Office 365 cloud features do not work when using a privacy VPN

Anonymous
2016-07-27T20:31:21+00:00

When I have a privacy VPN active (such as Private Internet Access - PIA) I can't access the cloud features on Office 365 (such as online templates, OneNote sync to the cloud, Excel or Word saving to OneDrive directly, etc). I have tried 3 different VPN solutions: PIA, NordVPN and VPNArea and they all exhibit the same issue. Is there a way to solve this or to tell Office to bypass the VPN?

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-09-18T18:05:54+00:00

    I experienced the same problem with self-administered OpenVPN server I use. After trying many offered solutions (which didn't work), I found this to be an MTU related issue. Setting "mssfix 1400" (and no other MTU related parameters) on both client and server side of OpenVPN solved the problem and restored Office365 connectivity.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-09-04T15:53:48+00:00

    Arrrgh, I have had this problem for months. 

    I have tried everything, but it didn't work. 

    I have found the correct solution that should work for everyone and it is here: https://www.macwheeler.com/windows-10-office-365-cannot-connect-over-openvpn-fixed/

    It comes down to setting a default gateway to your Tap connection so that the Network Location Awareness (NLA) and the Network Connection Status Indicator (NCSI) can discern whether an active network connection is available. 

    Sigh...

    I use the VPN Private Internet Access (PIA). I used the steps provided in Mac Wheeler's post and it worked! I have not experienced any issues. Glad this is behind me. I did not like using the web without my VPN.

    Rick

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-08-31T13:26:31+00:00

    I have struggled with this problem for some time (i.e., NordVPN NOT playing nice with Office 365 connected applications) and this solution -- adding my gateway as the default gateway in the Tap-NordVPN Ethernet adapter - per Mac Wheeler's post -- is the only thing that worked.  Once I did that -- everything worked fine, AND, the connection appeared much more stable and faster.  So, I'm wondering if this is something that should  done with NordVPN even if you're not using Office 365.

    THANK YOU TO Mac Wheeler and all the rest of you contributors who have tried to solve this problem.  Maddening!

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-08-31T10:08:37+00:00

    Arrrgh, I have had this problem for months. 

    I have tried everything, but it didn't work. 

    I have found the correct solution that should work for everyone and it is here: https://www.macwheeler.com/windows-10-office-365-cannot-connect-over-openvpn-fixed/

    It comes down to setting a default gateway to your Tap connection so that the Network Location Awareness (NLA) and the Network Connection Status Indicator (NCSI) can discern whether an active network connection is available. 

    Sigh...

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-08-24T23:09:12+00:00

    Nope, switched to Dropbox and now no issues.

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