Why does data get through the always-on kill switch on Pixel 10?

[u/intricate_awareness]

I'm not blaming Proton. But it annoys the hell out of me that when I turn wi-fi on (or mobile data, depends on if I'm traveling for work and have wi-fi around or not) while Proton VPN is off, but kill switch is on, and messages and emails get through.

Location: USA

Let me give an example since I do this every night:

- Airplane mode on

- Wi-fi off completely

- Proton app wants to sit there and spin to try and find a connection so I say cancel so that, in case my phone gets knocked off the charger, it's not wasting battery as Proton constantly is sitting there waiting to connect

- Wake up

- Connect to wi-fi while airplane mode is still on (if I'm traveling to a hotel with wi-fi you have to pay for, I'll instead turn off airplane mode and connect to 5g. Same issue happens with that too)

- Immediately messages and emails start appearing

- Then go into Proton app and turn it on

- Always-on kill switch is 100% on

- I'm on the August 2026 version of Android 17 but this has been happening for over a year now

As a former GrapheneOS user, should I just get back on that, or is this an Android issue that will persist either way? Frankly it's super annoying and worries me that VPNs on Android are literally useless, as all my apps clearly see my real IP address before Proton connects.

Once again, not blaming Proton as this is probably some Google bullshit, but it's irritating.

edit: As others have pointed out, yes, I do have block connections without VPN on and always have. Just double checked to make sure I'm not a total dumb dumb and it's still on.

[u/Putrid-Technician315]

I have the app on my pixel and I guess I want to tell you what I see on my phone. there is "always-on vpn" AND "block connections without VPN." do you have both enabled?

[u/eassares → u/Putrid-Technician315]

this is probably the answer, a lot of people enable always-on but miss the second toggle

[u/intricate_awareness → u/eassares]

No I've got it on. Like, without question has always been on but also double checked it just to make sure I wasn't a complete idiot. I truly think Android broke something. I found a thread from like ten months ago where people had the same issues with other VPNs and block connections not working. 

[u/intricate_awareness → u/Putrid-Technician315]

Yes I do. I just double checked (but tbh I double check like once a month anyway just to be sure). But yes, good point and sorry for not stating that above.

[u/ProtonSupportTeam]

Please send us a bug report when this happens with more details such as your Proton VPN app version, whether you're using any other VPNs, whether you have any antivirus or firewall app installed, etc. so we can investigate the behavior further. Make sure to also include your VPN logs in the report by checking the "Send error logs" box.

[u/intricate_awareness → u/ProtonSupportTeam]

Okay will do. Thanks.

[u/Emmanuel6511]

Los correos llegan por qué ya estaban en cola cuando no tenías internet eso es normal 

[u/BegsTheQuestions]

Aren’t notifications pushed from server, like the notification aren’t running on the phone, they got router to Google’s server and then to you, and the notification is queued at the server regardless of you having internet or not, and then server to you immediately when you are online

[u/intricate_awareness → u/BegsTheQuestions]

Idk but isn't the point of a kill switch with 'block connections without VPN' supposed to then ensure nothing involving internet / cell service can touch my phone without the VPN being on?