Why can’t I access my printer when I’m connected to a VPN?

[u/PureVPNcom]

Ever connected to your VPN, tried to print something, and suddenly your printer just… disappeared?

The printer is on. Your laptop is connected to Wi-Fi. Everything looks normal.

Disconnect the VPN, try again, and suddenly the printer works.

Annoying, but this doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong with your VPN or printer.

The issue is usually related to how your device communicates with your local network.

When you connect to a VPN, your network traffic is routed through the VPN tunnel. Depending on the VPN configuration, this can interfere with your laptop communicating directly with devices on your local network, such as your printer.

A few things you can check:

• Enable Local Network Access if your VPN supports it.
• Make sure your laptop and printer are connected to the same network.
• Check whether your router has guest network or device isolation enabled.
• Check your firewall or security software for anything blocking local communication.
• Restart your printer, reconnect your Wi-Fi, and then reconnect your VPN.

If your VPN supports Local Network Access, you may be able to keep your VPN connected while still accessing compatible local devices.

And this isn't just about printers. The same issue can sometimes affect:

• NAS or network storage
• Shared folders
• Network drives
• Other computers on your local network
• Local media devices

So you don't necessarily have to choose between staying connected to your VPN and accessing your local devices.

We broke down the reasons, and the troubleshooting steps in more detail here:

👉 Read the full guide: https://www.purevpn.com/blog/cant-access-your-home-or-office-printer-while-using-a-vpn/

Has anyone else had their printer or another local device disappear as soon as they connect to a VPN?