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McAfee Secure VPN blocked Sonos setups

  • January 23, 2025
  • 6 replies
  • 181 views
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When setting up Five and Move, the setup processes always stalled.  I did everything- a couple of hours with Sonos Customer Support, restarting router, factory resets, etc.

I stumbled onto the fact that my McAfee Protect app (on Samsung S10 phone) has several functions; I use anti-virus,  but something called Secure VPN (which I don't use) was also turned on, apparently by accident.   As soon as I turned off McAfee Secure VPN, all my problems with Sonos setups and operations (the Move's microphone appeared to be broken, for example) went away!  Both Sonos speakers installed smoothly and work perfectly.   Apparently McAfee Secure VPN interferes with Sonos WiFi communications. 

AjTrek1
Ken_Griffiths
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6 replies

AjTrek1
  • AjTrek1
  • January 23, 2025

FYI, VPN’s of any type have the potential to wreak havoc with Sonos. Therefore, if you are having similar issues as ​@DSC46...check that your device, computer nor your router has an active VPN. If so disable it to see if that corrects the issue with Sonos.

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Airgetlam
controlav
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  • controlav
  • Lead Maestro
  • January 23, 2025

The VPN was doing its job: blocking local network access. If it has split-tunneling support, enable that, else disable it to use your Sonos.

Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.
Airgetlam
Ken_Griffiths

The VPN was doing its job: blocking local network access. If it has split-tunneling support, enable that, else disable it to use your Sonos.

Isn’t it the other way around?

https://www.dignited.com/42505/how-to-selectively-use-vpn-for-specific-apps-only-on-your-phone/

Ken_Griffiths

Maybe someone will clarify this for me, but I was always under the impression that when ‘split-tunnelling’ was available/enabled within the VPN client software, that a user is able to dictate which Apps use the secure tunnel and so by not adding the Sonos App to the ‘tunnel-list’, it simply uses the general ISP connection. Those Apps placed on the list use the tunnel. Any VPN client App without a split-tunnel feature, I thought, needed to be disabled, otherwise ‘everything’ just operates over the VPN connection?

controlav
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  • controlav
  • Lead Maestro
  • January 24, 2025

Maybe someone will clarify this for me, but I was always under the impression that when ‘split-tunnelling’ was available/enabled within the VPN client software, that a user is able to dictate which Apps use the secure tunnel and so by not adding the Sonos App to the ‘tunnel-list’, it simply uses the general ISP connection. Those Apps placed on the list use the tunnel. Any VPN client App without a split-tunnel feature, I thought, needed to be disabled, otherwise ‘everything’ just operates over the VPN connection?

My understanding of split-tunneling is that only corp network access goes over the VPN, and everything else passes through (including local access). It has been a long time since I stopped using my phone for work though, things may have changed.

Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.
Ken_Griffiths

My understanding of split-tunneling is that only corp network access goes over the VPN, and everything else passes through (including local access). It has been a long time since I stopped using my phone for work though, things may have changed.

Not really my area either in truth ​@controlav… thanks anyway.👍

If what I mentioned above though is correct for Home users, I’d have thought that the "Secure VPN” element of the ‘McAFee Protect App’ is just a basic VPN client operating without any ‘split tunnelling’ features - unless there are options to enable that in its settings and exclude the Sonos App from using the tunnel.

That said, my understanding is that mobile VPN client Apps with ‘split-tunnelling’ usually operate the other way around, with Apps on the mobile device using the general ISP connection "by default" and switching over to the secure tunnel, when they’re listed in the App by the user. 

If true, and I was personally using the McAfee Protect App, I’d maybe consider getting a different/separate VPN client with split-tunnelling features in this instance - at least that way, many of the ‘other’ Apps (corporate, or otherwise) installed on the mobile device can then be listed/allowed to connect securely, with Sonos still working alongside with its general ISP connection.

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