topic Re: Unable to connect to a Windows VPN in Mobile Data

Unable to connect to a Windows VPN

mikef2 — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 09:34:33 GMT

I'm trying to create a PPTP VPN connection from my Android phone to my office.

VPN works fine when phone is on wifi. However I'm unable to connect to the VPN when my phone (EE) is on mobile data (not wifi) connection.

I can connect to VPN using my laptop and tablet on wifi, except when the wifi is provided by my EE phone hotspot. VPN connection also works fine when using the data connection of another phone (Tesco mobile). This points to EE blocking traffic and therefore preventing the connection from being established.

Any idea?

Re: Unable to connect to a Windows VPN

Christopher_G — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 11:50:30 GMT

Hi @mikef2

Welcome to the community.

Are you getting any error messages or anything when you try to connect?

Chris

Re: Unable to connect to a Windows VPN

mikef2 — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 12:36:05 GMT

@Christopher_G - the phone just says "Connecting..." on the VPN page, and never moves to "Connected".

On the VPN server, there's a message in the event log:

A connection between the VPN server and the VPN client 213.205.208.33 has been established, but the VPN connection cannot be completed. The most common cause for this is that a firewall or router between the VPN server and the VPN client is not configured to allow Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) packets (protocol 47).

However my firewall and router can't be the problem because the VPN connection works when my phone (or any other device I'm connecting from) is on a non-EE connection (eg, home WiFi).

Mike

Re: Unable to connect to a Windows VPN

Christopher_G — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 15:52:44 GMT

I'm not sure what could be causing this, @mikef2

Have you tried speaking with the VPN provider to see if there are any troubleshooting steps for their service?

Chris

Re: Unable to connect to a Windows VPN

mikef2 — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 15:55:05 GMT

Hi @Christopher_G
I control the VPN server at my office. The error message is as shown above.

This isn't a 3rd party VPN service (eg, NordVPN) - it's my Windows Server.

Why is it failing only over EE connection?

Mike

Re: Unable to connect to a Windows VPN

Christopher_G — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 17:04:44 GMT

I would suggest either speaking to our Technical Support team, or Microsoft's, @mikef2.

Hopefully they can help you with this.

Chris

Re: Unable to connect to a Windows VPN

Puffing-Billy — Tue, 02 May 2023 15:45:00 GMT

i have this same problem. was there a resolution?

thanks

Re: Unable to connect to a Windows VPN

pilch74 — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 11:00:05 GMT

I have this exact issue, frustrating not to see any solution within the community 😞

Re: Unable to connect to a Windows VPN

mikef2 — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 12:15:12 GMT

Update - I raised a complaint with EE. Eventually received a callback. Was told that it's blocked for everyone. Will be raised with their network team. No estimate as to when it will be fixed.

I expect this won't ever be fixed. Time to look for alternative VPN server...