VPN Conflict with Emby Server

[Bradum 15]

Hi All,

I am running an Emby server that I have friends connecting to remotely. I recently started running a system-wide VPN (Proton VPN) but I have Emby and Emby Server set as exceptions to not use the VPN; for some reason this is still causing people to not be able to connect when the VPN is active. Is there another program or service I need to add as an exception to the VPN, or is there something else I'm missing?

Thanks in advance!

[JackBowman 35]

What is your VPN?

 

[Bradum 15]

2 hours ago, JackBowman said:

What is your VPN?

 

Proton VPN

[Tur0k 148]

Did you implement proton VPN connection on the Emby server host or the firewall/router?  

[Bradum 15]

1 hour ago, Tur0k said:

Did you implement proton VPN connection on the Emby server host or the firewall/router?  

I have Emby Server set as an exception for my VPN, so they shouldn't be running through it.

 

Edited December 8, 2025 by Bradum

[TMCsw 248]

Most VPN's have BLOCKERS enabled when running (even for split tunnels) (ads, DNS, spyware, etc)

So check (TURN OFF) ALL settings in the Proton VPN (to see what is blocking Emby)...

[Bradum 15]

14 minutes ago, TMCsw said:

Most VPN's have BLOCKERS enabled when running (even for split tunnels) (ads, DNS, spyware, etc)

So check (TURN OFF) ALL settings in the Proton VPN (to see what is blocking Emby)...

Good call. I will experiment with that tomorrow.

Thanks for the suggestion. I appreciate it!

[crusher11 1101]

I also have Proton VPN and with it active I couldn't even connect to my server via LAN.

[Bradum 15]

That makes sense. You have to use the split-tunneling feature so it's available via LAN rather than being funneled through the VPN.

[TMCsw 248]

@BradumCould you share what settings you are using to make "Proton VPN" work with Emby?

This may help others.

[Bradum 15]

17 hours ago, TMCsw said:

@BradumCould you share what settings you are using to make "Proton VPN" work with Emby?

This may help others.

Weird, I submitted a comment but it didn't seem to have posted.

Fortunate that it didn't though, I actually still seem to be having issues. It worked initially, but the person trying may have already been connected; when they tried to connect again after it didn't work.

What I tried was disabling "Net Shield" hoping that would turn off whatever was blocking the connection, but no dice. 

[crusher11 1101]

Split tunneling doesn't seem to be working either. I tried excluding my browser, and I tried excluding my Emby LAN IP, no dice.

[JackBowman 35]

I can share with you that split tunneling works well with ExpressVPN.

[Bradum 15]

On 12/10/2025 at 11:16 AM, crusher11 said:

Split tunneling doesn't seem to be working either. I tried excluding my browser, and I tried excluding my Emby LAN IP, no dice.

Split tunneling works for me. Are you excluding Emby Server itself?

There's also a setting under Advanced Settings called "Allow LAN Connections" which you probably want to enable.

[crusher11 1101]

17 minutes ago, Bradum said:

Split tunneling works for me. Are you excluding Emby Server itself?

 

The server isn't running on the same machine as the VPN.

The LAN setting is on by default.

Edited December 14, 2025 by crusher11

[crusher11 1101]

It appears my entire Synology NAS—which is what's running my server—is inaccessible with the VPN active. Can't even browse it in Windows Explorer. No such issues with my TrueNAS though, that continues to work just fine.

[Bradum 15]

22 hours ago, crusher11 said:

It appears my entire Synology NAS—which is what's running my server—is inaccessible with the VPN active. Can't even browse it in Windows Explorer. No such issues with my TrueNAS though, that continues to work just fine.

Did you enable "Allow LAN connections"?

[pwhodges 2012]

2 hours ago, Bradum said:

Did you enable "Allow LAN connections"?

On 14/12/2025 at 15:42, crusher11 said:

The LAN setting is on by default.

 

[Bradum 15]

7 minutes ago, pwhodges said:

 

Sorry. My bad.

[Chillout 110]

Does Proton have a setting to allow remote connections similar to what Nord VPN has in user settings?

[crusher11 1101]

The fact that my TrueNAS works but my Synology doesn't suggests it's not some global setting at issue here.

[crusher11 1101]

Scratch that, checking the “access devices by name” setting has resolved the issue.