Fix for using ExpressVPN with Apple Studio Display

VPN
1

Ah the Studio Display, unquestionably the weirdest piece of hardware Apple has created in years. In their finite wisdom, the display creates a network adapter to the computer it’s connected to so that it can download iOS updates. Because naturally the display runs iOS on its A13 Bionic chip.

Problem is, ExpressVPN sees this peer-to-peer connection in your network settings and tries to establish a VPN connection over it if it’s the first adapter listed. There is no option to choose the adapter in the ExpressVPN software. Here’s the fix, with screenshots below:

  1. Open System Preferences > Network
  2. Click the small circle with three dots in it with the down arrow.
  3. Select “Set Service Order…”
  4. Drag and drop whichever network adapter you want ExpressVPN to use to the top (I’m using Wifi)
  5. Click OK
  6. Hit Apply in the main settings window
  7. Reconnect ExpressVPN

https://imgur.com/a/SqzRLbr

I think the ExpressVPN folks are aware of the issue. Let’s hope it gets a better solution soon.

2

Good find, thanks for the fix

3

But can I jailbreak it.

4

On OP’s screenshot, there’s the option “Make Service Inactive”, maybe that does it? But I have no idea how you could make sure it won’t reactivate it or use some other way to connect to the internet.

5

You can use the minus button to simply remove it. But that would likely remove the ability to update the display firmware as well.