How do I access my local network while on VPN?

Open the VPN Settings within the Senton application. Switch on LAN Accessibility. Connect to the VPN while you are on the local network you trust. Your operating system may ask for permission to access the local network; approve it.

Does local traffic use the VPN tunnel?

No. Traffic between your device and another device on your local network does not go through the VPN. Eligible internet traffic does, however.

Is my internet traffic still protected?

Yes. Switching on LAN Accessibility changes the path that traffic between devices on your local network takes. It does not impact the path that your internet traffic takes. Internet traffic continues to use your active Senton connection, according to your routing settings.

Can I access my home network from another location?

No. LAN Accessibility only works between devices on the same local network. It does not allow your device to access other devices on your local network from some other location. That job calls for a different kind of remote-access setup.

Which devices can I access?

Compatibility of LAN Accessibility depends on the local device, router, firewall, discovery method and the Senton platform you are on. Printers, NAS devices and media systems are some of the supported devices.

Should I enable LAN access on public Wi-Fi?

We would not recommend using LAN Accessibility on shared networks such as hotels, airports and cafes, as you do not know what else is connected to the network. Turn it off until you are on a network you trust.

Does it work in the Chrome extension?

Yes, LAN Accessibility is available in the Chrome extension, so you can still access local devices like printers and network drives while browsing with Senton VPN.

Is LAN Accessibility enabled by default?

No. LAN Accessibility is usually disabled by default for security reasons. You need to manually turn it on in your application settings.

LAN ACCESSIBILITY

Keep your LAN network connectivity while the VPN stays on.

Q: Why can’t Senton VPN find my printer or NAS?

The device may be on a different network or subnet. Your router may not allow clients to connect to other clients on the network. The device may have a firewall that does not allow local connections. The permission for LAN accessibility may not be enabled on the Senton VPN app for your local network. The service for accessing the device may not be running on the device.

Switching the VPN off to reach a document or a drive located in the next room is a habit nobody wants to develop. LAN Accessibility from Senton VPN removes the need to switch the VPN off. All of your local area network devices will remain accessible, so you keep local network access and protected browsing together.

The routing of your connection will split. Any communication to devices on your local area network will use your LAN connection. Eligible internet traffic will route through Senton VPN as per your active connection settings.

Reach local devicesAll devices such as printers, storage devices and media systems on your local area network will remain accessible.

Keep the VPN connectedThere is no need to disconnect from your VPN to reach your local devices.

Control the exceptionLocal network access can be enabled or disabled within your Senton VPN Settings.

Start 7-day free trial See how LAN Access works

Senton app on Android showing the LAN Accessibility setting

Local trafficKept on the LAN you trust

Internet trafficProtected by Senton VPN as configured

Main requirementThe devices normally sit on one LAN

AvailabilityVaries by application and by platform

A home network: a printer, a network drive and a smart TV connected to a router, with internet traffic from the router going out through Senton VPN

What is LAN Accessibility?

LAN Accessibility means that your device does not lose its LAN network connectivity even when your VPN is protecting your internet connection. You can still have supported conversations between your device and the other machines on your local network. This feature is also referred to as local network access.

Anything your device sends to a machine on your own network rides your LAN connection and never reaches the remote VPN server. Traffic meant for the internet will route through your VPN connection as normal.

It should be noted that access depends on your router, firewall, device permissions and network configuration.

Access supported local printers and storage
Use supported media and home-network devices
Keep the main VPN connection active
Enable or disable the local-network exception
Use only on trusted networks

LAN Accessibility in the Senton VPN app

A single setting, on each platform.

The Senton iPhone settings screen with the LAN Accessibility option — The setting on iPhoneThe on and off switch for LAN Accessibility, as it appears in the Senton settings list.

Two routes, one active connection

Local-network traffic

Examples: printer, NAS, smart TV, router page, local media server
Stays on your LAN network connection
Never reaches the remote Senton VPN server
May reveal the device's private LAN address to local devices
Depends on router and firewall permissions

Internet traffic

Examples: websites, internet applications, online services
Uses the Senton VPN tunnel where eligible
Uses the selected VPN location
Subject to Bypasser and other routing rules
Protected according to the active VPN settings

Local-network exceptions do not automatically apply to traffic outside the LAN.

How LAN Accessibility works

1Connect to SentonOpen a supported Senton application to establish a protected VPN connection.

2Turn on LAN AccessibilityAllow supported local traffic to pass through from within your Senton VPN Settings.

3Connect to a LAN network deviceAccess a device that is connected to your local network such as a printer, drive or network service.

4Keep internet traffic on SentonInternet traffic that is eligible for protection will travel through your VPN connection as per your current settings.

Devices LAN Accessibility may help you reach

Network printersAccess and send print jobs to a supported printer that is located on your local network.

NAS and shared storageLAN file sharing with the supported shared folders and storage devices on your local network.

Smart TVs and media playersStream media content from a supported device located on your local network.

Routers and network toolsAccess the settings of a router or network management tool that is located on your local network.

Local media serversAccess media content that is shared between devices on your local network.

Office devicesReach supported shared printers, storage or internal hardware while connected to the same office LAN.

Useful at home and in the office

Print locallyUse a supported network printer without disconnecting the entire VPN.

Access shared filesReach supported NAS folders and local storage on a trusted network.

Stream on the LANConnect to supported smart TVs, casting devices or local media servers.

Use internal office toolsReach supported devices and resources while physically connected to the same office network.

Use LAN Accessibility only on networks you trust

When enabled

Local traffic can bypass the VPN tunnel
Local devices may see the private LAN address
The device may communicate with printers, storage and other systems
Operating-system firewall rules remain important

Use extra care on

Public Wi-FiHotelsAirportsCafésShared accommodationUnknown office networksNetworks with client-to-client communication enabled

Consider disabling LAN Accessibility when connected to an untrusted or public network.

Why can’t Senton VPN find my printer or NAS?

Different networks or subnetsThe device may be on a different network or subnet.

Router client isolationYour router may not allow clients to connect to other clients on the network.

Device firewallThe device may have a firewall that does not allow local connections.

Operating-system permissionsThe permission for LAN accessibility may not be enabled on the Senton VPN app for your local network.

Discovery protocolsSome devices rely on multicast or discovery methods that may not be supported.

Device service disabledThe service for accessing the device may not be running on the device.

Troubleshoot LAN access

LAN Accessibility availability

Availability and routing scope depend on the Senton application and operating environment.

AndroidSupported

Local network access applies to the device VPN connection. The behaviour is dependent upon the local network, the router and operating system permissions.

Chrome extensionSupported

Available on Chrome browser. Devices on the local network, like printers and network drives, will be accessible while browsing the internet with the extension installed.

Availability and routing scope depend on the Senton application and the operating environment.

Enable LAN Accessibility

1Open Senton VPNOpen the Senton application on your supported platform.

2Open VPN SettingsNavigate to the VPN settings of your application.

3Turn on LAN AccessibilitySwitch local network access on wherever your application offers the setting.

4Connect on a trusted networkConnect to Senton VPN on a LAN you trust and approve any local-network permission the operating system asks for.

How LAN Accessibility works with other Senton controls

Kill SwitchWhether local traffic stays reachable while Kill Switch blocks internet traffic depends on the platform and application version — check the current platform notes.

BypasserWhile LAN Accessibility governs the traffic on your local network, the Bypasser chooses which applications or websites to assign to the VPN connection. They are two different routing decisions.

Auto ConnectWhether local-network settings persist after an automatic reconnection depends on the supported application settings.

SafewebThe traffic from the devices on your local network may not pass through the Safeweb filter if it does not travel the relevant VPN path.

Works with other Senton connection controls

Kill SwitchBlocks the supported internet traffic after an unexpected disconnection from the VPN, according to platform behaviour.Learn more BypasserThe Bypasser will decide which applications and websites use the VPN or the normal connection.Learn more Auto ConnectThe automatic start or reconnect to Senton will occur according to the settings for the supported connections.Learn more Quick ConnectThe Quick Connect function will allow you to connect to your saved Senton location with one tap.Learn more

Frequently asked questions

Connected to the VPN, your device can still talk to the other hardware on your local network. Printers, smart TVs and media servers are some examples of the kind of hardware you might have on your local network. Traffic between devices on your local network does not go through the private VPN tunnel.