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
    2017-08-29T10:11:03+00:00

    I have the same problem. There are no ports in my VPN. This is a One Drive problem, gentlemen. In fact, as I type this reply I am connected to the VPN and One Drive is telling me it is "processing changes (15 min now) and that it will upload when a connection is established.

    I can do all my Microsofty-stuff ... except One Drive. Never had this problem with Dropbox, Box, or Google Drive.

    I have the same problem. There are no ports in my VPN. This is a One Drive problem, gentlemen. In fact, as I type this reply I am connected to the VPN and One Drive is telling me it is "processing changes (15 min now) and that it will upload when a connection is established.

    I can do all my Microsofty-stuff ... except One Drive. Never had this problem with Dropbox, Box, or Google Drive.

    Meant to say ports blocked

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-11-21T21:03:28+00:00

    I too have this problem (saving files in Office / changes in OneDrive), running NordVPN on Windows 10. I can connect to the Internet and do everything else (web browse, email, all other applications run fine), so it's hard to understand why it's a VPN issue and not an Office / OneDrive issue. Only MS Office / OneDrive have this issue.

    The whole point of having a VPN is so that public places (coffee shops, airports, etc.) can't see my traffic, and with the new laws, so that my ISP can't see it either. My MS Office Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations are some of my most sensitive files, and having OneDrive is an amazing solution that I love (thank you!), but it's critical that others not see them.

    VPNs are here to stay, and their user base is expanding rapidly, so I think it's imperative Microsoft adapts its products to work with them.  I don't want a technical solution that requires messing with ports or something else that a non-technical user (me) has to implement. I just want Microsoft to fix it. Or should I switch to a OneDrive competitor to sync my files?

    Thanks for your consideration.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-11-22T18:55:00+00:00

    I too have this problem (saving files in Office / changes in OneDrive), running NordVPN on Windows 10. I can connect to the Internet and do everything else (web browse, email, all other applications run fine), so it's hard to understand why it's a VPN issue and not an Office / OneDrive issue. Only MS Office / OneDrive have this issue.

    The whole point of having a VPN is so that public places (coffee shops, airports, etc.) can't see my traffic, and with the new laws, so that my ISP can't see it either. My MS Office Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations are some of my most sensitive files, and having OneDrive is an amazing solution that I love (thank you!), but it's critical that others not see them.

    VPNs are here to stay, and their user base is expanding rapidly, so I think it's imperative Microsoft adapts its products to work with them.  I don't want a technical solution that requires messing with ports or something else that a non-technical user (me) has to implement. I just want Microsoft to fix it. Or should I switch to a OneDrive competitor to sync my files?

    Thanks for your consideration.

    I too am having the SAME issue and as a power user, have tried multiple iterations of configurations -- including tech support with the VPN provider -- who assured me basically, their pipes are open -- just encrypted.   There is definitely something in the MS configuration for O365 client to MS Server configuration and I agree wholehartedly with the prior poster -- a VPN is essential in this day and age for security!!!   Now, I assume the MS connections are encrypted, but I don't know for sure.   Regardless, it's a PITA to have to turn the VPN on and off just because there is likely some setting in the MS configuration that they won't look into or change.

    PLEASE respond on this thread -- I need an answer.  Asking for O365 which I pay for and a VPN which I pay for to work together is not a big ask IMO.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-11-26T07:53:17+00:00

    I just had to cancel my subscription too with NordVPN. Everything else work fine when connected via VPN - except Office products when working with documents on OneDrive.

    I have ensured Bullguard firewall is OFF, and Windows Defender firewall if OFF when connected (just to make sure they are not interfering), but still no joy.

    The moment I disconnect from VPN, everything is fine. Very frustrating as using VPN is important to me. AND I have now had to miss out on a great subscription deal from NordVPN! :(

    It would be great to have a proper permanent solution to this because I use OneDrive all the time.

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  5. Anonymous
    2017-11-27T06:54:11+00:00

    Hi

    In the NordVPN application you must disable "Cyversec" and then, in the "Advanced Setting" change UDP protocol to TCP.

    This worked for me.

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