MacOS Viscosity VPN blocks non-Apple app traffic

Have you ever experienced a situation where your non-Apple apps suddenly stopped working while using the Viscosity VPN on your MacOS device? Don't worry, you're not alone. This issue has been reported by many users, and in this article, we will explain why this happens and how you can fix it.

First, let's understand what Viscosity VPN is. Viscosity is a popular VPN client for MacOS that allows you to connect to virtual private networks (VPNs) securely. It provides a simple and intuitive interface to manage your VPN connections.

The problem arises when you enable the "Block outside DNS" option in Viscosity VPN. This option is designed to prevent DNS leaks by blocking all DNS traffic that does not go through the VPN tunnel. While this is a useful feature, it can also cause non-Apple apps to lose internet connectivity.

When you enable the "Block outside DNS" option, Viscosity VPN modifies the DNS settings on your Mac to use the DNS servers provided by the VPN. This ensures that all DNS requests are routed through the VPN tunnel. However, some non-Apple apps rely on their own DNS settings or use alternative DNS servers, which are not compatible with Viscosity VPN's DNS configuration.

To fix this issue, you have a couple of options:

Option 1: Disable "Block outside DNS"

If you don't require the extra security provided by the "Block outside DNS" option, you can simply disable it. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open Viscosity VPN on your Mac.
2. Click on the Viscosity menu in the top menu bar and select "Preferences".
3. In the Preferences window, go to the "DNS" tab.
4. Uncheck the "Block outside DNS" option.
5. Click "Apply" to save the changes.

Now, your non-Apple apps should be able to access the internet without any issues.

Option 2: Configure DNS settings manually

If you still want to use the "Block outside DNS" option but need your non-Apple apps to work, you can manually configure the DNS settings for those apps. Here's how:

1. Open Viscosity VPN on your Mac.
2. Click on the Viscosity menu in the top menu bar and select "Preferences".
3. In the Preferences window, go to the "DNS" tab.
4. Make a note of the DNS servers listed under the "DNS Servers" section.
5. Open the network settings for the non-Apple app that is not working.
6. Manually enter the DNS servers listed in Viscosity VPN's preferences.
7. Save the changes and restart the app.

By configuring the DNS settings manually, you ensure that the non-Apple app uses the same DNS servers as Viscosity VPN, allowing it to work properly.

Remember, it's important to choose a reliable DNS server to ensure a secure and fast internet connection.

Conclusion

Viscosity VPN's "Block outside DNS" option can sometimes block non-Apple app traffic due to incompatible DNS settings. By disabling this option or manually configuring DNS settings, you can resolve this issue and regain internet connectivity for your non-Apple apps.