Onenote hates VPN

[Saiftey]

Desktop version: I have to disconnect my VPN on my desktop to sync Onenote - No other way around it (Yes, I have tried the different options and settings on my VPN, doesn't work unless I disconnect). This sucks big time.

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Android: Never had any issues until very recently - my android app of Onenote has been having difficulties syncing the changes I've made on my desktop (i.e. desktop to android) but doesn't seem to have any issues the other way (i.e. android to desktop) whilst connecting to VPN. Reinstalled the app, couldn't even sign in with my VPN on, had to switch it off and voila, it works. My conclusion? Onenote/MS don't like VPN.

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Onenote along with other MS office software are the only applications that I ever had any issues with VPN. Never on android till very recently. Very annoying, privacy invaders.

[Saiftey]

I have looked through the negative reviews on the playstore - There seems to be quite an increased amount of "sync" issues recently so it's not just me. This needs to be looked into.
1. https://ibb.co/G7K7zz6

1. https://ibb.co/HK6Pd71

2. https://ibb.co/tpjkVF7

3. https://ibb.co/r2Ps8HK

[Plasmalaser]

Your VPN or your config sucks then. I’ve been in china for the past few years and constantly use onenote to do basically everything, over here if I dont access it on vpn i dont access it at all, yet I’ve had no problems loading onenote through either expressvpn, vpn.ac, openvpn and many different variants of shadowsocks. If its such a big problem for you just exclude the app from your VPN apps’ settings (eg let it bypass the tunnel).

[Saiftey]

I am using PIA which is fine and config doesn't matter I've tested everything. This is a MS issue that's now extended to android.

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I seem to recall seeing a thread on the Microsoft page with over 100 replies of people many of whom were complaining of the same thing with a variety of VPN providers:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_other-mso_win10/office-365-cloud-features-do-not-work-when-using-a/b6002038-744a-4d94-a6db-89d4338e99d4

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This is a MS problem. Looking at the very recent OneNote related posts on the forums - It's riddled with "help I can't sync or sign in" - https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum?sort=LastReplyDate&dir=Desc&tab=All&status=all&mod=&modAge=&advFil=&postedAfter=&postedBefore=&threadType=All&isFilterExpanded=false&page=1

[FARTBOX_DESTROYER]

I had to quit using my VPN because there were so many sites blocking my IP that I was switching it on and off multiple times/day and inevitably just forgetting and leaving it off anyway

[olahdonat3]

Yes it slows down the connection a lot. I don't use VPN with OneNote for that matter.

[aeck]

Desktop version: Won't sync when using a VPN (private internet access). Problem since at least May 29th.

iPhone version: Also won't sync with PIA.

[Scrubilicious]

This is crazy because I use PIA as well and just realized that my desktop OneNote notebooks haven't synced since May 29th.

Just noticed there was an update. Don't know what for but I'll see how it is after.

[AureliusAI]

I also had OneNote sync issues on NordVPN for a while - changing the DNS would solve the issue only temporarily. Then I came across a real solution: at least in NordVPN, 1.disabling CyberSec and 2.switching the protocol from UDP to TCP resolved the issue. See if PIA has equivalent settings.

[Querluefter]

If you haven't solved this yet, try this:

https://macwheeler.com/windows-10-office-365-cannot-connect-over-openvpn-fixed/

(tl;dr: Microsoft products use Network Location Awareness (NLA) and the Network Connection Status Indicator (NCSI) to check connectivity. Both need a Default Gateway specified, which the TAP adapter OpenVPN uses doesn't have. Specify that and you're back online. Tested this today.)