Unable to connect to VPN (Global Protect) via mobile hotspot - it used to work

[Joeclegg]

Hello,

I need to connect to a VPN (Global Protect) on my laptop to connect to my work documents. A few months ago, I used to be able to use mobile hotspot on my phone and it would work fine. However, the VPN no longer connects - the internet continues to works fine on the laptop when connected to my mobile.

I understand EE have never supported VPN connections but they are now apparently actively blocking more. This is unacceptable and unfair. If I am unable to resolve the issue, I will need to change mobile networks.

Has anyone been able to resolve this issue?

[Altheian]

Incredibly frustrating case.

I have just switched from my previous network to EE, for such a great faff in relation to 5G and all that.
I was about to be travelling and working on the mobile hotspot.

Now I am stuck and cannot travel due to the issue.

Well played EE. AGAIN! In just 2 months since I joined...

[edoardoc]

@Altheian my workaround so far is to use an old iphone 7 as a modem when I need VPN access while tethering.

It's not practical but I hope EE and Apple will work together on the issue. 
See this thread too

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Mobile-Broadband/IPV4-fallback-doesn-t-work/m-p/1360774

[edoardoc]

and make noise here too please

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255466044?cid=em-com-apple_watches_email_thread_owner-view_the_...

[edoardoc · Accepted solution]

After the latest updates, my iPhone shows

iOS 17.4.1 / EE 58.0

now, when using the iphone as hotspot for the mac,

if I edit the wifi connection on the mac to Configure IPv6 for link-local only 

and force a DHCP refresh

then I get an IPv4 address at last

which allows me to connect to the VPN.

I usually revert the macbook wifi tcp configuration after connecting back to a normal wifi access point

[BenGo]

I've been looking for a solution for this too, and can confirm this works.

Currently on my EE personal hotspot and connecting to Global Protect on my Mac - many thanks!

[TheHobbit30]

Also wanted to report that the instructions from @edoardoc worked for me too. Thank you!

[edoardoc]

I'm glad that my post has helped people, as I keep getting notifications ... so I thought of posting an update.

with

iOS 18.1.1 / EE 60.0.1  
macOS 15.1.1

I no longer need to change the IPv6 settings of the mac wifi connection. Leaving the auto default, my VPN works when tethering even though I don't get a routable IPv4 address (I get 192.0.0.2) 

So I suspect that the newer GPVPN client I'm using is able to cope with that.

[Andy_878]

hi - I'm getting this issue as well and looking for alternatives. Does anyone know if the issue is with the 4gee device itself or the EE SIM ?

So, if I got a different (non EE) device and inserted the EE sim would this work with GP? 

[Debbie_G]

Hi @Andy_878.

Thanks for coming to the community.

Have you had a chance to try the advice that’s already been shared in this thread? Also, have you been in touch with your VPN provider to see if they can offer any insight or support on this issue?

Debbie

[Andy_878]

I'm not able to change the settings on my corporate device. Also, the VPN provider is set on my corporate device - im speaking with the technical teams but don't think there are any options. 

Can you help with the question I posted?  is the issue with the 4gee device itself or the EE SIM? - so, if I got a different (non EE) device and inserted the EE sim would this work with GP (my VPN) ?

Thanks, Andy