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

I tried the Max Wheeler fix (default gateway) -- which happens to also be the main thing NordVPN tier-1 tech support has recommended to me a few times for this and even previous connection issues, so I'm sure it's safe.

It did not help with the Office 365 issue in my case. 

Outlook in Office 365 is still giving me horrifically long delays on loading the profile and on trying to create a New or Reply email -- I mean like 5-10 minutes of delays in most cases, though just for fun it's intermittent and about 5% of the time it responds instantly like it should, and this intermittence exists even while I stay on the same NordVPN server sometimes.

I'm on Windows 7 (and a fast Ethernet connection).

And so far I do not have a fix. I must go to Outlook 2016 in the next 30 days to accommodate my Exchange host's move to Exchange 2016 (I've been running Office/Outlook 2010). I seem to be left with having to install the stand-alone version of Office/Outlook 2016, which has to go on at least two desktops and one laptop (ideally two laptops) -- coming to a good $600 based on the best price I've seen so far. That's a lot of moolah for a small business person, especially in light of the fact that $11/mo for Office 365 would do it if only it worked properly with the VPN.

Ask me how much I wish there was a fix for this issue.

One might cynically suggest Microsoft deliberately hasn't fixed this so people have to spend the bigger bucks, but all indications are they are really working hard to push everyone to Office 365, so that wouldn't be it.

I'm pretty much out of hope and will spring for the stand-alone version shortly. NordVPN escalated it and they asked me for a diagnostic report on my configuration, but that was a week ago and I haven't heard back since. I'm guessing they don't have a fix or we would all know about it.

In fact, their last two emails to me said there is no fix, and they cited a thread on a Microsoft tech forum confirming that there is no fix.

I guess that default gateway might work for some, and might have a better chance of working on Windows 10 than Windows 7. I myself do not have the luxury of migrating to Windows 10 until I can buy new machines and migrate gradually. As a solo business person, that's the only way.

I'm not using a Wifi adapter. I'm on Ethernet. Now what?

The fix on the linked page worked for me too! I wish I knew of any negative consequences of changing advanced settings, but hey, it works!

Mac Wheeler, a big thank you! I followed the steps in your article and all seems to be working fine now.

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.