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Computer WONT recognize devices within network UNLESS VPN is activated

Anonymous
2020-04-03T19:47:38+00:00

Problem: My computer won't recognize or connect to my printer, Xbox One, or any other devices in my network under any circumstances no matter what I do, UNLESS I connect it to a VPN app (NordVPN). I've been fighting with this thing for years. HOW do I fix it?

A little backstory: I built this computer in 2015. It hasn't always had this issue, I can't remember when I started having this issue, but it's definitely been atleast 3 maybe even 4 years at this point.

  • I'm connected wirelessly,

-but even while connected via ethernet, my computer still won't recognize the printer at all, but I'd probably be able to connect to my Xbox.

-even if trying to manually connect it to the printer via wifi and IP address etc, it still won't work.

-I installed NordVPN a few years ago and use it often, this could be the culprit, but I feel that this didn't cause it

-All of this stuff works if I connect to NordVPN, my printer comes up, and I can connect to my xbox

Out of all of these years I've never found a thread like the one I'm creating here, no one has this issue apparently. 

Somebody help me before I lose my mind.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Internet and connectivity

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Anonymous
2020-04-04T11:06:34+00:00

Hi Havel,

You won't see the specific IPs for those two devices but what you need to look for is the Network Destination which covers them.

For example, if you run the "ipconfig" command and your IP address is 192.168.0.10 and Subnet Mask is 255.255.255.0 then in the route print output you're looking for the Network Destination of 192.168.0.0 with Netmask 255.255.255.0 as this covers all the devices on your local network.

For your computer to connect to the printer and Xbox the Gateway for that Network Destination should be "on-link" and Interface be your IP address, so I would recommend to compare the two outputs and see if the Gateway and Interface values change when you connect/disconnect the VPN.

If they do then check through the settings of the VPN software for anything relating to accessing resources on your local network, as the VPN shouldn't be changing the Gateway for local IP addresses only for internet addresses.

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-04-05T02:24:16+00:00

    You were right, you solved my issue.

    Apparently in the NordVPN settings there's an option "hide on LAN", turning this off (it was on) caused my printer and xbox to connect to my computer, and to be sure, I turned the option back on, and I could no longer connect to the Xbox or Printer. Turns out it was NordVPN after all, even though I don't entirely understand how the "hide on LAN" options works or what it means. I appreciate the help, I couldn't have done it without your help!

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-04-04T00:20:09+00:00

    Hi Havel, I'm Steve, an Independent Advisor and a Windows user like you. I'm happy to help with your query.

    Can you ping the IP of the printer and Xbox when you're not connected to the VPN?

    To start with I would recommend to run a "route print" command from a command prompt when both disconnected and connected to the VPN and compare the difference between the two. Particularly any routes for local LAN traffic.

    I ran route print -4, both when connected and disconnected. I didn't see my Xbox One or Printer, am I doing something wrong? The list is different for both though.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-04-03T20:23:05+00:00

    Hi Havel, I'm Steve, an Independent Advisor and a Windows user like you. I'm happy to help with your query.

    Can you ping the IP of the printer and Xbox when you're not connected to the VPN?

    To start with I would recommend to run a "route print" command from a command prompt when both disconnected and connected to the VPN and compare the difference between the two. Particularly any routes for local LAN traffic.

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