Hi all, I’ve been facing a strange problem that I’ve been unable to google my way out of. Basically I have a Macbook Air and run a brand name VPN that this forum won’t let me specify, and it all works fine. I also have two phones due to my work, an iPhone 11 and an iPhone 13.
When I connect either phone to my Macbook Air in order to charge the battery, the VPN does this quick disconnect and reconnect and then the Macs internet no longer works. VPN will display as if everything is fine and connected, but not a single internet connected app or process will work.
If I disconnect the phones, the VPN quickly drops and then reconnects and then internet works. If I have either phone connected and just turn off the VPN, the internet works again.
I’m here because it seems to be a VPN issue, any ideas? My searches just keep sending me to solutions to problems with VPN on the iPhone, but this is my Macbook and caused by iPhone charging. Cheers all.
Check to make sure usb tethering or hotspot isn’t on in settings on your iPhone. Sounds like when you connect it, the computer might try to switch to that network. Just a thought.
I would think the iphone is being added as a network device on your mac.
If it is using the iphone as its primary network connection, this would certainly cause your VPN to fail as it has switched IP addressees.
Otherwise it may be being added as a new network device, and causes the VPN to “hiccup” ? When you add a new network device, your computer will test its capabilities. This possibly could well interrupt current network connections just enough to reset the VPN. I would be surprised if this was the case, but it is feasible.
Solution… Stop trusting your mac trusting your iphone. You connect it as charging only, it will not add a new network device, and would resolve both possibilities. I would hope the iphone has a “charge only” connection option
Was thinking that could be the problem, but I’ve checked this multiple ways. Personal Hotspot is OFF, and I’ve done this with airplane mode on or off. Same connection problem as described above.
I noticed many connections were created in the network settings, from memory it was two VPN configs, a thunderbolt connection, an iPhone connection, some kind of general phone connection.
I removed ALL of those, reconnected to ensure it all held. In the end I still had the same problem - VPN quickly disconnects, reconnects (works for a minute) then disconnect reconnects and no longer works unless I turn it off.
I changed VPNs and it asked me to allow auto config, I let it do that. and I’ve remained with all those extra connections deleted. This has worked so far. Will see what happens when I connect my other iPhone.