We have a VPN app that uses NEPacketTunnelProvider with includeAllNetworks = true. We've encountered an issue where push notifications are not delivered over Wi-Fi while the tunnel is active in a pre-MFA quarantine state (tunnel is up but traffic is blocked on server side), regardless of whether excludeAPNS is set to true or false.
Observed behavior
Wi-Fi excludeAPNS = true - Notifications not delivered
Wi-Fi excludeAPNS = false - Notifications not delivered
Cellular excludeAPNS = true - Notifications delivered
Cellular excludeAPNS = false - Notifications not delivered
On cellular, the behavior matches our expectations: setting excludeAPNS = true allows APNS traffic to bypass the tunnel and notifications arrive; setting it to false routes APNS through the tunnel and notifications are blocked (as expected for a non-forwarding tunnel). On Wi-Fi, notifications fail to deliver in both cases.
Our question
Is this expected behavior when includeAllNetworks is enabled on Wi-Fi, or is this a known issue / bug with APNS delivery? Is there something else in the Wi-Fi networking path that includeAllNetworks affects beyond routing, which could prevent APNS from functioning even when the traffic is excluded from the tunnel?
Sample Project
Below is the minimal code that reproduces this issue. The project has two targets: a main app and a Network Extension. The tunnel provider captures all IPv4 and IPv6 traffic via default routes but does not forward packets — simulating a pre-MFA quarantine state. The main app configures the tunnel with includeAllNetworks = true and provides a UI toggle for excludeAPNS.
PacketTunnelProvider.swift (Network Extension target):
import NetworkExtension
class PacketTunnelProvider: NEPacketTunnelProvider {
override func startTunnel(options: [String : NSObject]?, completionHandler: @escaping (Error?) -> Void) {
let settings = NEPacketTunnelNetworkSettings(tunnelRemoteAddress: "127.0.0.1")
let ipv4 = NEIPv4Settings(addresses: ["198.51.100.1"], subnetMasks: ["255.255.255.0"])
ipv4.includedRoutes = [NEIPv4Route.default()]
settings.ipv4Settings = ipv4
let ipv6 = NEIPv6Settings(addresses: ["fd00::1"], networkPrefixLengths: [64])
ipv6.includedRoutes = [NEIPv6Route.default()]
settings.ipv6Settings = ipv6
let dns = NEDNSSettings(servers: ["198.51.100.1"])
settings.dnsSettings = dns
settings.mtu = 1400
setTunnelNetworkSettings(settings) { error in
if let error = error {
completionHandler(error)
return
}
self.readPackets()
completionHandler(nil)
}
}
private func readPackets() {
packetFlow.readPackets { [weak self] packets, protocols in
self?.readPackets()
}
}
override func stopTunnel(with reason: NEProviderStopReason, completionHandler: @escaping () -> Void) {
completionHandler()
}
override func handleAppMessage(_ messageData: Data, completionHandler: ((Data?) -> Void)?) {
if let handler = completionHandler {
handler(messageData)
}
}
override func sleep(completionHandler: @escaping () -> Void) {
completionHandler()
}
override func wake() {
}
}
ContentView.swift (Main app target) — trimmed to essentials:
import SwiftUI
import NetworkExtension
struct ContentView: View {
@State private var excludeAPNs = false
@State private var manager: NETunnelProviderManager?
var body: some View {
VStack {
Toggle("Exclude APNs", isOn: $excludeAPNs)
.onChange(of: excludeAPNs) { Task { await saveAndReload() } }
Button("Connect") { Task { await toggleVPN() } }
}
.padding()
.task { await loadManager() }
}
private func loadManager() async {
let managers = try? await NETunnelProviderManager.loadAllFromPreferences()
if let existing = managers?.first {
manager = existing
} else {
let m = NETunnelProviderManager()
let proto = NETunnelProviderProtocol()
proto.providerBundleIdentifier = "<your-extension-bundle-id>"
proto.serverAddress = "127.0.0.1"
proto.includeAllNetworks = true
proto.excludeAPNs = excludeAPNs
m.protocolConfiguration = proto
m.localizedDescription = "TestVPN"
m.isEnabled = true
try? await m.saveToPreferences()
try? await m.loadFromPreferences()
manager = m
}
if let proto = manager?.protocolConfiguration as? NETunnelProviderProtocol {
excludeAPNs = proto.excludeAPNs
}
}
private func saveAndReload() async {
guard let manager else { return }
if let proto = manager.protocolConfiguration as? NETunnelProviderProtocol {
proto.includeAllNetworks = true
proto.excludeAPNs = excludeAPNs
}
manager.isEnabled = true
try? await manager.saveToPreferences()
try? await manager.loadFromPreferences()
}
private func toggleVPN() async {
guard let manager else { return }
if manager.connection.status == .connected {
manager.connection.stopVPNTunnel()
} else {
await saveAndReload()
try? manager.connection.startVPNTunnel()
}
}
}
Steps to reproduce
Build and run the sample project with above code on a physical iOS device. Connect to a Wi-Fi network.
Set excludeAPNS = true using the toggle and tap Connect.
Send a push notification to the device to a test app with remote notification capability (e.g., via a test push service or the push notification console).
Observe that the notification is not delivered.
Disconnect. Switch to cellular. Reconnect with the same settings.
Send the same push notification — observe that it is delivered.
Environment
iOS 26.2
Xcode 26.2
Physical device (iPhone 15 Pro)
5
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