Microsoft says October updates didn’t actually fix VPN issues

A bug affecting Always On VPN connections on Windows 11 24H2 and later was initially reported after the September 2026 updates, causing connection failures when automatic protocol selection or fallback was enabled. Microsoft released October 2026 cumulative updates that were mistakenly flagged as resolving the issue. The company later clarified that the problem remains and that a fix will be included in an upcoming update. Meanwhile, IT administrators are advised to mitigate the issue by configuring VPN profiles to use either SSTP or IKEv2 exclusively rather than automatic protocol selection.

The bug disrupts Always On VPN connectivity, causing connections to hang or fail, which can impact users' ability to securely connect to corporate networks. This affects devices running Windows 11 24H2 and later with Always On VPN configured for automatic protocol selection. The issue may cause operational disruptions for organizations relying on Always On VPN for secure remote access.

Microsoft currently recommends a temporary workaround: IT administrators should configure Always On VPN profiles to use a single tunneling protocol, either SSTP only or IKEv2 only, based on their environment and security requirements. A permanent fix is planned for a future update. Administrators should monitor official Microsoft communications for the forthcoming patch.