Technical Tip: FortiClient not appearing in system tray on Microsoft Surface or Windows Opertating System

[Umer221]

Description	This article describes a solution where the FortiClient VPN application is installed on a Windows device (such as an Microsoft Surface Pro 9), but the FortiTray icon does not appear in the system tray. As a result, when attempting to connect to the VPN, the client remains stuck on 'Connecting' and does not prompt for login credentials.
Scope	FortiClient, Windows 10, Windows 11, FortiOS, VPN.
Solution	This issue is often caused by missing or corrupted Microsoft Visual C++ runtime libraries required by FortiClient VPN. To resolve the problem, follow these steps: Uninstall FortiClient: Press Win + R, type appwiz.cpl, and press Enter to open the Programs and Features window. Locate FortiClient VPN in the list of installed programs. 'Right-click' on it and select Uninstall. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation. The following article can be used to uninstall FortiClient using FC Removal Tool: Uninstall a managed FortiClient in Windows Machines. Uninstall Old Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime: Reboot the Device: Restart the computer to ensure all FortiClient components are completely removed. Install the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Libraries: Download the latest Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022 (x64 version) from the Microsoft Visual C++ (Direct Download Link). The above link will automatically download the default version of the Visual C++ runtime. However, if a different version is required based on the device’s hardware architecture (x86 or x64), follow the steps outlined in the screenshots below to select the appropriate version for the system. For more detailed information about the latest supported Visual C++ Redistributables, visit the following link: Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables Documentation. Run the downloaded installer and follow the prompts to install the runtime libraries. Reinstall FortiClient: Download the latest version of FortiClient using the instructions in the following article: Download FortiClient from Support Site. After installation, FortiTray icon should be visible now.