Is VPN blocked on Google Fi and tethering? If so, any way to unblock?

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1

I’ve set up home VPN with TP Link WiFi router. But there’s issue on Google Fi and tethering connected device to use VPN.

Verified working VPN connection

  • A) Android phone (Nokia 5.4) Google Fi with OpenVPN app
  • B) Lowes Guest WiFi == iPad (iPadOS 16.4.1) with OpenVPN app
  • C) Lowes Guest WiFi == Win 10 with OpenVPN app

Note: I just went to the parking lot and test the connection.

Verified NOT working VPN connection (connection time out)

  • D) Android phone (Nokia 5.4) Google Fi WiFi tethering == iPad (iPadOS 16.4.1) with OpenVPN app
  • C) Android phone (Nokia 5.4) Google Fi WiFi tethering == Win 10 with OpenVPN app

So I think the issue is on Google Fi or Android OS (Android version 12).

I wonder where it is blocked or any work around to unblock the limitation.

2

Google Fi doesn’t block VPNs on tethered connections. However, T-Mobile’s network uses native IPv6 and NAT64/DNS64 for IPv4. Some VPN apps don’t handle this well.

3

This is probably not relevant to your issue but when android phones create a wifi hotspot the connection doesn’t use the VPN that the phone’s data uses (presuming you’ve set that up). Really annoying.

So I travel with a small travel router.

On my android phone I use the wireguard and sometimes openvpn app to connect to my VPN servers at home with no issues through the Google Fi cellular data connection while abroad. I usually use the always on and block non VPN traffic option to (hopefully) prevent leaks.

4

It might be depend on the country. Now I’m in Japan for travel. Then I verified working Google Fi International roaming for Remote Desktop.

Win 10 == OpenVPN == Google Fi (in Japan) == TP Link WiFi router == home host Win 10

5

This is probably not relevant to your issue but when android phones create a wifi hotspot the connection doesn’t use the VPN that the phone’s data uses (presuming you’ve set that up). Really annoying.

This is a limitation of Android. On newer Pixel phones the Google Fi VCN does encrypt hotspot and tethered connections.

6

Good to know thank you!