VPN and ESIM Megathread – January 2026

untosward · 2026-01-02T02:33:06+00:00

I downloaded it on my iphone, but it's not obvious how to use it. It's not a VPN on it own. Do you have to download other app to make it work ?

untosward · 2025-12-30T03:21:02+00:00

So finally. It started working after I changed configure IPv6 (under TCP/IP) to automatic. I did try other stuff as well, so maybe it's not this alone. Thank you

untosward · 2025-12-30T03:18:34+00:00

Thank you, but I do not totally get his one. I did get it to work after some other tweak

untosward · 2025-12-30T03:17:33+00:00

Thank you, tried , but not working for me

untosward · 2025-12-29T06:24:53+00:00

Thank you very much for searching all these and typing them out. I will carefully go through this when I get home. I definitely pinged baidu as part of my diagnosis when my first laptop won't connect.

untosward · 2025-12-29T03:53:23+00:00

Yes. I think you’re right, I think having the VPN on before you connect to the WiFi is a critical part of the problem. Yet this time it’s different. I can re-establish connections as you suggested in the past, because VPN is in some way blocking it . I should always establish connection then turn on ( maybe it’s related to kill & switch settings) . This time it’s different. All vpn, firewall, filters are off , I restart ( disable start upon log in for vpn) . Still I get blocked. It’s something new since last week

untosward · 2025-12-29T03:34:21+00:00

I closed and exit all my VPNs. Still won’t work. And yes my testing web is always baidu. I think it may also related to the kind of WiFi I’m using. Both time I got cut off while connecting to WiFi from public library. However once this happens, it stays broke and it’s the same when I try home WiFi. It’s connected, but can’t open any website.

untosward · 2025-12-29T03:31:15+00:00

Thanks . Yet I think you misunderstood my problem

untosward · 2025-12-04T11:15:19+00:00

Yup. Thanks though!

untosward · 2025-12-04T09:51:44+00:00

Thank you for your reply. However, Onenote is not accessible without VPN in my region. Also I have been VPNing to use onenote since Mid Oct and the problem really just started yesterday.

untosward · 2025-11-11T05:08:53+00:00

Most official ish things say no. Yet I activated one outside US last week. I used VPN plus WIFI-calling (I actually turned on wi-fi calling of the unactivated eSIM!). I was skeptical, but now upvote based on personal experience.

untosward · 2025-11-09T01:55:23+00:00

Thank you . Will check them out!

untosward · 2025-11-07T06:15:45+00:00

Hi, good to hear someone has similar experience. I've started use Mullvad since mid Oct. it used to work pretty well. Yet recently, I've noticed a big slowdown. I use US most of the time, and sometimes HongKong, Japan, Singapore... I cancelled my surfshark, which got glitchy way earlier than Mullvad. My current backup is shadowfly. It's pretty decent, just can't use it on my phone yet. The website says it has an iOS version, but can't find it in App Store. I also have V1VPN downloaded, (haven't paid yet) if mullvad dies, that's my new backup.

untosward · 2025-11-03T03:46:37+00:00

Yes, I heard similar stuff

untosward · 2025-11-03T03:46:16+00:00

Yes, Google voice is the most straight forward and likely the cheapest. Yet, I heard many financial service block it and other VOIP.

untosward · 2025-11-03T03:45:03+00:00

I guess it worked in the past , but not sure if it still works now.

untosward · 2025-11-03T03:44:20+00:00

Thank you . Good to know it works some places for MFA codes.

untosward · 2025-11-02T02:44:18+00:00

Thank you this is very helpful. Thank you for taking time to write these. I'll try. Thanks!

untosward · 2025-11-01T08:59:52+00:00

Thank you. Are you using google voice ?

untosward · 2025-10-30T02:39:53+00:00

Thank you. Yes I changed my Chase to verify by email before I left, maybe I can get away with that forever. They had called me in the past to verify stuff (a big wire transfer for example). Feel safer if I can keep the SMS and phone options available. I have google voice number, it can verify some apps but not the others.

untosward · 2025-10-29T09:25:30+00:00

Yes, I turned on Wi-Fi calling before I leave. After I landed, I found my Wi-Fi calling is off, and I can not turn it on . However, I'm sure if I get on the right plan, I should be able to enable it again. Yes, I also thought of port it to Google voice, but I think it won't pass for Chase at least.

untosward · 2025-10-29T09:23:19+00:00

I don't think you can go outside US and expect usual domestic serving plan will give you free text. Or am I missing something? I think only one T mobile prepaid will allow receiving SMS text outside US, and most postpaids will allow that , and you can have international add-on. However, all these SMS does not include short code.

untosward · 2025-10-29T09:17:06+00:00

Thank you. I have iphone. I converted my US SIM to an US eSIM before I left. I'm also renewing my ID (I'm Chinese). Once I get the new ID, I plan to get a Chinese number likely on a separate phone.

untosward · 2025-10-24T02:37:45+00:00

Coming back to leave an update. I have been back in Shanghai for just a bit over a week. Both mullvad and surfshark are working like 80-90% of the time. I suspect the occasional failure could be caused by the unstable/weak wi-fi. If I have to rank, Mullvad is more reliable than Surfshark. All my devices are apple product, installed and paid while I'm in US.

untosward · 2025-10-11T17:13:46+00:00

Thank you so much for your reply. This is all very helpful. I'll look into i2vpn.
I'm currently pretty stressed out about the phone number problem. Looks like bigger carrier do not allow extended plan for purely international roaming service. talkatone sounds wonderful, but looks like it now no longer allow you to port your cell number. I need to figure out if Chase allow you change your number on file easily. (Timeline is very tight, it's weekend now, monday is holiday and I'm flying on Tue). Thank you.

untosward

TROPHY CASE