Automatically change operating mode to Integrated mode

[Critical-Break-5818]

Please answer the following questions for yourself before submitting an issue.

• I checked the knowledge base and found no answer
• I checked to make sure that this issue has not already been filed

AdGuard VPN version

v2.8

Environment

• OS: iOS 18.6 latest version
• Device: iPhone 14 Pro Max, 15 Pro max, iPhone SE

Operating mode

VPN

Exclusions mode

Regular

Which DNS server do you use?

Default

Custom DNS

No response

Issue Details

Steps to reproduce:

1. Open AdGuard app and click on Adguard VPN option that will redirect user to Adguard VPN app
2. Once Adguard VPN is opened, keep it open for a few seconds then close the app.
3. Now Open Adguard VPN app, App will show Adguard bridge mode and automatically change "Operating mode" from VPN to Integrated mode

Expected Behavior

No response

Actual Behavior

ideally system should not Operating mode automatically

Screenshots

Screenshot 1

Additional Information

No response

[czhook]

Unfortunately i encountered same issue. Must switch to Ublock origin. Please fix this bug. THX. 🙏

iPhone 16 PM
iOS 18.6.2
Latest version of both Adguard apps

EDIT: tried to update to iOS 26 beta 8 but issue persists.

[Critical-Break-5818]

Its p2 issue.

[brian-morehead]

I am experiencing the same issue. I've tried deleting the integrated mode VPN profile and only keep the AdGuard VPN profile, and then set operating mode to "VPN Mode" but AdGuard VPN for iOS just reinstalls the integrated mode VPN profile automatically and pushes me off VPN operating mode that I want to be on and forces me over to integrated mode again. Same as the user above (czhook).

iPhone 16 Pro
iOS 18.6.2
Latest version of AdGuard (4.5.11 [1034]) and Latest version of AdGuard VPN (2.8).

[czhook]

I updated to the latest version of Adguard ad blocker, but still the same bug.

So I tried enabling integrated mode in both the blocker and the VPN. After a while, the VPN disconnected and when I manually turned it on, it turned off again after a while.

So the combination of blocker and VPN is unusable. Please fix it.

[Swen90]

Hello @Critical-Break-5818 @brian-morehead
I've tried to reproduce your issue but with no success. Is it consistently reproducing on your side?
And in order to find the exact steps for reproducing this bug, please record video and send it to this issue.

[brian-morehead]

@Swen90 The issue seems to have stopped for me. Previously, it would take awhile for the VPN locations to load and then it would randomly do some automated choice to popup the AdGuard app splash screen the moment I loaded AdGuard VPN, and I would see it configure/install/setup integrated mode and push AdGuard VPN into integrated mode without my input.

However, I have not seen this behavior now for the past 2 - 3 days. If I am able to make it reoccur then I will record and drop it into this issue. Thank you.

[czhook]

Hello,

Thanks for the reply. I'll describe my situation and course. In the link there are then two videos where the error is obvious. The problem started a few weeks back - I guess after the AdGuard update. Until then, everything was flawless on both iPhone and iPad.

Yesterday I updated iOS to 26 RC (the error is happening even on 18.6.2), today I deleted Ublock Origin Lite and Adguard VPN, I also deleted the dns profile to make the phone clean and ready.

Restarted the iPhone and installed AdGuard ad blocker first. Set up dns filtering there - native method. Updated the built-in ad blocking filters.

Downloaded AdGuard VPN, set up my private DNS address to the AdGuard server, set up VPN mode and connected. After a while, when entering the VPN app, the connection dropped and disconnected. When I reconnected, after a while it all repeated. Restarting the iPhone didn't help.

Unfortunately, the error repeats when I switch to integrated mode.

I tried setting either quic or http2 in the VPN app, turning off quantum encryption, turning off ipv6 or turning off dns filtering in AdGuard, and using a downloaded profile ... but nothing worked.

When I delete AdGuard ad blocker and use Wior2 or Ublock Origin - everything works as it should and the connection is stable.

Screen recordings - https://kdrive.infomaniak.com/app/share/1530200/039aecdc-ace3-44d7-ae5b-be0e20ad1097

https://youtube.com/shorts/hE28WHl6EbA?feature=share
https://youtube.com/shorts/DLz8FcNSN24?feature=share

[Swen90]

Hello @czhook
Apology for the delay. We investigated the logs you've sent to our support team and couldn't find the cause of the problem. Also, I still can't reproduce the issue you have with integration mode.

In order to troubleshoot this issue, we need to get your application logs with the exact time the issue occurred (you can specify the actions you performed while doing so).
Here's what we need you to do:

• For AdGuard iOS

1. Open Settings -> General -> Turn Advanced mode on -> Advanced settings -> Turn Debug logs switch on.
2. Reproduce the problem, then remember the exact time it happened.
3. Open Settings -> Support -> Export logs.
4. Save it on your device.

• For AdGuard VPN iOS

1. Enable debug logging:
   Settings -> General -> Advanced -> Logging level -> Extended.
2. Reproduce the problem, then remember the exact time it happened.
3. Collect logs:
   Settings -> General -> Advanced -> Export logs and system info
4. Save it on your device.

After that send 2 log files to qa@adguard.com:
- include [iOS] keyword and 447 as an issue number in the subject of your email
- specify the exact time when the issue occurred

[czhook]

Update. I sent the logs and timeline to the email address provided.

Today, I tried installing Adguard blocker (4.5.14) and VPN (2.9) again, and the situation is exactly the same. When I open the VPN application, either the mode changes to integrated or the VPN disconnects.

However, I have noticed something new – when I leave both applications closed, the connection seems to be stable. That is, until I open the VPN application. Then the error repeats itself.

[Swen90]

Hello @czhook I've received logs. But we couldn't find the cause of the problem.
Can you confirm that the issue persists on the latest version 2.9.1?