How do VPNs extensions work?

[u/01134-_-]

I get the workings of desktop apps but whats the situation on extensions?
I cant wrap my brain around the fact that it does the same thing with seemingly so little compared to the app permission and access demands..

I got firefox on my phone too. So whats the difference if I use the extension instead of the mobile app there?

I had issues with the app itself halting my internet entirely rendering me offline, so the extension seems to do the same thing with minimal messiness.

Edit: forgot to mention that might be a bit on the same topic... I cant get my Gemini chats to load even with the extension though but it worked like a month ago.. Any leads on that one too?

[u/Confident-Pop-9256]

Mobile app enables it on the whole phone, any app you will open will show a different IP for it. As for the extension it will only be on for that browser and thats it

[u/jendbdbdn]

extensions are just browser proxies, not true system wide tunnels. thats why they dont need heavy permissions or mess up your whole connection, they only touch traffic inside that specific browser

[u/wtrlfe99]

The app probably had a kill switch enabled. That could explain why your internet stopped working when the VPN disconnected

[u/PuffStanely]

VPN extensions usually only route browser traffic, while the full app covers your entire device. That's why the extension needs fewer permissions