Cannot open Home Assistant on VPN on Android

I’m having this strange issue where I’m unable to connect to Home assistant when I’m connected via a VPN to my home network.

OpenVPN server on my router.
OpenVPN client on my phone (android 12)
HomeAssistant running on a HyperV VM connected via LAN

When I’m connected to WIFI, everything works fine (both companion app and via local url 192.168.1.65:8123
And when connected via VPN I can access other devices on my LAN, (opensprinkler, tasmota switches, etc) via their 192.168 address
But when I’m connected via the VPN neither HA app or local url work. (i don’t even get an error message in the browser, the progress bar moves about 5% of the way then stops, and it just sits there)
Same behaviour in an incognito tab.
And the companion app give me the “Unable to connect to Home Assistant” message

So then I installed OpenVPN client on my partners phone.
Everything works perfectly when connected via VPN.
Huh?

So it is something to do with my phone but specific to HomeAssistant.

Any suggestions on where I need to look to investigate further? Logs etc

Hi Morris, welcome to the forum!

Did you use the same settings in OVPN on both phones and same HA id’s?
What if you use a browser on your phone to open http://192.168.1.65:8123

Try turning the phone off and on again.

Yes, I’ve restarted the phone multiple times. No effect.

Yes, I imported the same config/login file into both phones that I exported from my openvpn server.
The 192 address works when on home wifi and doesn’t work when connected via VPN over mobile data.

And here’s another wrinkle.
Today at work when phone connected to work wifi, I connect to my vpn at home.
And everything works. Companion app and 192 url.

I’m thinking routing settings being pulled from the wifi network that don’t get created when I’m using my mobile/cell connection.

Might have to go talk nicely to the network team across the hall at work. :slight_smile: