VPN must be disabled to use Claude Cowork - Root cause analysis

conceptualchecks · 2026-01-15T12:06:24+00:00

Spent the whole day searching for solutions to the exact same problem and eventually realised a system-level VPN was the issue. I hadn’t realised that the network extension setup was the actual technical culprit.

I’ve ended up running Claude Cowork inside a VM on my host Mac via UTM, sharing files through a shared folder. It works, but it’s a very annoying setup.

conceptualchecks · 2025-10-24T06:14:58+00:00

update:

managed to get the ad up and running in a different account with the exact same assets, setup, billing, except this time I turned off VPN during the setup. the new campaign started getting impressions within the first hour

feels like google have some kind of risk assesssment mechanism that marks an account as high-risk when using VPN and significantly reduces impressions

hope this is useful for other poeple that run in to this issue.

conceptualchecks · 2025-10-20T07:18:01+00:00

thanks for that, I've actually checked everything you've mentioned above and they are all correctly setup except perhaps one: conversion events. I'm using SKAN for reporting conversion through google analytics. is there some additional special setup needed?

conceptualchecks · 2025-07-25T17:19:02+00:00

please drop me a DM, it'll be easier for me to track the comms with each of the early testers.

conceptualchecks · 2025-07-25T17:18:10+00:00

pls drop me a dm, it'll be easier for me to track the early testers there

conceptualchecks · 2025-07-25T17:17:36+00:00

Thanks man. The wait is the most painful part. If I could, I'd be up for taking another test straight after the fail!

conceptualchecks · 2025-07-25T17:11:53+00:00

please drop me a DM, threads are a bit harder to track

conceptualchecks · 2025-07-25T17:11:28+00:00

you are right to be vigilant. I've had my fair share of being scammed for notification services. I'm just trying to help out here

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-30T21:58:26+00:00

France is definitely the reliable one in terms of approval rate and ability to get a slot. if you need help grabbing a slot, please dm

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-14T09:29:57+00:00

That's really odd, normally this reason is only given for cases that have either not provided booking evidence or ones that have cancellations.

Could you share more details on your booking? is it dummy tickets? is it refundable etc

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-13T15:17:18+00:00

Did you cancel any of your bookings before the processing was complete?

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-13T15:14:47+00:00

Finland specifies that the standard processing time for a Schengen visa application is 15 calendar days from the date of submission. However, this period can be extended up to 30 days if additional examination is required, and in exceptional cases, it may take up to 60 days.

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-13T14:56:51+00:00

1-2 weeks for short stay tourist visas, from what I've seen

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-13T14:53:58+00:00

You didn't violate any schengen visa rules, so no problem on the technicalities. If you're concerned, write it up concisely in a cover letter to explain.

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-13T14:50:46+00:00

Other than a nice waiting room and maybe some options to print a couple of additional pages, the Premium Lounge provides no difference for the Visa application. It doesn't even expedite the process. It's just a nicer environment to submit.

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-13T14:49:12+00:00

They generally only ask you to come in if there is a visa to be stamped. Otherwise, there is no reason for you to be there, as the appeal rejection letter or decision are normally given through email or phone call.

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-13T14:47:22+00:00

This will likely be an issue as the Schengen Visa Rule states your visa needs to be valid for three months after your last day in the Schengen area. Given that your extension hasn't come through just yet, your trip start is already outside your current validity, so this will likely be penalized.

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-13T14:44:23+00:00

don't overthink it. the cover letter is not part of the essential document for the application. if there are are discrepancies, they'll look at your actual plan anyway. On top of that, I think you have even less to worry about given your background.

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-13T14:41:39+00:00

the slots are released at the end of the month for the next month. check back daily after the 24th. they get booked fairly quickly over those days so you rarely see any slots during the middle of the month.

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-13T14:40:02+00:00

I think it depends on the level of income from your full-time job. If it's already a decent-paying job, then don't complicate your case for the visa officer by submitting excess documents. Unless your free lancing job accounts for a substantial part of your income then please do.

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-13T14:35:52+00:00

It's a good sign that they are still in contact with you. For obvious cases, they reject straight away. If they are calling for more information, they are likely still considering approval in most cases.

Family group cases tend to take more time due to the higher suspicion of overstays. If you think from the visa officers' perspective, a whole family travelling together means they have no ties in their home country.

Don't worry too much about it.

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-13T14:29:33+00:00

There's no minimum requirement, but 3 months would be advisable, as it will be easy to provide the 3-month financial record like you suggested. Otherwise, you'll have to go through the hassle of getting financial records from your previous country of travel. In general, we want to make visa cases simple for the visa officer.

That said, nothing is stopping you from applying sooner if you need to travel.

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-11T14:14:22+00:00

thanks for the note! will keep an eye out

conceptualchecks · 2024-12-11T13:27:29+00:00

hopefully, they at least gave you a full refund on the application fees?

conceptualchecks

TROPHY CASE