I am currently using Proton VPN with the OpenVPN protocol that came pre-installed with Solus Budgie.

So as I was messing around in settings, I came across the option to turn on the VPN automatically when connected to a certain WiFi network. However, whenever I check the box, the settings app closes and the option is not enabled, leaving me to remember to turn on my VPN every time I use my laptop. Is there a way to fix this?

Also, would it be a good idea for the developers to add a universal "always enable VPN when connected to WiFi" option?

Thanks for any and all help!

    rinkimekari I use the protonVPN client and just turn on VPN at the start of every session. It is always on but I am usually plugged into an ethernet access point. The only issue, I need to -d prior to sleeping or after logging back in. But then, back to c --sc and good to go.

    Not sure that helps given you seem to want something to turn off/on when accessing via WiFi.

      You are asking for two different things: auto-on for a specific network ("certain") and auto-enable for any wifi connection according to your last sentence. Unless I'm getting that wrong.
      Anyways, I'm wondering if you could beat the wi-fi connection right out of the gate by keeping VPN on, as in launching in autostart and forgetting about it. Unless it's a timing thing?

        brent Anyways, I'm wondering if you could beat the wi-fi connection right out of the gate by keeping VPN on, as in launching in autostart and forgetting about it. Unless it's a timing thing?

        openvpn integrates into the network manager rather than being a separate program afaik

            brent Would you be able to elaborate on that? Not quite sure how to do that. Also synth-ruiner Is there a command I could use to start the VPN? There is an option to start something at boot via command, so that might work. The way I set it up is just downloading the config files and creating a VPN using one of them.

                  rinkimekari Was spitballin hypothetically as I'm not qualified to make that happen. Elaboration would be: If OpenVPN is a component that 'integrates'--to steal synth-ruiner 's words--into network manager, then maybe it could be manually controlled via systemctl (https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-use-systemctl-to-list-services-on-systemd-linux) or thru the native System Monitor if you have Budgie. I don't have the expertise/experience in these kinds of moves, nor the confidence, and I don't advise it if your knowledge level is where mine is---I just wondered if it could be possible.
                  edit: I'd love to have one day without a typo anymore🙂

                        brent I found a process that look like it could be OpenVPN, thought I'm not sure what's wrong with it. In the list, it showed this:
                        _____UNIT________________LOAD____ACTIVE__SUB____DESCRIPTION
                        ● openvswitch.service not-found inactive dead openvswitch.service
                        It seems like it's there but broken, but my VPN is working perfectly. (My IP address is in a city a few states away from where I live.)
                        Not quite sure what to do with this information, because it's the only relatively VPN looking thing on the entire list.

                        Edit: I decided to check the disabled list and found openvpn-client@.service and openvpn-server@.service both in the disabled state with the vendor preset enabled. Still not sure what to do. I'll look further into it later.

                            rinkimekari I can't answer this.
                            Set aside 15-20 minutes, and read the top few openvpn threads (https://discuss.getsol.us/?q=openvpn)...I suggest this only so you have a better sense of its operation. One of those threads may accidentally solve what ails you or give you the light bulb moment. I'm not a user.
                            Good luck here. In man openvpn its creators call it a daemon, so that's why I thinking it was possible. At the end of ideas for me.
                            Wait for some better replies.