a printer or other home device, look for a LAN-access setting in the VPN app. For one website or app, use a narrowly scoped split-tunneling or bypass rule if your VPN supports it. If everything stops working, check the VPN connection and kill switch before changing privacy settings.
Identify what the VPN is blocking
- One website or app: The service may reject the VPN’s IP address, or the app’s traffic may need a route exception.
- A printer, speaker, or other local device: The VPN may be blocking access to your local network or its device-discovery traffic.
- All internet access: The VPN may have disconnected while a kill switch is blocking traffic to prevent it from falling back to your regular connection.
A VPN changes how traffic is routed. Microsoft explains that force tunneling sends traffic through the VPN, while split tunneling sends specified routes through the VPN and lets other traffic use the physical network interface. Its documentation notes, “Network routes are required for the stack to understand which interface to use for outbound traffic.” Microsoft Learn’s VPN routing documentation describes the Windows routing principle; consumer VPN apps may present different controls.
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Allow access to local network devices
In your VPN app, look in connection or advanced settings for a control named Allow LAN connections, Local network access, or something similar. Enable it only on a network you trust. Some apps allow local devices by default; others block them, or restrict them when a kill switch is enabled.
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| Device or platform | Proton VPN setting | After changing it |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Settings → Connection → Advanced settings → Allow LAN connections | Apply the change. |
| macOS | Settings → Connection → Allow LAN connections | Restart the VPN connection. |
| Android or Chromebook | Settings → Connection → Advanced settings → LAN connections | Reconnect if prompted. |
| iOS or iPadOS | Settings → Connection → Allow LAN connections | Reconnect if prompted. |
| Android TV | Settings → LAN | Reconnect after changing it. |
Proton says that with LAN connections enabled, traffic to local devices such as printers, speakers, and media servers does not pass through its VPN tunnel. Its Android app also has a separate direct-device-connection option for Wi-Fi devices that connect without a router or hotspot; enable that only when needed. On macOS and iOS/iPadOS, Proton’s kill switch prevents access to local-network devices while it is enabled. See Proton VPN’s LAN connection guide for its platform-specific details.
Exclude a website or app from the VPN
For a single site or app, look for split tunneling, bypass VPN, or an equivalent exception setting. Depending on the VPN, you may be able to exclude an app, domain, or IP address. Excluded traffic uses the normal connection rather than the VPN route; other traffic can remain protected by the VPN.
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- Open the VPN app’s settings and find its split-tunneling or bypass control.
- Select only the app, domain, or route that is failing, using the narrowest option the app supports.
- Reconnect the VPN if the app’s instructions require it, then test the affected site or app.
A domain rule is usually more precise for a website than excluding an IP address. ExpressVPN warns that a large site’s IP may change or be shared with unrelated sites, which can make IP exclusions unreliable. Proton VPN’s browser extension supports domain-based exclusions, while its desktop-app features and limits vary by platform. Confirm what your specific app supports in Proton VPN’s split-tunneling guide or ExpressVPN’s split-tunneling instructions.
Excluding traffic changes its privacy boundary: that traffic no longer follows the VPN route. Limit exceptions to traffic you deliberately want to send through your regular connection. DNS handling can also differ by provider: ExpressVPN says its DNS queries continue through ExpressVPN while connected, while Private Internet Access documents DNS behavior options for its Windows and Linux split-tunnel controls. Do not assume one provider’s DNS behavior applies to another. See PIA’s split-tunneling instructions.
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Check the kill switch if all internet access stops
A kill switch is designed to block traffic when the VPN connection drops, so data does not continue over your ordinary connection. First check whether the VPN is connected and try reconnecting. Changing the kill switch may restore access, but it can also let traffic leave the VPN if the tunnel drops.
Settings differ by provider. Proton distinguishes a standard kill switch, which activates after an accidental VPN drop, from an advanced option that allows internet access only while Proton VPN is connected on supported platforms. Proton also says split tunneling is incompatible with its kill switch on most platforms, with Windows an exception in its documented app. Mozilla VPN takes a different approach: its support page says the kill switch blocks the entire network connection if the VPN becomes unstable or drops, is on by default on Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux, and has no setting to turn it off. Those behaviors are specific to those services, not a rule for every VPN. Consult Proton VPN’s kill-switch guide and Mozilla VPN’s kill-switch explanation.
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Account for platform differences
- Windows: Windows VPN profiles can use route-based split tunneling, but a consumer VPN app controls which exceptions it exposes. Use the app’s own support instructions instead of editing system routes without a clear reason. PIA’s documented split-tunneling controls include DNS options on Windows and Linux.
- macOS: Proton describes its split tunneling as experimental and app-exclusion-only. It depends on a macOS network extension, is limited to WireGuard or Stealth rather than IKEv2, and may not behave as expected with WebKit-based apps such as Safari or other WebKit apps.
- Android and iOS/iPadOS: Menu paths and kill-switch behavior differ by operating system. Check the instructions for the exact app and version; on iOS/iPadOS, Proton’s kill switch blocks access to local devices while enabled.
- Reconnects and DNS: Some changes take effect only after reconnecting. DNS may follow different rules from app traffic, so check your provider’s documentation rather than inferring its behavior from another VPN.
For Proton’s platform-specific split-tunneling limitations, see its support guide. If the menu labels or options do not match your app, use the support page for your exact VPN, operating system, and version; do not assume another platform has the same feature.
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When local devices fail, check LAN access. When only one site or app fails, consider a specific bypass rule. When all internet access fails, check the VPN connection and kill switch. If you are considering a different VPN because your current app lacks the needed control, compare support for LAN access on your operating system, the types of split-tunneling exceptions available, whether those exceptions work with the kill switch, DNS handling, and any reconnect or system-extension requirements. Feature availability varies, so verify the exact app and platform before switching.
Quick Recap
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