Windscribe takes long time to reconnect connection after screen turn on

[mimiffi]

When waking up the phone, I have to wait 10-15s for windscribe to reconnect, in that time there is no internet, all apps spin forever, and in windscribe app does not show current IP, it seems opening windscibe speed up the wait time a bit, when current IP shown again, everything then works as normal.
Steps to reproduce: it is somewhat inconsistent, sometimes I don't have to wait, everything just works, sometimes the wait time is there. This was done with battery optimization turned off for windscibe.

Turn on Windscribe, wireguard
Lock screen, wait for a bit, 5-10 minute
Unlock screen, and the wait time is there

{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:41.558","lvl":"info","mod":"vpn_backend","msg":"WireGuard service created."}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:41.665","lvl":"info","mod":"vpn_backend","msg":"WireGuard tunnel state changed to UP"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:41.666","lvl":"info","mod":"vpn_backend","msg":"Starting connectivity test."}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:41.981","lvl":"debug","mod":"pin-ip-recovery","msg":"First handshake received"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:42.172","lvl":"info","mod":"vpn_backend","msg":"Connectivity test attempt: 1/3"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:42.173","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"BridgeAPI_impl::setCurrentHost: 'sg-013.whiskergalaxy.com'"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:42.174","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"BridgeAPI_impl::setIgnoreSslErrors, true"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:42.175","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"BridgeAPI_impl::setConnectedState, fetching token for host 'sg-013.whiskergalaxy.com'"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:42.176","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"BridgeAPI_impl::executeRequestImpl, bIgnoreSslErrors_: true"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:42.180","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"DNS servers in channel are changed: 10.255.255.1:53"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:42.181","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"New curl request : https://10.255.255.1:19800/v1/token"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:42.222","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"DNS resolution for tunnel test (checkip.windscribe.com), result: cares: Successful completion, timems: 40"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:42.224","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"New curl request : https://checkip.windscribe.com/?platform=android&app_version=3.98.2081"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:42.335","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"BridgeTokenRequest: token parsed successfully"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:42.336","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"Successfully received session token for host 'sg-013.whiskergalaxy.com'"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:42.382","lvl":"info","mod":"vpn_backend","msg":"Connectivity test successful: 152.233.9.233"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:42.383","lvl":"info","mod":"vpn","msg":"VPN state changed to Connected"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:33:42.384","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"Clear DNS cache"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:34:08.040","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"New curl request : https://api.windscribe.com/Session?platform=android&app_version=3.98.2081"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:34:08.541","lvl":"debug","mod":"data","msg":"Comparing user information."}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:34:08.545","lvl":"debug","mod":"data","msg":"What changed: Server list: false | Alc: false | Sip: false | User Status: false | Account Status: false | Migration: false | Email Status: false"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:34:08.562","lvl":"debug","mod":"worker","msg":"Sip: stored: 0 updated: 0"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:34:08.564","lvl":"info","mod":"worker","msg":"User account status: Okay is VPN Connected: true"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:34:11.560","lvl":"debug","mod":"state","msg":"Data Used 200.4414387308061, Days since login 2 Request app review: false"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:34:38.653","lvl":"info","mod":"device-state-manager","msg":"Whitelisted network set to: null"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:34:38.654","lvl":"info","mod":"app","msg":"----------App going to background.--------
"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:46.376","lvl":"warn","mod":"pin-ip-recovery","msg":"Handshake delayed: 1079s since last handshake (> 3 minutes)"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:46.378","lvl":"info","mod":"pin-ip-recovery","msg":"Tunnel was unhealthy, attempting IP pinning recovery"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:46.383","lvl":"warn","mod":"pin-ip-recovery","msg":"Cannot pin IP: pinnedIp=null, selectedIp=sg-013.whiskergalaxy.com"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:56.465","lvl":"info","mod":"app","msg":"----------------App moved to Foreground.------------
"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:56.509","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"New curl request : https://api.windscribe.com/MyIp?platform=android&app_version=3.98.2081"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:56.740","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"New curl request : https://api.windscribe.com/Session?platform=android&app_version=3.98.2081"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:57.144","lvl":"debug","mod":"data","msg":"Comparing user information."}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:57.146","lvl":"debug","mod":"data","msg":"What changed: Server list: true | Alc: false | Sip: false | User Status: false | Account Status: false | Migration: false | Email Status: false"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:57.166","lvl":"debug","mod":"worker","msg":"Sip: stored: 0 updated: 0"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:57.166","lvl":"info","mod":"worker","msg":"User account status: Okay is VPN Connected: true"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:57.186","lvl":"debug","mod":"server_list_repository","msg":"Starting server list update"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:57.188","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"New curl request : https://api.windscribe.com/Session?platform=android&app_version=3.98.2081"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:57.597","lvl":"debug","mod":"server_list_repository","msg":"Country override: ZZ"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:57.655","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"New curl request : https://assets.windscribe.com//serverlist/mob-v2/1/431f5615148bbae2b55a5c4d5eaffcf71c4271df"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:57.886","lvl":"debug","mod":"server_list_repository","msg":"Parsing server list JSON"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:57.903","lvl":"debug","mod":"server_list_repository","msg":"{"revision":29529229,"revision_hash":"431f5615148bbae2b55a5c4d5eaffcf71c4271df","changed":1,"fc":1}"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:58.047","lvl":"debug","mod":"worker","msg":"Successfully updated server list. Global Server list: false CountryOverride: null"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:55:58.048","lvl":"debug","mod":"data","msg":"updating last selected location: 235"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:56:00.609","lvl":"debug","mod":"state","msg":"Data Used 200.54348214995116, Days since login 2 Request app review: false"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:56:56.539","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"New curl request : https://api.windscribe.com/Session?platform=android&app_version=3.98.2081"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:56:57.034","lvl":"debug","mod":"data","msg":"Comparing user information."}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:56:57.037","lvl":"debug","mod":"data","msg":"What changed: Server list: false | Alc: false | Sip: false | User Status: false | Account Status: false | Migration: false | Email Status: false"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:56:57.056","lvl":"debug","mod":"worker","msg":"Sip: stored: 0 updated: 0"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:56:57.060","lvl":"info","mod":"worker","msg":"User account status: Okay is VPN Connected: true"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:57:00.053","lvl":"debug","mod":"state","msg":"Data Used 200.5434825597331, Days since login 2 Request app review: false"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:57:16.326","lvl":"info","mod":"device-state-manager","msg":"Whitelisted network set to: null"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:57:16.327","lvl":"info","mod":"app","msg":"----------App going to background.--------
"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:57:20.065","lvl":"info","mod":"app","msg":"----------------App moved to Foreground.------------
"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:57:20.129","lvl":"debug","mod":"wsnet","msg":"New curl request : https://api.windscribe.com/Session?platform=android&app_version=3.98.2081"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:57:20.615","lvl":"debug","mod":"data","msg":"Comparing user information."}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:57:20.617","lvl":"debug","mod":"data","msg":"What changed: Server list: false | Alc: false | Sip: false | User Status: false | Account Status: false | Migration: false | Email Status: false"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:57:20.633","lvl":"debug","mod":"worker","msg":"Sip: stored: 0 updated: 0"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:57:20.634","lvl":"info","mod":"worker","msg":"User account status: Okay is VPN Connected: true"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:57:23.634","lvl":"debug","mod":"state","msg":"Data Used 200.5434825597331, Days since login 2 Request app review: false"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:57:25.109","lvl":"info","mod":"device-state-manager","msg":"Whitelisted network set to: null"}
{"tm":"2026-02-22 16:57:25.110","lvl":"info","mod":"app","msg":"----------App going to background.--------
"}

[Ginder-Singh]

Hi @mimiffi turn off battery optimization for Windscribe VPN

[mimiffi]

Hi, this still happens with battery optimization turned off for Windscribe vpn.

[Ginder-Singh]

Can you quickly try build 3.98.2097?

Do a fresh install.

Set up WireGuard as the manual protocol.

Connect to a location.

Exit the app.

Lock the device and wait 10 minutes.

Unlock the device.

Open Chrome and check if you have an internet connection.

If there is no internet, wait 30 seconds, then launch the app, copy the logs, and share them.

[Ginder-Singh]

@mimiffi We found issue with Wireguard dying over time. Fix is in production play store build. Try that.

[ltguillaume]

@mimiffi We found issue with Wireguard dying over time. Fix is in production play store build. Try that.

Oh wow, that's good news! I've experienced (and reported) the same thing a year ago, but we couldn't find a solution other than switching to IKEv2.

[mimiffi]

Hi @Ginder-Singh this is the log file, with version 3.99.2122, this still happens with battery optimization turned off for windscribe. Sometimes, I have to wait 20s for the app to reconnect.
applog.txt

[AndroidUser112]

I have the same issue and always have. Support says it's limited to my device, but I doubt that. Wireguard will very frequently stop handshaking, going over 20 minutes between handshakes. If I open the device during this time, nothing will work until I manually refresh an app to get the tunnel going again. There are no apparent reasons for this, and the problem is limited to Windscribe and Wireguard.

[mimiffi]

This problem wont happen if I put streaming in the background, Twitch/Youtube, so maybe something like the Client-side keepalive feature from desktop app would be helpful here.

[Ginder-Singh]

@mimiffi App already has keep alive for WireGuard. Downloads latest beta version(v4.0), reproduce this with Wireguard and then send me log.

[mimiffi]

With ver 4.0.2186, when I wake the phone after waiting a while, sometimes windscribe just disconnect, here's the app log
applog.txt

[Ginder-Singh]

With ver 4.0.2186, when I wake the phone after waiting a while, sometimes windscribe just disconnect, here's the app log applog.txt

Are you in restricted region/network ? if not can you turn off protocol tweaks set it to disabled. Also can you check if battery optimizations turned off for Windscribe. I see no handshakes for minutes (11+Minutes)

[mimiffi]

Hi, this is with protocol tweaks set to disabled, and battery optimization turned off for windscribe checked, there's still about 20s wait time to reconnect.
applog.txt

[AndroidUser112]

I'm still monitoring this as well. My WireGuard today went over 20 minutes without handshaking. This happened three times, with varying periods, between 11 and 20 minutes.

[Ginder-Singh]

The handshake behavior is normal and comes from WireGuard’s internal design. A handshake is valid for about 180 seconds. The client will typically attempt a new handshake every ~2 minutes, with retry intervals such as 5 seconds and 15 seconds until a successful handshake is established.

The keepalive signal is sent approximately every 25 seconds to maintain NAT bindings and ensure the tunnel stays active.

If you stop seeing handshakes for an extended period, it’s often due to the device entering Doze mode (e.g., when unplugged, locked, idle, or in deep sleep). In this state, Android restricts CPU usage and network activity. Apps are then only given short maintenance windows of connectivity, roughly every 15–30 minutes.

During these windows, the VPN app must quickly re-establish state. A WireGuard handshake may occur during this time, but it can expire before the next window arrives, causing delays or perceived disconnects.

For reliable behavior, it’s usually necessary to whitelist or exempt the VPN app from battery optimizations so it can maintain timely connectivity and allow other apps to update their network state properly.

[AndroidUser112]

I understand what you're saying, but this isn't normal behavior. It will stall the data if something happens while handshakes aren't occurring, like no data will flow until I force the app to work. No other VPN does this, and my battery settings are all off.