Unable to delete VPN

I have a VPN configuration listed in network settings that I cannot delete (the "-" is greyed out). It was for access to a former employer's network and originally installed I believe via Microsoft Company Portal. When I left the company I used the correct process for de-registering my MacBook Air, but the VPN remains. I've tried removing it using networksetup -removenetworkservice, but this fails with a response that I cannot remove it "because there aren't any other network services on IPv4". I don't see why this would be the case as Wi-fi, USB LAN etc. all have IPv4 enabled. The MacBook Air is currently running Catalina 10.15.4. Any ideas?

MacBook Air 13", macOS 10.15

Posted on May 4, 2020 10:08 PM

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Posted on Jul 4, 2020 9:17 PM

OK, for the benefit of others facing the same issue, I managed to find a solution for my case. I had tried the command line approach using "networksetup -removenetworkservice networkservice" and found that it failed. I thought I should try single-user mode, but found that the usual commands (even the one shown upon single user login) could not be used to enable write to the file system, so that just wasn't going to work. In the end, I booted in safe mode (holding shift key), and then used the same terminal command and it returned without error. Upon reboot, the old company VPN is no longer listed. I hope this might help someone else.


If anyone from Apple is seeing this - why does the command shown to enable write access to "/" upon single user login not work? I tried "mount -X /" as suggested, "mount - u /", "mount -o update", and they all gave a message saying that write access couldn't be enabled.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 4, 2020 9:17 PM in response to i.lewis.au

OK, for the benefit of others facing the same issue, I managed to find a solution for my case. I had tried the command line approach using "networksetup -removenetworkservice networkservice" and found that it failed. I thought I should try single-user mode, but found that the usual commands (even the one shown upon single user login) could not be used to enable write to the file system, so that just wasn't going to work. In the end, I booted in safe mode (holding shift key), and then used the same terminal command and it returned without error. Upon reboot, the old company VPN is no longer listed. I hope this might help someone else.


If anyone from Apple is seeing this - why does the command shown to enable write access to "/" upon single user login not work? I tried "mount -X /" as suggested, "mount - u /", "mount -o update", and they all gave a message saying that write access couldn't be enabled.

May 5, 2020 6:02 AM in response to i.lewis.au

i.lewis.au wrote:

I have a VPN configuration listed in network settings that I cannot delete (the "-" is greyed out). It was for access to a former employer's network and originally installed I believe via Microsoft Company Portal. When I left the company I used the correct process for de-registering my MacBook Air, but the VPN remains. I've tried removing it using networksetup -removenetworkservice, but this fails with a response that I cannot remove it "because there aren't any other network services on IPv4". I don't see why this would be the case as Wi-fi, USB LAN etc. all have IPv4 enabled. The MacBook Air is currently running Catalina 10.15.4. Any ideas?


Did you ask the IT department for assistance here...


From the man page:


-removenetworkservice networkservice

Use this command to delete a network service <networkservice>.

You cannot use this command to delete the last remaining service

for a hardware port. To do so, you use the -setnetworkserviceen-

abled command.


ref:

man networksetup | more



Set up a VPN connection on Mac - Apple Support



if in doubt Call (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)




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