The VPN service

HTTPGlass uses Android’s VpnService to route your phone’s traffic through a local tunnel it runs itself, on the device. There is no VPN server anywhere: the tunnel’s only endpoint is HTTPGlass. Ad blockers and a handful of other debugging and firewall apps use the same mechanism; it’s the only way an app distributed through Google Play can see other apps’ traffic without root.

Starting and stopping capture

Tap the play control in HTTPGlass to start capturing. Android shows its system VPN icon in the status bar while it’s running, the same as any VPN app. HTTPGlass also shows a persistent notification with Pause, Resume and Stop controls, so you can manage capture without opening the app, and a Quick Settings tile for the same thing.

Stopping capture tears the tunnel down and other apps go back to talking directly to the network.

Network switches

HTTPGlass is built to survive switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data while capturing. If a switch does interrupt the tunnel, start capture again.

If Android stops the VPN on its own

Android can stop any VPN, including HTTPGlass’s, and some manufacturers’ battery-optimisation settings are more aggressive than stock Android about killing background VPN services. See Battery and background capture if captures keep stopping on their own.

Removing the VPN permission

Stop capture in HTTPGlass first. To remove the permission entirely, go to Settings › Network & internet › VPN, find HTTPGlass, and remove it there. Uninstalling the app removes it too.