Question for the group on a problem I’m trying to solve: How can I block internet access for some apps on standard, OOTB Android?

My current set-up is to use Proton VPN with the Android settings “Always-on VPN” and “Block connections without VPN” and then use Proton VPN’s Split-tunneling to exclude certain apps from using the VPN. This has the desired effect of blocking certain apps from having access to the internet.

However, I now find that I need to use certain Apps without the VPN but with internet access. In the past, I’d used something like NetGuard to control which apps have internet access, but, as Android only allows one VPN slot, this would require me to swap out Proton VPN.

So my problem statement: I’d like to be able to continue to use Proton VPN, exclude some apps from using that VPN but still have access to the internet, and block still other apps from the internet entirely. I’m struggling to find a way to do this.

Any suggestions are welcome!

  • @theDutchBrother
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    21 year ago

    You can route traffic through VPN on the phone, then just use split tunneling to exclude apps that should have regular network access without VPN. But you have to switch off “Block connections without VPN” in settings.

    • @MajorHavoc
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      21 year ago

      Oh hey, thanks! I never particularly wanted any of my apps to route around the VPN, but there the option it is under Advanced, when split tunneling is enabled. Could be handy. Thanks!

      • @theDutchBrother
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        1 year ago

        NP. Yeah I only routed Tor browser around the VPN in the past to not slow it down too much but I hardly use Tor anymore so VPN routes everything now.