Proton VPN Blames Google for Android 16 Bug

If your Android VPN stopped working after a recent app update, you're in good company. Proton VPN has publicly blamed Google for a bug introduced with Android 16 that can sever internet connectivity after apps update, affecting VPN functionality and leaving users without a network connection.

According to Proton VPN, the issue isn't isolated to its app: the problem appears to stem from a platform-level regression in Android 16 that interferes with how apps retain or re-establish network access post-update. The bug reportedly appeared about seven months ago, and Proton says affected users experience complete loss of internet access until device restart or other workarounds are applied.

Proton has urged Google to prioritize a fix, arguing that the behavior undermines the reliability of VPN services and harms users who rely on secure, persistent connections. While Proton VPN has issued guidance and temporary mitigations for customers, those steps are a band-aid if the underlying OS behavior isn't corrected by Google.

We haven't seen an official, detailed timeline from Google about addressing this regression, and public reports suggest varying degrees of impact depending on device models, manufacturers and update cadence. That makes it harder for VPN developers to implement a one-size-fits-all workaround without risking compatibility or security trade-offs.

For now, impacted users might have to reboot their devices or temporarily disable and re-enable VPN services after updates. If you're seeing connectivity issues post-update, check Proton's support pages and Android forums for the latest workarounds and status updates while waiting for a platform patch.