FortiClient MS Store App & Standalone FortiClient VPN – Dual Connections No Longer Possible on W11?

[FuturewebAT]

Hi all,

I’m running Windows 11 24H2 (Build 26100.4061) and recently ran into an issue:

I need to connect to two different Fortigate units at the same time for work purposes. Up until now, my workaround was to use both the FortiClient from the Microsoft Store and the standalone FortiClient VPN application. This allowed me to have two VPN connections active simultaneously—each to a different Fortigate.

However, after updating to the latest Windows 11 release, this setup no longer works.
As far as I know, this was the only way to achieve dual connections on one Windows device.

Is anyone else facing the same problem?
Are there any alternative methods or solutions to establish two concurrent VPN SSL connections to separate Fortigates from a single Windows 11 system? Or is there an official workaround from Fortinet?

This setup is critical for my workflow, as I have to manage resources on both networks at the same time.

Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Andreas

[AEK]

Hi Andreas

FortiClient is designed to establish a single connection at a time.

What you did before was like an accidental workaround, and I see it doesn't work anymore.

Personally I use NetworkManager manager (and its plugins) on my Linux and it allows as many simultaneous connections as you need.

I guess there should be some similar tools on Windows like strongSwan that should allow multiple simultaneous VPN connections.

[FuturewebAT]

Hi AEK,

thanks for your reply. Let’s leave the "dual SSL VPN connection" topic aside for now. Even when I try a single connection using the FortiClient VPN from the MS Store, the connection gets established, but no traffic flows. Any idea what could be wrong?

Others are reporting the same issue:
https://www.reddit.com/r/fortinet/comments/1ijougx/forticlient_microsoft_store_and_windows_11/

Thanks,
Andreas

PS: I don’t know of any Windows tools that can open multiple SSL VPN connections to Fortigate. Am I missing something? If there’s a way, I’d be fine with that too...

[AEK]

Hi Andreas

What you mean by no traffic flows? Did you try sniff the traffic with wireshark to see if any related traffic is sent somewhere?