Google has known about a bug that breaks VPN apps for 7 months, leaving users exposed with no warning or error, just a VPN app that stopped working in the background.
If you're using ANY VPN on Android, you can help us by getting Google's attention to fix it.
We first reported this bug to Google in September 2025.
Others like @mullvadnet and Wireguard reported it even earlier, in August.
Google's response? "I don't see anything unusual."
Here's what's actually happening ⤵️
The bug corrupts Android's network stack at the system level after a VPN update, causing users to blame their VPN provider.
Restarting the app doesn't help, with the only fix being a full device reboot or VPN app reinstall, something which most users never figure out.
This affects several VPN providers on Android 16, and only Google has the access to diagnose it properly.
After 7 months of waiting, we're now asking publicly: Google, when are you fixing this?
Issue Tracker Links:
MF J6 on a raft, this is why I see ads where I didn't expect them as VPN (Wireguard) is connected to a router using PiHole DNS.
Or we could stop the grift & circle jerk. Release your source code so we can make secure email a real standard. Stop releasing to the play store entirely & teach people to install their own apps safely.
Start initiatives to teach children about public private keys, identity verification, trust, & best practices.
Be a man proton.
Or are the normie dollars making you salivate? With fascism on their doorstep, you do have more customers, better bank on their ignorance…
@rusty__shackleford @protonprivacy @semitones
Proton: "hey google is ignoring this issue, lets make them fix it"
You: "you are not 1000% perfect, Proton! Man up! Greedy fucks!"
@rusty__shackleford @protonprivacy @semitones
Dont let perfection be the enemy of good.
Or something like that.
@ItsePerkele @protonprivacy @semitones
Or, and this is a wild concept... we can hold everyone accountable. Crazy, I know.
@rusty__shackleford @protonprivacy @semitones
Sure. But cant do everything at once.
@ItsePerkele @protonprivacy @semitones
Skill issue
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@ItsePerkele @rusty__shackleford @protonprivacy @semitones
Rudeness aside. There is a compelling reason to ditch google as fast as possible. Security and personal control. We need to rapidly shift the center from a market focus on helpless users who want to be fed and diapered to people that want to own their own lives before we get lobbied and legislated out of existence.
@protonprivacy @mullvadnet Since you are saying that only Google can inspect the issue, can one correctly assume that in projects as @GrapheneOS VPNs are not affected?
Because on personal anecdote, I cannot recall an issue forcing a reboot in the last months regarding VPN use. 
@protonprivacy You could never rely on Google network stack.
And by the way, Apple is also bypassing VPN sometimes.
"We have looked into the feature request you have reported and would like to inform you that this is working as intended. We do not think such an option would be understandable by most users, so we don’t think there is a strong case for offering this."
And the arrogance Google is showing is not new as well and gives me the feeling this is not a bug but it works as designed
@protonprivacy I've had this happen to me on Mullvad, Proton, and my Wireguard link to my home router. And honestly, from the description, I think the issue may be even older, as I'm almost positive the DDG local tracker blocker used to do this.
I had no idea it was an known issue in Android itself.
Thanks for bringing it to light.
Making sure I'm reading this correctly:
If you're running Android (or an Android variant) and your VPN app updates, the only way to stop this issue is to:
1. Reboot your phone after the VPN update
OR
2. Keep the phone on, delete the VPN app, and reinstall the app
Am I correct in reading that one or the other approaches will fix this?
IE, restarting your phone after an update eliminates the need to delete and reinstall the app?
(and thank you, and Google wtaf)
are you guys still Trump supporters?
As someone who's done plenty of Android testing in IPv6-mostly/only environments, this is not even slightly surprising, Android's networking state machine is a huge mess
We need an android alternative we the people own.
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