Android error: VPN service not authorized by user

VPN
1

I have a WireGuard server set up and I am trying to connect from the Android app, but when I try to enable the connection I get the error message:

VPN service not authorized by user

The app did not ask for permission to be recognized as a VPN service when first started

What do I have to do to enable the Android client?

UPDATE:
thanks to u/thefunkygibbon for pointing me at the app that was causing the problem. it was, indeed, duckduckgo
but, it is not necessary to uninstall duckduckgo
following the suggestion by u/Deafboy_2v1 , just disable the “aways on” VPN option of duckduckgo

thanks again

2

Just disable “Always On” for any existing VPNs. The Wireguard app will ask for the VPN permission next time.

3

For Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro:

I had Block This ADBlocker VPN, I had to uninstall it, reinstall Wireguard and when I set up my config file, this time it asked for the necessary permissions.

4

I have the same problem.

Android 13 - GrapheneOS

5

Had the same error message. I’m using Android 12. For me Wireguard is listed in “Android Settings” → “Connection & Sharing” → “VPN”.

When I pressed the (i) next to Wireguard in that list and toggled the “Always-on VPN” then the error disappeared in the App and I was able to connect again.

Maybe it was just me …

6

Did you resolve? I get the same issue. Did you have duckduckgo installed too?

7

Thanks
Under what settings is the “always on” option?

8

That’s very helpful thank you so much

9

Android 13 - Samsung official rom for s21fe
WireGuard version: 1.0.20220516

10

I’ve sent an email to the developers of the app but have not received a reply

perhaps it’s an Android-13 issue

I hope it will be resolved soon

11

Unfortunately, Wireguard is not listed in the VPN-list in settings

12

No (not resolved) and yes (have duckduckgo installed)

13

Settings / Network & Internet / VPN / / Always-on VPN.

14

Thanks for heads up. I hope so too

15

I removed duckduckgo and it started working ok again. Weird as it was working with both installed a few months ago

16

Thanks. This is the exact version number that I have installed
But it is still not working
I would expect that after installation of the app, it would be tegisteted as a vpn. But it is not

17

Unfortunately, not

Very frustrating. Couldn’t get a response from the developers

18

This was my problem as well. Even if I disabled the VPN in it’s app, the Always On was still enabled.

19

DuckDuckGo the browser?

I have an issue at the moment that i cannot run ANY VPNs - non of them ask for network permission and none of them appear in the VPN list. I had several (wireguard native, one wireguard based service, sstp, openvpn, tor) which were all working fine. I had to reinstall one of the wireguard ones and it just would not work (all the others had “Always On” disabled.

I’ve reset network settings and cleared cache and storage before uninstalling and reinstalling the VPN apps and nothing is working. I really, really, don’t want to go through the pain of resetting the whole phone - I have too many apps that need A LOT of setting up - 2FA authenticator, banking apps (at least 6).

I wish I could just give the VPN apps network access - anyone have any idea why they are not asking for access at install or first run?