A serious problem with VPN connections appeared on the Android 16 platform, and what is even more worrying is the fact that the bug has been going on for months without an official solution from Google.
According to multiple providers, including Proton VPN, Mullvad VPN and WireGuard, the issue causes the VPN connection to drop in the background without any warning to the user.
Android 16: VPN connections are not working properly for months
It most often occurs after updating the VPN application via the Google Play Store while the connection is active. At that moment, an error occurs in the network part of the system, which practically “breaks” the VPN without any visible indicator.
An additional problem is that users often think that the fault lies with the VPN provider, when in fact it is a system bug.
Restarting the application usually does not help. The only reliable temporary solutions are to completely restart the device or reinstall the application, which is far from an ideal scenario for everyday use.
The problem does not affect all devices, but it is widespread enough to cause serious concern in the security industry.
Although the first reports about this bug arrived as early as mid-2025, Google has not yet offered a concrete solution or a clear timeframe for a fix. For now, users are advised to be extra careful and occasionally check if the VPN connection is active, because the system can terminate it without being clearly indicated, writes Android Headlines.