Why does my printer go offline when I turn on VPN, and what is the fix?

[clminkaty]

My HP Envy 4502 printer goes offline of my wireless network connection when I turn on VPN that I use in my Norton Security package.  I have to turn VPN off to use my printer.  What is the problem and what is the fix?

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @clminkaty,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand the issue you're experiencing is likely due to the way VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) route network traffic. When you turn on the VPN provided by your Norton Security package, all of your network traffic is routed through a remote server. This can interfere with the local network connections required by your printer, causing it to go offline.

Why the Printer Goes Offline with VPN

1. Network Isolation: VPNs create a secure tunnel for your internet traffic, which can isolate your computer from devices on your local network, such as your printer.
2. IP Address Change: When you connect to a VPN, your IP address changes to one assigned by the VPN server. This can break the local network communication between your computer and the printer.
3. Subnet Issues: The VPN might place your computer in a different subnet, making it unable to communicate with the printer's subnet.

Fixes for the Problem

Here are several potential solutions to resolve this issue:

Split Tunneling:

• What It Is: Split tunneling allows you to route some of your traffic through the VPN and some through your local network.
• How to Set It Up: Norton VPN might have a split tunneling option in its settings. You can configure it to exclude the printer's IP address from the VPN tunnel.
• Open Norton Security.
• Go to the VPN settings.
• Look for an option like "Split Tunneling" or "VPN Bypass".
• Add your printer's IP address to the exclusion list.

Local Network Discovery:

• Ensure that network discovery is enabled on your computer so it can detect other devices on the local network, even when the VPN is on.
• Go to "Settings" > "Network & Internet" > "Status" > "Network and Sharing Center".
• Click on "Change advanced sharing settings".
• Turn on "Network discovery" and "File and printer sharing".

Manual Printer Configuration:

• Configure your printer with a static IP address and set up a direct IP printer port on your computer. This can sometimes bypass the issues caused by VPN.
• Find your printer's IP address in your router's settings or on the printer's network configuration page.
• Assign a static IP to the printer within the router's DHCP settings.
• On your computer, go to "Settings" > "Devices" > "Printers & scanners".
• Select "Add a printer or scanner", then "The printer that I want isn’t listed".
• Choose "Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname".
• Enter the printer's static IP address and complete the setup.

Use Local VPN Exceptions:

• Some VPNs allow you to specify exceptions for local network devices. Check if Norton Security provides this feature.

Turn off VPN Temporarily:

• As a last resort, if none of the above methods work, you can temporarily turn off the VPN while printing and turn it back on afterward.

Refer to this document:  HP ENVY 4502 e-All-in-One Printer User manual 

HP printer is offline or unavailable 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

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