VPN blocks printer connection — how to bypass

Joe B.

Reviewed for technical accuracy

Specialities: Windows 11/10, macOS (Sonoma/Ventura/Monterey), Printers, Networking, Office Equipment, VPN clients (Cisco/GlobalProtect/OpenVPN/WireGuard)

Printer not working with VPN on Windows 10/Windows 11 or Mac — HP, Epson, Canon, Brother

Technician

Hey! Let’s get your printing back while staying secure. When a VPN blocks printer connection, it’s usually due to tunnel-all traffic or a VPN firewall that blocks LAN access. Tell me your brand (HP, Epson, Canon, Brother), your OS (Windows 10/11 or macOS), and which VPN client you use (Cisco AnyConnect, GlobalProtect, OpenVPN, WireGuard, Nord, Proton, PVPN). We’ll enable local network printing while on VPN using split tunneling or an exclusion for your printer’s IP.

Customer

Windows 11 laptop, Brother laser printer. Our company uses PVPN. As soon as I connect, the printer goes offline and Wi-Fi printing fails. It says printer not found on network until I disconnect the VPN.

Technician

Got it. With PVPN blocking printer access the common causes are:
• All-traffic tunneling that prevents traffic to local subnets (192.168.x.x / 10.x).
• The PVPN client’s kill switch or VPN firewall set to “block LAN”.
• Printer uses Bonjour/mDNS or WSD discovery which the VPN isolates; the queue never resolves the IP.
• DHCP or DNS changes on connect causing a new network profile where network discovery is disabled.
We’ll bypass the VPN for your printer using static IP + split tunnel exception so you can print while VPN is on.

Customer

Sounds good. What’s the first step to let the printer work with PVPN?

Technician

Bypass PVPN on Windows 10/11 — allow local printer:
1) Give the printer a static IP address on your Wi-Fi (e.g., 192.168.1.50). Set it on the printer’s panel or web portal: IP, Subnet, Gateway, DNS (same as router).
2) In Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners, remove any “WSD” or “Bonjour” queue and add by IP address using http/https/ipp or TCP/IP.
3) Open the PVPN app → Settings → enable Allow access to local network (LAN). If you see Split tunneling, add an IP exclusion for 192.168.1.50 and also exclude the printing app if needed (spoolsv is system-wide; usually IP exclusion is enough).
4) If your PVPN profile is managed, ask IT for a policy that allows local subnet or a route to 192.168.1.0/24. This is the cleanest fix when VPN prevents Wi-Fi printer from showing up.

Customer

PVPN does have “block LAN” toggled on. If I disable it, printing works, but security is a concern. Can I keep the VPN secure and still print?

Technician

Yes — use split tunneling instead of fully disabling protection. Two safe approaches:
• Per-IP split tunnel: exclude only the printer’s IP (192.168.1.50). All other traffic stays inside PVPN.
• Per-app split tunnel: exclude spooler-dependent apps (Word/Acrobat/Browser) while leaving other apps in the VPN. Many users prefer the IP method because it’s simple and reliable.
Keep kill switch on for WAN traffic. We’re only allowing local devices, which is standard for secure local printing over Wi-Fi.

Customer

What about my partner’s MacBook on Sonoma — the printer disappears when PVPN connects. Any Mac steps?

Technician

Bypass PVPN on macOS — allow local printer while on VPN:
• Give the printer a manual (static) IP from your router’s range.
• System Settings → Printers & Scanners → Add Printer → choose IP tab → enter the IP and select AirPrint or the vendor driver.
• In the PVPN client set Allow local network or Split tunneling → exclude the printer IP/subnet.
• If discovery still fails, install the vendor driver (HP/Epson/Canon/Brother) so the Mac prints via IPP/TCP by IP, bypassing mDNS which VPNs often block.

Customer

We also use Cisco AnyConnect at work. Are the steps similar if the VPN prevents the printer connection?

Technician

HP/Epson/Canon/Brother printing with popular VPNs:
• Cisco AnyConnect / Secure Client: ask IT to enable Allow local LAN access or add route 192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0. If locked down, use a home/guest SSID for printing then reconnect.
• GlobalProtect: request a split-tunnel include/exclude for your printer subnet and mDNS.
• OpenVPN/WireGuard: add AllowedIPs or route statements for the LAN. Many consumer VPNs (including PVPN) provide an “Allow LAN” switch — turn it on and add your printer as an exception.

Customer

Sometimes the queue says “printer offline when VPN is active” even with split tunneling. Anything else to check?

Technician

Try this quick list:
• Ensure the queue is added by IP address, not by name/WSD.
• Verify the printer replies to ping 192.168.1.50 while PVPN is on.
• In Windows, set Private network profile and turn on Network discovery & File/Printer sharing for private networks.
• In PVPN, confirm the LAN exclusion covers both TCP 631 (IPP) and RAW 9100 if used.
• If the VPN client still hijacks DNS, add the printer via ipp://192.168.1.50/ipp/print so it doesn’t rely on names.

Customer

Perfect. Can we keep PVPN on but quickly toggle printing for guests or a second SSID?

Technician

Good idea. Create a separate IoT/Printer SSID with a fixed subnet (e.g., 192.168.50.0/24) and reserve a static IP for the printer. Then add that subnet to your PVPN split tunnel allow-list. This keeps work traffic encrypted while allowing local devices on Wi-Fi.

Customer

Great — printing works now with PVPN connected. Thanks!

Technician

Summary: If VPN blocks printer connection or your printer goes offline when VPN is active, set a static IP, add the printer by IP/IPP, and use split tunneling or Allow LAN in PVPN (or your VPN client). These steps fix printer not working with VPN on Windows 10/11 and macOS for HP/Epson/Canon/Brother. Need hands-on help? Open the chat.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted fix when VPN prevents Wi-Fi printing (Windows 10/Windows 11/Mac): give the printer a static IP, add it by IP/IPP, and configure PVPN split tunneling or Allow local network. Keep kill switch on for WAN traffic; only the local subnet is excluded.

FAQ

Step-by-step (Windows 10/11)

1. Set a static IP on the printer (reserve in router or on device).
2. Add printer by IP (IPP/TCP) in Printers & scanners.
3. Open PVPN → enable Allow local network or add a split-tunnel exclusion for the printer/subnet.
4. Test with ping <printer-ip>, then print a PDF via IPP.

Step-by-step (macOS)

1. Assign a manual IP to the printer.
2. System Settings → Printers & Scanners → Add → IP → enter IP and choose AirPrint or vendor driver.
3. In PVPN, enable Allow LAN / Split tunneling and exclude the printer IP.
4. Print a test page; if discovery fails, keep using the IP queue.

Sources

• Microsoft — Troubleshoot printer problems (Windows 10/11)
• Apple — Add a network printer by IP
• HP — Drivers & Software
• Epson — Drivers & Utilities
• Canon — Drivers & Software
• Brother — Full Driver & Software Package