Windows and Office programs encounter a "No Internet access" issue when Cloudflare Warp is activated.
Windows and Office programs encounter a "No Internet access" issue when Cloudflare Warp is activated.
I handle a big medical company in the UK, offering hospital staff and services. Last year we switched to Cloudflare Warp for our VPN and web filtering tools, and it performed well. Recently, more users have reported problems when working remotely: their Windows network icon at the bottom right displays "No Internet" and Microsoft applications show similar messages. This prevents access to services like OneDrive or SharePoint apps. Even though the internet is available, these apps don’t attempt to connect because they perceive a lack of connectivity. It seems DNS issues might be involved, possibly blocking communication with certain Microsoft systems. Teams above me are discussing this with Cloudflare, but I’m seeking advice from others who may have encountered the same situation. I’ve attached screenshots for reference. We tried disabling IPV6 settings and made Reg Edit changes via Cloudflare’s documentation, which resolved the issue on our internal network when users were in offices. However, remote users still face the "no internet" error. When we paused Cloudflare temporarily, the icons returned to normal and apps connected properly, but enabling it again caused the problem due to security restrictions. I’m hoping someone has seen a similar setup or configuration in Cloudflare’s admin portal—perhaps whitelisting domains or adjusting split tunnel settings. I’d appreciate guidance from the infrastructure team if we can revisit this. This is especially important as we roll out Windows 11 on new devices for our users.
Due to the extensive use of IP addresses by Microsoft for office applications and other services, it's challenging for a VPN with traffic filtering capabilities to understand office connections. I've seen the taskbar icon before, but I wasn't the one who fixed it. The person who did didn't think it was important to explain, so it remains a mystery to me.
This brings up the idea of turning off the Software Distribution feature in Windows to avoid connecting with unfamiliar devices and IP addresses. Regarding who should resolve the problem, I think Microsoft has a responsibility. Since you're investing in their software, it makes sense for them to address this issue. After all, you're paying for many licenses, and they could work with customer support to integrate Cloudflare and enhance security.
Corporate defaults differ from home user setups. It takes minimal time to verify a few machines and confirm if the Software Distribution is truly disabled. I’m unsure how well LibreOffice would integrate with Cloudflare. And yes, moving from Microsoft Office to LibreOffice would be a major challenge for IT teams in large organizations. Still, I recommend it.
For brief trips, bikes offer several benefits. This largely depends on the specific tools from Microsoft Office they utilize. If all these functions can be swapped with LibreOffice, the transition becomes easier. However, if LibreOffice doesn’t cover everything, the leaders may struggle to make the change.