On public Wi-Fi with KuaiLian VPN, disconnect VPN first and load an HTTPS site to finish captive portal auth; connect VPN only after authorization, and verify Kill Switch/split rules do not break local portal traffic.
Hotel Wi-Fi showed VPN connected but email would not load. After disabling VPN, a login page appeared—portal auth was never completed. On public networks, order matters more than switching nodes.
Complements captive portal guide—this is a pre-connect checklist.
Four pre-connect checks
- HTTPS works without VPN—if not, fix Wi-Fi or portal first.
- SMS/room/terms pages—complete before VPN.
- Same SSID, different bands—pick one band for testing.
- Corporate/school VPN blocks—try mobile hotspot; see cellular contrast.
Still offline after VPN: Kill Switch and split
See connected no internet and split tunnel. Kill Switch may block all traffic until portal completes—temporarily adjust per Kill Switch guide.
Security habits on open networks
- Avoid passwords on HTTP pages; sensitive payments on cellular when possible.
- Skip suspicious free hotspot SSIDs.
- Forget the network when leaving to prevent auto-rejoin.
Verify client version on the download page; see connection guide and FAQ.