10 ms·

VPNs are configured in Settings->General. Any reason why that would need to be regularly toggled, out of interest?

mikeash 9y ago
I haven't used it in a while, but when I did, it wasn't very good at reconnecting after sleeping the device or switching networks.
- RKearney 9y ago
  Sounds like it may have been an issue with the remote end of the VPN tunnel then. I've been connected to VPN for days at a time, switching between Wi-Fi and cellular (including switching between IPv4-only, IPv6-only, and dual-stack networks), and have never had an issue with the device automatically re-establishing the VPN tunnel. Of course things could have also just improved over time.
  - walterbell 9y ago
    Which VPN provider or enterprise gateway? Does your VPN Profile have an "Always-On" setting? That's only available on managed devices and it ensures that no traffic is passed unless the device is connected to a VPN, which is what causes the VPN to automatically reconnect. If you have a standalone VPN app, it may also reconnect silently. But the system VPN does not stay reliably connected across device sleep and network status changes.
    - kccqzy 9y ago
      You don't need managed devices. You just need to configure the VPN in the Configurator app and push a profile to your device. Though there are still some manual plist editing required to get this working.
      - walterbell 9y ago
        Always-on VPN is possible on non-Supervised devices? Would appreciate a pointer to the relevant XML tags. Is it selectable, e.g. can you have multiple VPN profiles and then toggle (in Settings) which profile is Always-On?
        astrange 9y ago
        It's not possible, but you can use VPN on Demand and it should solve the work VPN problem.
        kccqzy 9y ago
        If I remember correctly you just specify the OnDemandRules key and make its value an empty array. Yes I have multiple VPN profiles and all of them allows me to specify in Settings whether to "connect on demand."
        walterbell 9y ago
        Thanks!
- saimiam 9y ago
  OpenVPN's iOS app automatically reconnects from sleep.
zimpenfish 9y ago
I know a few people who use it a lot and toggle it based on where they are. However those people definitely aren't your average consumer types. I'd imagine probably 90% of iOS users don't even know it has a VPN toggle. (I don't use it on cellular, do use it on insecure wifi, don't use it on some secure wifis depending on who controls it, never use it at home/parents/etc. Some days that's 4/5 toggles.)
jandrese 9y ago
Typically for turning it back on when it failed to automatically connect, again.
walterbell 9y ago
Some reasons: - VPNs do not stay connected - VPNs use a lot of battery - switching VPNs (e.g. work, personal) - mandatory for public wifi, optional elsewhere - some sites block VPNs (netflix, best buy, american airlines) - some networks block VPNs
- kccqzy 9y ago
  VPNs can stay connected if configured correctly. For cases when staying connected really is an issue (non-IKEv2 MOBIKE), you can also configure it to auto-connect whenever anything tries to establish a network connection (this is misleadingly called "Connect on Demand"), though the configuration process involves pushing a profile to your device.
Accacin 9y ago
I use a VPN 99% of the time, but when I want to watch some Netflix I have to turn it off. Not often, but enough to appreciate a nice toggle!

I haven't used it in a while, but when I did, it wasn't very good at reconnecting after sleeping the device or switching networks.

RKearney 9y ago
Sounds like it may have been an issue with the remote end of the VPN tunnel then. I've been connected to VPN for days at a time, switching between Wi-Fi and cellular (including switching between IPv4-only, IPv6-only, and dual-stack networks), and have never had an issue with the device automatically re-establishing the VPN tunnel. Of course things could have also just improved over time.
- walterbell 9y ago
  Which VPN provider or enterprise gateway? Does your VPN Profile have an "Always-On" setting? That's only available on managed devices and it ensures that no traffic is passed unless the device is connected to a VPN, which is what causes the VPN to automatically reconnect. If you have a standalone VPN app, it may also reconnect silently. But the system VPN does not stay reliably connected across device sleep and network status changes.
  - kccqzy 9y ago
    You don't need managed devices. You just need to configure the VPN in the Configurator app and push a profile to your device. Though there are still some manual plist editing required to get this working.
    - walterbell 9y ago
      Always-on VPN is possible on non-Supervised devices? Would appreciate a pointer to the relevant XML tags. Is it selectable, e.g. can you have multiple VPN profiles and then toggle (in Settings) which profile is Always-On?
      - astrange 9y ago
        It's not possible, but you can use VPN on Demand and it should solve the work VPN problem.
      - kccqzy 9y ago
        If I remember correctly you just specify the OnDemandRules key and make its value an empty array. Yes I have multiple VPN profiles and all of them allows me to specify in Settings whether to "connect on demand."
        walterbell 9y ago
        Thanks!
saimiam 9y ago
OpenVPN's iOS app automatically reconnects from sleep.

zimpenfish 9y ago

I know a few people who use it a lot and toggle it based on where they are. However those people definitely aren't your average consumer types. I'd imagine probably 90% of iOS users don't even know it has a VPN toggle. (I don't use it on cellular, do use it on insecure wifi, don't use it on some secure wifis depending on who controls it, never use it at home/parents/etc. Some days that's 4/5 toggles.)

jandrese 9y ago

Typically for turning it back on when it failed to automatically connect, again.

walterbell 9y ago

Some reasons: - VPNs do not stay connected - VPNs use a lot of battery - switching VPNs (e.g. work, personal) - mandatory for public wifi, optional elsewhere - some sites block VPNs (netflix, best buy, american airlines) - some networks block VPNs

kccqzy 9y ago
VPNs can stay connected if configured correctly. For cases when staying connected really is an issue (non-IKEv2 MOBIKE), you can also configure it to auto-connect whenever anything tries to establish a network connection (this is misleadingly called "Connect on Demand"), though the configuration process involves pushing a profile to your device.

Accacin 9y ago

I use a VPN 99% of the time, but when I want to watch some Netflix I have to turn it off. Not often, but enough to appreciate a nice toggle!