VPN? Does it affect Screen Mirroring (Smart View) between android and Smart TV? Why Bluetooth ON? [View all]

Sounds like I know what I'm talking about, no? Well, I don't, so feel free to be as BASIC as you can be, tia!1

I'm the most basic of home users, don't do fancy traveling using devices (now, less than ever). Router. Both android and tv are Samsung. For the past few months I was having a blast linking the devices (not the laptop), able to see cable stations on the tv via a streaming site.

Two days ago, the SmartView (screen mirroring) stopped working. But then also the website started saying a VPN is required for the best of the channels - yes, the premiums, but also E!, Bravo, sometimes even CNN and MSNBC. So I did some googling and ended up with a free VPN, ProtonVPN. I don't know that the problem connecting got worse with the installation of the VPN, but yesterday, totally unable to link.

The website was pushing hard to sell me a VPN (Nord something).

I tried things like activating Airplane mode (to refresh tower?), then back to WiFi, and Restarting the phone, even looking at the Set-up for the tv. One time, the connection happened after the Airplane. I did a Reset on the phone, too, via phone Tech support.

Also, on the android, the navigation screen kept showing Bluetooth as ON, and turning it OFF wouldn't work, or rather it was ON again as soon as I looked again.

Do I need VPN just for home? Is it supposed to be ON all the time or just when trying for the channel? Why was the Bluetooth auto ON even after manual OFF?