Friday, November 15, 2024

network – ProtonVPN can’t connect anymore after uninstalling a different VPN (Cisco AnyConnect)

Problem:
I usually use ProtonVPN (free tier) on MacOS without a hitch. Recently I downloaded a VPN from my university (Cisco Anyconnect). I later uninstalled AnyConnect. I must have messed with something because now ProtonVPN doesn’t work. Specifically, ProtonVPN tries to connect to a server but is never able to complete the connection and eventually gives up.

What I’ve tried so far:

  1. I restarted my Macbook
  2. I uninstalled ProtonVPN and redownloaded it
  3. I flushed my DNS using the instructions here: https://protonvpn.com/support/flush-dns-cache
  4. I deleted the ProtonVPN configuration in System Settings and then had ProtonVPN “recreate” a configuration (I turned on ProtonVPN and then it requested to add a configuration).

Other observations:

  • I downloaded another free VPN (Windscribe) and it works flawlessly so the problem seems to be exclusive to ProtonVPN?
  • In System Settings in VPN, ProtonVPN is there but the slider is Disconnected. When I try to turn the slider on, it refuses to move. When I click the i for Info it shows that the “Connect on Demand” setting is on.
  • Just a note but Windscribe doesn’t show up in the VPN section of System settings (but still works?).

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