Cannot connect to VPN through PIA on the TMobile network.
Cannot connect to VPN through PIA on the TMobile network.
I've recently experienced trouble connecting to TMobile via the PIA VPN iOS app. Everything functioned smoothly two days ago, but began to fail yesterday. When I open the app, select a location and enable it, the connection becomes unstable. It also fails to establish a VPN public IP address and keeps loading without success. I've tried various locations, reinstalled the app, set up L2TP, rebooted, and even reconfigured it, but nothing works. The app operates perfectly on my ISP Wi-Fi now, yet not on TMobile's cellular network. After some investigation, it seems TMobile might have switched to IPv6, which could be causing compatibility issues. I'm contacting PIA for assistance and would appreciate any advice or setup suggestions you can provide. Please let me know if you have any recommendations. Thanks.
Analyzing the IP details on my mobile device shows T Mobile employs carrier-grade NAT for their IPv4 segment. It’s unclear if this is contributing to the problem. I recommend checking the APN configuration on your phone to confirm accuracy. I’ve noticed connection problems when settings are incorrect. To be truthful, most providers are transitioning to IPv6, and they usually support both protocols since IPv4 usage remains limited.
Here’s a revised version of your message:
Thanks for your response. When I access the cellular data settings (double-checking, it should be Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Cellular Data Network), everything appears consistent except for the main content. Most sections are empty except for the APN names under each category—like cellular data, visual voicemail, etc. The MMS area looks more complete, showing APN, MMSC, and MMS Max Message Size filled in. All username and password fields remain blank across categories (cellular data, visual voicemail, mms, ims).
Could you share your current settings so I can test them and see if they help? Or would it be better to reset everything and try again? Also, do you use PIA or a VPN app on your device? When I first set up PIA, I experienced the fastest speeds when running it directly from my phone. Now that I’m tethering to my computer and using the desktop version of PIA VPN, performance drops significantly. I’d like to be able to run it from my phone for optimal results.
I would like it if possible. On the main screen, there are three horizontal bars in the top-left corner thought to open settings. But each time I tap them, the whole app freezes and I have to close and reopen it. I spoke with PIA earlier when first setting it up so I could double-check all the options. They still couldn't resolve the issue. I stopped trying to fix it because I prefer using a VPN connection whenever possible. I always check my public IP address in a browser and make sure it's coming from the VPN server, plus there are no DNS leaks. As long as I can confirm that, I felt secure. I think this might be because I'm stuck on iOS version 9.3.3 and I don't want to upgrade, since many of my apps rely on that firmware. I hope PIA or TMobile can provide a solution.
Decided to install a free VPN from the app store for testing. Received Super Unlimited Proxy. Positive outcome: connected smoothly to TMobile, speed tests showed good performance, and the public IP changed. Negative result: DNSleak.com revealed leakage. Likely the issue stems from the app rather than mobile blocking. May need to update iOS or switch to a paid VPN service.
I discovered a solid alternative approach. Initially, I connected from Tmobile using a complimentary external VPN—OpenVPN was chosen, though other options are open to suggestion. I verified the public IP address of the external VPN and confirmed no DNS leaks occurred. Next, after linking it to my device, I activated the internal VPN PIA on the computer. I refreshed the pages and saw the public IP now reflecting from the internal VPN, with DNS leaks disappearing. I was worried about performance impacts from nested VPNs, but speeds remain excellent. This configuration appears secure in my view. The external VPN acts as the Tmobile link and is vulnerable to monitoring, while the internal VPN stays private. It’s not the most refined setup, but it functions well. Feedback and ideas are welcome. Appreciate your help!