Stuck on gathering printer supplies information

This is a user to user forum, not Apple support. And you are looking at the wrong problem.

VPN frequently creates more problems than it solves. But one important fact is that when you install VPN it configures itself to the specific hardware, iOS version and network that the phone uses. If any of those change it can break the VPN. So any time you change any of these you may need to delete the VPN app and profile, restart your phone then add them back (if you still want to use VPN) so it can configure itself to the new environment.

Here's Apple's advice on VPN→

Check VPN (Virtual Private Network) and third-party software to help resolve network connectivity issues - Apple Support

Something to think about→Don't use VPN - GITHUB

There are two legitimate purposes for using VPN:

• To allow access to a private network such as a school or business when you are not on site. 
• To allow access outside of a country with a repressive government that has restricted Internet access. (This has suddenly become more important)

Any other use is risky, and can lead to problems like the one discussed in this thread. VPN disguises your location by making you appear to be somewhere else in the world. But you usually can’t control that “somewhere else”, and if it is in a location that an app isn’t approved for the app won’t work. Plus the fact that the provider of the VPN knows everything about you and your location, as well as what sites you access through the VPN. So you are totally dependent on the VPN provider’s honesty. As a start, if the VPN is free, DON’T USE IT. The provider has to make money somehow, and if you aren’t paying them then they are selling your private data to make money. But even those that charge can’t necessarily be trusted. For example, a few years ago Avast was caught selling user browsing data. They claim they have stopped doing so. 

You don’t really need VPN when using public Wi-Fi, because all communications between your device and the servers it accesses are end-to-end encrypted.

If you want VPN for privacy about the sites you visit, that’s not a good choice as discussed; instead you should download and use the TOR browser.

The other use for VPN is to “steal” content that is not available in your area. I leave this question to your personal ethics.

With iOS 15.2 and later for iOS/iPadOS and MacOS Monterey 12.2 and later Apple now has iCloud+ Private Relay, which is not VPN, but provides a safer browsing environment than VPN, and it doesn't spy on you→About iCloud Private Relay - Apple Support

Nalaxer wrote:

Most people in all the comment threads discussing this issue do not have VPN

Please cite a source for this statement. So far I’ve seen quite a few where VPN was the problem in this and other threads, and very few where it was not the problem. And where it was not the standard troubleshooting usually fixed it→AirPrint Troubleshooting - Apple Community

It is most likely VPN; VPN frequently creates more problems than it solves. But one important fact is that when you install VPN it configures itself to the specific hardware, iOS version and network that the phone uses. If any of those change it can break the VPN. So any time you change any of these you may need to delete the VPN app and profile, restart your phone then add them back (if you still want to use VPN) so it can configure itself to the new environment.

If that doesn’t fix it there is more troubleshooting guidance in this user tip→AirPrint Troubleshooting - Apple Community

megahungster wrote:

i have the same problem with the latest ios update

Do the following, in this order:

• If you have VPN installed, delete the VPN profile and app - If that doesn't fix it proceed with the next steps
• power off the printer
• Power off your iPhone
• Restart your router by unplugging it for 15 seconds (many newer routers have no true power switch)
• Turn on your iPhone
• Connect the iPhone to the Wi-Fi network if it doesn’t automatically connect
• Power on the printer and wait for it to connect to Wi-Fi

These steps restart the BonJour network that supports AirPrint, and will usually resolve any AirPrint issues. You probably don’t need to do all of them, but following these steps is usually less work than finding the one that is causing the problem.

If these steps don't work you should also check with the printer manufacturer for a firmware update for the printer. Apple has updated Bonjour to improve security, and the printer firmware may not be compatible with the latest Bonjour version until it is updated. Several printer models have started working again after they were updated.

I don’t have VPN on either my iPhone or ipdad.

I even got a new printer and it worked for two whole days until the latest update a few days ago🙃🫠

If you use VPN it can interfere with AirPrint, and also screen mirroring, AirDrop, and many other apparent communications glitches.

So if you use VPN delete the VPN profile and app (don’t just turn it off)

Can I repeat what I posted?

But one important fact is that when you install VPN it configures itself to the specific hardware, iOS version and network that the phone uses. If any of those change it CAN break the VPN.

I did not say WILL break the VPN. I said CAN.

I don’t really care whether you take my advice or not. And I may be wrong. But you won’t know unless you delete the VPN profile. I will tell you that your problem is unique to your situation. Millions of users have updated, and it has not broken their AirPrint. And in another thread on this subject everyone who deleted their VPN profile said it fixed the problem.

I see no point in replying in this thread again.

If I google “the earth is flat” it’s all over the Internet also. Last time I checked it came up with "About 900,000,000 results (0.37 seconds) "

So are you here to carp, or have you followed the troubleshooting that fixes it, as it has for just about everyone in this thread?

Mr. Finch, you are the one that requested sources. I showed you where to find them. If you found 900,000,000 then undoubtedly you cannot blame all of them on a VPN.

Of course my company tried every possible remedy for this problem before purchasing all new android phones.

I have yet to see how your recommendations has helped anyone.

I found 900 million posts about “the earth is flat”, not about AirPrint, and my point was that Google references are worthless as a source of useful information. Sturgeon’s Law.

As to my recommendations not helping anyone, I guess you didn’t read the thread you posted to with posts saying that my information had solved their problem, as well as other AirPrint threads. The most common solution was deleting a VPN profile (then adding it back), followed by rebooting all of the involved components (router, printer and iOS devices). Except for Canon printers, which required a firmware update.

Only agreeable thing you’ve said is Google references are useless, as that is exactly how I found this thread.

Also the thread I posted to does not show any comments that said your recommendations have helped. They are saying they never had a VPN or have uninstalled it.

I followed your suggestion about turning my VPN off for when I need to print and it worked! I too hope Apple can remedy this issue so that I can print documents even when my VPN is on. Thanks for posting how you worked around the issue!

AthleticGB wrote:

I followed your suggestion about turning my VPN off for when I need to print and it worked! I too hope Apple can remedy this issue so that I can print documents even when my VPN is on. Thanks for posting how you worked around the issue!

Apple can’t do anything to fix it, because they don’t have access to the code of the defective VPN app that is causing the problem, and it would be illegal for them to change someone else’s code. One thing that may work is to delete the VPN app and profile, then reinstall it so it can reconfigure its connections.

Thanks for your input! I was finally able to print from my IPhone by turning off my VPN. I’m not sure if doing that will work every time I want to print from my phone but for the time being it works. Maybe eventually, Apple will solve this problem.