Printing greyed out in Gmail (and Gmail thinks it is offline)
Dear all,
I don't know why, but since today (March 30, 2021) printing in Gmail is greyed out, when I'm connected via an internet connection using NextDNS. Using other connections, this does not happen.
Currently I've got no white or blacklists, all security block lists are active, under the privacy tab I have all native tracking protections on and under blocklists only the "NextDNS Ads & Tracker Blocklist" is active .
I'm using the German version of the site, so I hope I translated the terms correctly 
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! 
Thanks!
Markus
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Update: I just realized that Gmail sometimes thinks it is offline as well. I'm using it via other connections simultaneously and don't have this problem there.
19 replies
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First you can try to replicate without using NextDNS (9.9.9.9 for example)... do not forget to "ipconfig /flushdns". If the problem is the same then its not NextDNS.
Then you would need to peek into the log for that timeframe, see what has been blocked... allowlist it and do "ipconfig /flushdns" thing... test again. Then disable allowlisted one by one, do the flushdns, retest to find the problematic deny(s).
Let us know how it goes, and which one is the problematic.
Cheers
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crssi Thanks for your reply.
I whitelisted a lot (even google.com) without any success. I even cleared all caches (I thought the browser cache might be problematic as well, not only the DNS cache), but Gmail still thinks I'm partially offline and printing is greyed out.
The problem is definitely with NextDNS, it only shows up when I'm using their DNS, and only showed up yesterday. Something was changed on their side and I don't have time to debug it
I found some search results according to which disabling local AV should help. I don't have any AV software on my Mac, but maybe it is one of the security settings of NextDNS like "Threat-Intelligence-Feeds"? And again it must be something that was changed within the last days. Maybe this closes in on the problem?
Also: Is everything logged in the protocols or are things blocked by the security settings not showing up there? I'm asking, because I whitelisted everything which was blocked
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My understanding is too shallow, but this is quite interesting:
If I change my connection from WIFI with NextDNS to LTE (via my phone) without NextDNS the change is immediate.
The NextDNS website instantly complains that I'm not using NextDNS and the printing icon in Gmail works.
No need to flush any caches.
On the other hand: If I block and unblock a site via NextDNS I'll get the green "this site is no longer blocked" even though I cleared my DNS cache. Meh
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Markus Schneider Without getting too technical, Flushing the cache is primarily just for troubleshooting DNS on a computer. Generallly for phones, you will have to wait a few minutes for the dns cache to update each time you make a security/allowlist/denylist change until it takes effect.
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Ruby Balloon mostly you can easily clear cache on mobile devices going into flight mode and back.
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crssi Ruby Balloon Sorry if my statements were confusing: I've got the problems re printing in/partly offline Gmail on my desktop Mac. They just disappear immediately, when I'm not using NextDNS but the DNS provided by my mobile carrier (i.e. when I'm using LTE via my phone as a hotspot instead of my home WIFI). Meaning: I don't have to flush any cache or re-open the browser. It just suddenly works.
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Markus Schneider that's because you're not only switching connections but switching dns providers
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Ruby Balloon And that is exactly why NextDNS must be the culprit. As I don't have any individual block lists, I'm hopeful that other users will have the same problem.
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Markus Schneider In the op, you mention only the "NextDNS Ads & Tracker Blocklist" is active but your latest comment said you don't have any individual blocklists, so which is it?
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Ruby Balloon I'm sorry, I meant no individual denylists (in the German UI it is called "Denyliste"), i.e. there are no specific domains blocked and there are no personal settings going beyond standard options.
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Markus Schneider try removing the NextDNS Ads & Tracker Blocklist and then retest with no filtering
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Markus Schneider Also I just realized in the updated op, that you mentioned using the home wifi & mobile LTE connections simultaneously; is that right?
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Ruby Balloon Let me beginn with thanking you and crssi for your help
I removed the "NextDNS Ads & Tracker Blocklist", flushed the DNS cache, performed a reboot and it does not work. I additionally used a fresh browser (Firefox instead of Safari), but no luck there either. I cannot even login to Gmail (fresh browser, no cookie). The login page requesting the user name comes up, but the login button does not work.
I'm not using WIFI and LTE simultaneously. I use LTE as an alternative connection without NextDNS just to test where the problem might be. E.g. there is no problem with login into Gmail in Firefox, once I'm using LTE and hence the mobile carrier's DNS. The login button immediately works again.
It seems, as if some resources of the Gmail site/Google stuff do not load correctly or some script prevents the site from working, but there is nothing in the log of NextDNS, which I did not white list during testing already.
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Markus Schneider Do you have DNS Rebinding enabled?
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But DRP can be seen in the logs. And OP said that there is nothing more denied in the logs.
I would disable everything under Setup -> Performance for a test.
If that doesn't work, then only Olivier can help.... I guess.
Here is a DRP sample from log:
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Ruby Balloon I do have DNS Rebinding Protection enabled. I tried disabling it, no luck.
crssi I disabled everything under Performance, it did not help.
I have an iPad using its own NextDNS configuration with settings identical to the configuration I use for my WIFI router and on it the Gmail website works completely normal. As it did on my Mac till yesterday.
I would blame the Mac, but when I override the DNS in the macOS settings (e.g. to 9.9.9.9), the Gmail site again works fine. No flushing of caches or restarting of anything needed. As soon as I apply the DNS settings in the system settings, the site works.
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Update: After removing the DNS settings in macOS, so that it again gets it DNS from the router and is using NextDNS, the Gmail site keeps working. I flushed the cache, closed browsers etc. but right now it keeps working.
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Markus Schneider Hmm, maybe the native DNS setup with your Mac is related to https://help.nextdns.io/t/35hlk1r/known-issues-with-iosmacos-system-encrypted-dns-doh-support
But at least you were able to go with the router DNS setup
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Ruby Balloon Very interesting. My problems appeared all of a sudden and I did not perform any OS updates that I know of, but who knows...
I've got Little Snitch running, so maybe this has some influence. I don't have the Endpoint Security System Extension running though:
Also I don't understand, why changing the DNS settings in macOS to 9.9.9.9 or whatever (without changing anything e.g. in Little Snitch) fixes my problem.
But: At least I've got an work around now
PS: After the change back from 9.9.9.9 to the NextDNS settings provided by the router the problem with greyed out printing is back. It just took some time.
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Just a heads up for Ruby Balloon crssi and everyone else stumbling upon this thread: As of today, Gmail works fine again. I did not change anything at my NextDNS settings.
So to conclude: Everything worked fine, Gmail suddenly stopped working and now I'm back to fine.
All without a single reply from NextDNS staff.
Content aside
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