Slow Image Loading in QQ when Using AdGuard on Android

[Eollone]

Please answer the following questions for yourself before submitting an issue

• Filters were updated before reproducing an issue
• I checked the knowledge base and found no answer
• I checked to make sure that this issue has not already been filed

AdGuard version

4.6.3

Environment

• OS version: Android 14
• Device: Google Pixel 6

HTTPS filtering

• yes, I do

Root access

• yes, I have it

Integration with AdGuard VPN

• yes, I do

Routing mode

Local VPN

Ad Blocking

No response

Privacy

No response

Social

No response

Annoyances

No response

Security

No response

Language-specific

No response

Other

No response

Which DNS server do you use?

DNS protection disabled

DNS protocol

None

Custom DNS

No response

What Stealth Mode options do you have enabled?

No response

Issue Details

Steps to reproduce:

1. Install AdGuard and QQ [1] normally.

2. Enable traffic routing for QQ through AdGuard.

3. When receiving images in QQ, the loading time is excessively long (over ten seconds).

Troubleshooting Completed:

1. Disabling all AdGuard features (including "Ad blocking," "Tracking protection," "Annoyance blocking," "DNS protection," "Firewall," and "Browsing Security") did not resolve the issue. The image loading speed only returned to normal when the "Route traffic through AdGuard" option in QQ was disabled.

2. Attempted to add QQ to the "QUIC bypass packages" in "Low-level settings," but the issue persisted.

3. Tested with Rethink [2] instead of AdGuard, and QQ's image loading was normal, suggesting that it is probably not a compatibility issue with QQ.

[1] QQ is a popular instant messaging app developed by Tencent, widely used in China. (https://im.qq.com/index/#downloadAnchor)
[2] Rethink is an alternative network app for Android. (https://github.com/celzero/rethink-app/)

Expected Behavior

Images in QQ should load quickly and efficiently when using AdGuard.

Actual Behavior

Images in QQ take an excessively long time to load when using AdGuard to route the traffic.

Screenshots

No response

Additional Information

No response

[Versty]

@Eollone Hi!
If you disable HTTPS filtering for QQ app in the App management tab, would the issue persist?

[Eollone]

@Versty Hi,

Yes, the problem also remains after disable HTTPS filtering.

---

After further investigation, I discovered that enabling “Network - Proxy - Proxy server - Route UDP through SOCKS5” was causing the issue. This setting seems to render the addition of QQ to the "Low-level settings - QUIC bypass packages" ineffective, resulting in slow image loading in QQ.

Once I disabled “Route UDP through SOCKS5” and added QQ to the "QUIC bypass packages," QQ loaded normally.

However, I’m a bit puzzled because QQ has always been set to bypass the proxy (the “Route app through proxy” setting of QQ is turned off). Therefore, I would expect that enabling “Route UDP through SOCKS5” should not affect QQ's network traffic.

This is just a temporary solution, as it prevents other applications that require the proxy from routing UDP traffic properly.