Browser extension can’t connect in Russia; need sync/visibility with Windows app exclusions

[Lekash1]

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

2.8.2 (1921)

Environment

- ОС : Windows 11

Which DNS server do you use?

Default

Custom DNS

No response

Use Wintun

• yes, I do

Issue Details

Steps to reproduce:

Install AdGuard VPN browser extension (Chrome/Edge) on a clean Windows PC in Russia (no AdGuard VPN desktop app installed).

Open the extension and try to sign in / connect.

The extension cannot connect (no VPN tunnel is established), so I can’t even log in.

Workaround:

Installing AdGuard VPN for Windows works (VPN connects), but the browser extension still can’t be used as the main control panel.

Expected Behavior

Browser extension should be able to connect and establish a VPN connection (or at least allow login) in the same environment where the Windows app works.

Actual Behavior

Browser extension cannot connect at all in Russia (Edge/Chrome). It shows connection error and I can’t log in without already having VPN working.

AdGuard VPN Windows app works fine on the same network.

Screenshots

Additional Information

OS: Windows 11

Browsers: Chrome + Edge

AdGuard VPN for Windows version: 2.8.2 (1921)

Region/ISP: Russia

Also tested on other clean PCs (family) — same issue with the browser extension.

Feature request (optional): show per-site routing status / sync sites list between Windows app and extension.

[okSashaok]

Для работы расширения нужно установить доменный в VPN:
adguard-vpn.online
meanguru.team
clearmarketing.site

Не исключаю, что у вас сломалось само расширение и из-за этого оно не работает. У меня у самого в этом регионе зависает, но проблем связанных с не пропусканием я не обнаружил.

[AlexandrPkhm]

@Lekash1 Hello!

The AdGuard VPN browser extension is a standalone product. Unfortunately, it no longer works in Russia because the IPSec protocol has been completely blocked via signature analysis.

If you still wish to use the browser extension, you must route it through the AdGuard VPN for Windows tunnel. The only solution is to set the Windows app to General exclusions mode. Otherwise, as @okSashaok mentioned, you would need to constantly add our service domains to the Selective list manually.

If you want to completely exclude specific domain zones (for example, all .ru sites) from the VPN, you can add ru to the General exclusions list of AdGuard VPN for Windows as a TLD.