Android - Per App Access

Kit_Knox

Good morning,

I'm confused on the Android app function of 'per app' access - there are green toggle switches but no indication of what the status is by toggling. For example, if the switch is toggled 'on' so it's green instead of grey, does that mean the VPN is required for that app or that it is not subject to the internet kill switch and is allowed to access the internet without the VPN?

For the developers: it's just not clear what toggling actually does. Perhaps have some text beside the app listing that states this app is now required to use the VPN or something to the effect.

Thanks for the help,

--kit

Poisonous

Hi Kit,
Thank you for your input on the "per app" setting!

In the "per app" section, if the slider is on (lit up) then the application functions through the VPN. If the slider is off (grayed out) then the application does not use the VPN tunnel.

As for your suggestion to the developers, I have passed this onto them to consider in one of our later versions.

If you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us directly at [email protected] where our support team will be more then happy to assist you!

Thanks,

razorshiv

That is odd. Either Hailey aka Poisonous is wrong or the newest version PIA 1.3 is wrong. So how bout it PIA? Which is it?

In per-app settings it clearly says verbatim.

"If an app is disabled in this menu, it will use the VPN. If an app is enabled here, it will bypass the VPN and you will not be protected while using that app."

itsmefloraluca

Poisonous said:

Hi Kit,
Thank you for your input on the "per app" setting!

In the "per app" section, if the slider is on (lit up) then the application functions through the VPN. If the slider is off (grayed out) then the application does not use the VPN tunnel.

As for your suggestion to the developers, I have passed this onto them to consider in one of our later versions.

If you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact us directly at [email protected] where our support team will be more then happy to assist you!

Thanks,
i'm using v1.2.4 on android and when i go to per app setting and were it says enable vpn per app and then if you go to search app for example i pick twitter it goes grey. very confused to me when it's grey it's going through the vpn

itsmefloraluca

i'm using v1.2.4 on android when i go to per app setting were it says enable vpn per app and then if you go to search for example and pick twitter and touch toggle it goes grey.very confused to me when grey it's going through vpn.

itsmefloraluca

razorshiv said:

That is odd. Either Hailey aka Poisonous is wrong or the newest version PIA 1.3 is wrong. So how bout it PIA? Which is it?

In per-app settings it clearly says verbatim.

"If an app is disabled in this menu, it will use the VPN. If an app is enabled here, it will bypass the VPN and you will not be protected while using that app."

i'd like to know also

Lineikosen

And how about a real option where I can block data usage per app and still be able to use a VPN for security reasons? Oh, and that does not require the phone to be rooted. Answer: there is none. This is one of the features where Android falls short from iOS.

razorshiv

I just did a test. Disabling (turning off) an app, disables the app from using the VPN. So, the original response in this post by Hailey is correct. However, the developers goofed up the text in per-app settings. They got it backwards. I'm sure this will be fixed in the next release.

@Lineikosen, I'm guessing the reason there are no per-app data usage settings in PIA is there already are currently other methods available in android. Here are two. 1. In android 6.0.1, goto Settings > Data Usage, select an app to block mobile data and even limit the data with a warning. 2. Use an app called NetGuard. I assume you are using iOS or you would already know this.

Regards

PhotoBiker

This is really awkward...

When the "per app" main switch ("Toggle VPN Access For All Apps") is on (green), then all apps are also set on (green). However the description reads "If an app is DISABLED in this menu, it will use the VPN. If an app is ENABLED, it will bypass the VPN". 

Obviously, this suggests that NO app is protected, because they are all enabled.

I thought, ok, let's toggle the whole thing. Well, it toggles the settings for all apps (they are all grey now) , but now the text "toggles" as well: "If an app is ENABLED in this menu, it will use the VPN. If an app is DISABLED, it will bypass the VPN". 

So, it still suggests that NO app is being protected.

If it's only a 'text problem" (as suggested by razorshiv), how come this has not been addressed yet?

razorshiv

Finally! PIA fixed the confusing per-app settings debacle. Thank you PIA. Everyone upgrade to the latest version.

aerojoe

The problem from what I've tested on my own phone(Samsung Galaxy S5), is that this feature doesn't work at all on certain phones. If it does work then please tell me what I am doing wrong and I will change my 1 star review to a 5 instantly.

Max-P

aerojoe said:

The problem from what I've tested on my own phone(Samsung Galaxy S5), is that this feature doesn't work at all on certain phones. If it does work then please tell me what I am doing wrong and I will change my 1 star review to a 5 instantly.

It does on about every AOSP-based roms as well as most manufacturers that don't modify Android too much. I don't know about Samsung but considering the amount of customization they put into their roms it's fairly possible that they broke that feature.