iOS VPN app automation issue

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1

Guys, I’ve made simple automation which triggers VPN when you open the app and disconnects VPN after you leave the app. It works fine except the situation when I turn off iPhone screen having the app still open. After I turn on my iPhone again I’m still in the app but VPN is disconnected. I need to exit to homescreen, wait a bit and switch back to the app. Then VPN enables again.

Is there some workaround to keep VPN enabled after turning on the screen?

2

There are a number of reasons it might disconnect. The first thing to check with your VPN provider under what circumstances they might drop or explicitly terminate/time out a connection.

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3

OK, maybe I’ll rephrase my question then.
Is there a way to reconnect VPN upon powering on the iPhone again? Like check if I’m in the app which needs VPN connection.

4

You could have an open app automation set to turn VPN on so whenever you open that app it enables VPN

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This is automation I already have. It breaks down when i turn off the screen.

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That’s odd. So if you sleep the device, the VPN disconnects?

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That isn’t all that odd on mobile devices. Many apps and services do it. See the link to the reasons post above.

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VPN disconnects and after I power on the screen it does not reconnect. That is the issue.

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Even when you have opened the app?

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I described it in initial post. After powering on the screen I need to go to homescreen and back to the app. Then automation triggers again.

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Ahh yes you’re right. I’ve always gotten into a habit of going to homescreen before my device locks / sleeps. But I can see where the issue would be for you. You could use a NFC automation to force your device to go to homescreen whenever it is unlocked. This can be achieved by putting NFC tag in your case

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  • This would assume a case is available.
  • I imagine that this would preclude any other use of an NFC tag. Would it affect Apple Pay?
  • Don’t you have to bring an NFC tag into range for it to trigger? Otherwise sitting on an NFC tag would constantly trigger.
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It triggers when the screen wakes but after that it wouldn’t trigger.

I’ve never tested if it impacts Apple Pay but there is a possibility that it would

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Potential, and untested, solution; link the VPN automation to a focus instead, so flow in automation would look something like:

When [VPN Filter] is on > Turn VPN [on] > open [app]

OR

set the focus to be when the app is opened, and take out the open [app] part of the shortcut

then the reverse on turning the filter off,

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Thanks. I’ve removed automation which disables VPN. So, now after 1st run of the app I have VPN connected. And I turn it off manually by shortcut on homescreen. Not so convenient but solves my issue with turning off VPN while pressing power button.