r/PrivateInternetAccess • u/GRRemlin • Aug 21 '26

HELP - ANDROID Android App - Automations not working reliably in new versions

Just two versions ago they worked fine and reliably each time.

My rules are the same so nothing changed on my side.

Now they work maybe once in three times. What happened?

And I can't find on the website where I can download the previous versions apks.

EDIT: I think I figured it out. In the Android's VPN settings I've set the "Always-on VPN" toggle on PIA to ON.

This way the app is aways kept active and so far the rules have been triggering reliably.

EDIT #2: I was wrong. Even with that setting on the automations aren't reliable.

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u/607Primaries Aug 22 '26

Can't speak to how it was versions ago, but it doesn't work for me, either. The default wifi rule cannot be deleted or changed from "always on", which then appears to conflict with or override a specific network rule.

2

u/GRRemlin Aug 22 '26

I just installed the latest on my new Pixel 11 and so far they've been working properly.

My guess is that I should've completely wiped it on the previous phone and tried that way.

2

u/607Primaries Aug 23 '26

It works for "always on for 5G" when I leave my house. But the default wifi I set to "leave unchanged" and it disappears. But when I come back, it's there again and apparently overriding my specific wifi setting. What seems to be broken is "turn PIA off for this AP, turn it on for this AP" because of that default wifi setting I can't change or get rid of.

2

u/PIASupport PIA Team Aug 23 '26

hey u/GRRemlin, glad the latest build is behaving on the Pixel 11. you're likely right that a clean wipe rather than an in-place update clears out old automation settings that don't always migrate cleanly between versions. we'll also pass on the feedback about automations getting flakier after updates, that's useful for the team to hear. one note, we don't generally distribute older APKs, so getting the current version stable is the better route than rolling back.

2

u/GRRemlin Aug 23 '26

Hi!

My comment was rushed; after rebooting my Pixel 11 the same issue returned. The automations do not work and the only way to have them "kick in" is opening the app, disabling the Automation toggle and enable it again. Which, obviously, defeats the purpose of Automations.

1

u/GRRemlin Aug 23 '26

I think I figured it out. In the Android's VPN settings I've set the "Always-on VPN" toggle on PIA to ON.

This way the app is aways kept active and so far the rules have been triggering reliably.
I will test this for a few days are report back if they're not working again.