mullvadvpn-app
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mullvad
Connection blocked after sleep, requires reboot
Issue report
Operating system: macOS 14 Sonoma 23A344
App version: 2023.5-beta2
Issue description
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After re-opening the mac from sleep, wifi connection is re-established but Mullvad VPN cannot seem to connect. The app says internet is blocked while the app tries to connect and the top bar icon shows the hole in the middle of the lock.
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Disconnecting/exiting the app and even killing the daemon via the activity monitor does not allow connection.
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Restarting the laptop does the trick.
At least in the previous beta, disconnecting/exiting the app was usually sufficient..
@xiaolilo Thanks for reporting! Does this happen every time the computer sleeps? Or just sometimes?
Not every time. At some point, I thought it might be because of mDNSresponder connections blocked via Little Snitch. Now I think it might just be because of Little Snitch itself. Not sure. Can't find a pattern as to when it does that and when not.
Very much so. Had to reboot four times yesterday. It seems worse when changing between different wifis. Also notified Little Snitch staff.
It's brutal, I just encountered this the past few days and it's super frustrating. The worst part is that the Lockdown disabling doesn't work either (separate bug), so you are basically completely screwed when this happens. macOS Sonoma
I actually resolved my specific issue - what remains is headline issue. If anyone runs into a similar issue, double check you are not using the mullvad SOCKS proxy at the system level when not connected to the VPN.
I do still have issues when resuming from sleep sometimes. What makes it more troublesome is if you have a system-wide SOCKS, since disconnecting from VPN won't even get you back online and you're left scratching your head what's happening.
How had you set up the proxy?
Two ways, one system wide that I guess I added after the fact, and on Firefox.
So in Firefox, I'd consult the documentation for how to set a proxy if you're using it. If you ever set it up, it will be set to Manual and something.
For macOS:
System Settings > Network > Wi-Fi (or if wired that one) > Details > Proxies > SOCKS proxy
Mullvad docs:
https://mullvad.net/en/help/socks5-proxy/
Thanks. Had forgotten about the wifi > Proxy setting. Not set for me. Then again, this seems to have gotten better since the latest Mullvad update (2023.5) -- despite no macOS or Little Snitch updates in the meantime.
I've been experiencing a blocked internet connection too. It seems to coincide with sleep events, because I often experience it after walking away from the computer and coming back and waking up the machine. It doesn't happen when Mullvad is disconnected. Latest MacOS on an Apple Silicon machine.
I can restore the connection by turning wi-fi off and then on again. I don't even have to disable Mullvad to fix it; just cycle wi-fi and Mullvad will reconnect.
I've been experiencing this problem too. Always coming back from sleep I get "Blocked Connection" and nothing I have tried (selecting other exit nodes, closing & re-opening the client, disconnecting) affects this status. The only thing that does seem to work is rebooting.
Following @pallorc's comment I tried restarting the network(I'm using a wired, rather than wi-fi, connection so made the transport inactive & active again) and that did not restore networking.
I couldn't say it happens every time it comes back from sleep but often enough to be irritating. It's lucky the studio restarts so fast.
mac 14,13 (12c/38g/64GB/2TB) macOS 13.6.1, Mullvad 2023.5
Update: I had ipv6 DNS addresses plugged into the custom DNS fields in the Mullvad app. I also use DoH via a config profile in System Settings. I disabled custom DNS in Mullvad and all the disconnection issues disappeared. Also, the system is making all DNS requests through the DoH config profile, which is what I prefer anyway. It seems there's a conflict between the custom DNS setting on Mullvad and the config profile. Hope this helps anyone who has been struggling with connection issues.
Has this problem been acknowledged by the devs? My Mac restarts fairly quickly and it doesn't happen all that often but it is persistent and annoying.
Recording that this problem persists (had it this morning) with Mullvad 2024.1 / macOS 13.6.1
I would say, anecdotally, it happens about every 10th time the Mac wakes with VPN connected. I can't observe a consistent pattern.
I try to get in the habit of disconnecting the tunnel before letting the Mac sleep, but it still catches me out from time to time.
Also having this problem. Only reboot helps. I'm using Endeavour OS and 6.8.9 zen kernel.
