Bug 472907

Summary:	Connect to devices through VPN connection, even on mobile data
Product:	[Applications] kdeconnect	Reporter:	Emily <sarcastic_mating990>
Component:	android-application	Assignee:	Albert Vaca Cintora <albertvaka>
Status:	REPORTED ---
Severity:	wishlist	CC:	andrew.g.r.holmes, bill.huang2001, r087r70
Priority:	NOR	Keywords:	usability
Version First Reported In:	unspecified
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Android
OS:	Android 13.x
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Emily 2023-08-02 02:56:50 UTC

SUMMARY
Title.

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. Set up KDE Connect.
2. Plug in a usable SIM card.
3. Turn off Wi-fi and connect to mobile data.
4. Connect to a VPN with all paired devices present.

OBSERVED RESULT
Nothing happened.

EXPECTED RESULT
KDE Connect seeks paired devices over the VPN connection and connects if found.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Android 13

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This should be an opt-in option, since many VPNs purely acts as a relay for address masking.

Ideally, the user should be able to set a whitelist of allowed VPNs.

Comment 1 Roberto 2023-08-03 17:10:36 UTC

*** Bug 472967 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 2 Roberto 2023-08-03 17:13:41 UTC

I warmly second this feature/bug request. I often connect to my router VPN and would like to send files or commands to my linux machines.

Comment 3 Bill Huang 2024-05-06 03:31:25 UTC

I want to note that there is a similar issue here: KDEConnect fails to connect on a mesh VPN (overlay network) even with a manually added peer using a fixed IP.

While this might not be the exact same bug, I suspect the underlying problem is similar. KDEConnect seems to be hardcoded to sending/listening packets only on the Wi-Fi interface. When using a mesh VPN, a virtual interface is created on the phone that differs from the standard wireless interface. While network traffic is typically routed automatically to utilize the virtual interface for outbound communication, KDEConnect appears to bypass this routing and remains fixated on the wireless interface. If KDEConnect could be adapted to send packets through other interfaces, the connection should just function as expected.