Skip to main content
niketh
niketh
New Member
November 18, 2025
Question

FortiClient VPN Error on Windows 11

  • November 18, 2025
  • 7 replies
  • 6509 views

Hi,
I need help troubleshooting a FortiClient VPN issue on my Windows 11 laptop.

Problem Summary

  1. When I click Connect in FortiClient VPN (v7.4.3.1790), the Connect button immediately changes to Disconnect, but the VPN never actually connects.
  2. No “Connecting…” animation, no delay, no status messages.
  3. Even if I enter a wrong password, the behavior is the same — Connect → Disconnect button appears immediately, but no error is shown.
  4. The same VPN credentials work on my colleague’s laptop, so the issue is specific to my system.
    Screenshot (9).png

7 replies

aberrantinfinite
aberrantinfinite
New Member
November 19, 2025

I experienced a similar issue with FortiClient VPN on Windows 11, and what helped me was checking whether the FortiClient services were actually running in the background. Opening the Services panel and restarting the FortiClient Scheduler service made a difference. Another common cause is the network adapter driver not installing correctly, so it is worth opening Device Manager to confirm that the Fortinet virtual adapter is present.

https://community.fortinet.com/t5/Support-Geometry Dash-Forum/bd-p/fortinet-discussion?pageNum=2

niketh
nikethAuthor
New Member
November 19, 2025
 

It displays as running but i dont have option for start or stop

 

Screenshot 2025-11-19 151534.png

 

ezhupa
Staff
ezhupa
Staff
November 19, 2025

In addition to what the other user said, I would suggest also uninstalling and reinstalling the Forticlient version. If there was any issue in the first install of the client, this could resolve it.

Hope this helps!

    niketh
    nikethAuthor
    New Member
    November 19, 2025

    @ezhupa , I have uninstalled and installed more than 5 times

     

    RHHSupport
    RHHSupport
    Explorer
    November 19, 2025

    Please be aware that Forticlient version 7.4.3 and Forticlient VPN Only 7.4.3 have a vulnerability: CVE-2025-46373 with a high Severity! There is no VPN 7.4.4 Client available. Fortinet is distributing the older vulnerable version trough the fortinet.com website!

    niketh
    nikethAuthor
    New Member
    November 19, 2025

    HI @RHHSupport , can u send me the link for the older version as i could not find in fortinet.com

    RHHSupport
    RHHSupport
    Explorer
    November 19, 2025

    If you have an account for the support portal you can download previous versions. Not trough the fortinet.com website.
    All 7.4 versions need to be upgraded to 7.4.4 because of the vulnerability.

    niketh
    nikethAuthor
    New Member
    November 19, 2025

    There is no 7.4.4 in the website 
    I can see only 7.4.3 version

    RHHSupport
    RHHSupport
    Explorer
    November 19, 2025

    Correct. They never created the VPN only version of 7.4.4 as mentioned in the release notes:

     

    FortiClient (Windows) 7.4.4 does not include a new version of the free VPN-only agent as no feature updates were made to the free VPN-only agent between 7.4.3 and 7.4.4. Users can continue to use the FortiClient (Windows) 7.4.3 free VPN-only agent.

     

    That is why you get the older version when you download it from their website. And as the VPN only version is free they don't give support. 

     

    niketh
    nikethAuthor
    New Member
    November 19, 2025

    can u please share me/ message me the link to download the older version as i am not able to find it

     

    RHHSupport
    RHHSupport
    Explorer
    November 19, 2025

    You can download the 7.4.3 from Product Downloads | Fortinet Product Downloads | Support

    Received info the VPN client only version 7.4.4 is coming but no ETA yet.

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement