FortiClient VPN - Stuck on "Connecting"

[JPL-Safari]

Installing 7.4.0.1658 on two different Windows 11 (Dell Vostro and Dell Inspiron) Laptops.  Both laptops were Wiped and Prepped with the same Windows 11 23H2 Pro OS and are set up using very basic Intune Profiles (Intune barely does anything).

The VPN Client, when launched, only goes as far as "Connecting".  It never times out and appears as if its stuck.  

Are there any Windows Settings I should be looking at which would impact the clients ability to establish a connection?  Logs dont appear to show anything indicating the VPN is even attempting to connect.

[pavankr5]

Hello @JPL-Safari ,

For FortiClient VPN is stuck on "connecting,"  we need to check your internet connection and sure there is a stable internet connection without any interruptions. Try restarting FortiClient, closing FortiClient completely, and reopening it to see if the issue persists. Restart your device because sometimes a restart of your device can resolve connectivity issues. Update FortiClient to the latest version of FortiClient to avoid any known bugs or issues that may have been fixed in newer releases. 

let us know if you have any queries.

Thanks,

Pavan

[Brandon1]

Updating the client is was caused this issue. Reverting back to older versions of the client is what's fixing the issue of the client being stuck on "connecting". 

[renyloi]

Dear Pavan,

Whatever you suggested already had been tried before this comment. BUT now the issues is the newest update caused the connection problem bug. Do you have any other solution?

[fortiguy85]

I'm running into issues on both the latest Windows 10 and Windows 11 with FortiClient VPN 7.4.0.1658.  We just recently cut from an older Cisco ASA and have run into the stuck on "Connecting" bug with a few different laptops and desktops. Uninstalling 7.4.0.1658 and installing 7.2.4.0972 seems to be the fix for those PCs for now.  I understand it's an "unsupported" application but I think this needs some support from the developers.

[ustechsupporta]

As AGU_HD mentioned, mfc140u.dll was missing from Windows 11.  After installing MS VS C++, the FortiClient application began working again. 

Please try to download and install both x86 and x64 versions of the multi-installer Visual C++ 2015, 2017 and 2019 redistributables. Restart your PC after the installation. Note: Don't install the ARM64
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/297700...

[BlazingBlade]

1. Download and install the VC Redistributables. 

MS Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015-19, or 2022

x64 (64-bit): vc_redist.x64.exe

https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe

REBOOT

2. Ran fortiTray.exe

Navigate to c:/program files/fortinet/fortiTray.exe

This will fix the issue

[fortiguy85]

Reinstalling the MS Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015-19, or 2022 has worked anytime I've run into the issue.  Thanks for this!

[BlazingBlade]

Glad to hear that.

[Prkarmie]

I just tried to copy the mfc140u.dll from a computer with the version 7.2.4 installed place it the in folder C:\Program Files\Fortinet\FortiClient then run the fortitray and emidiatly wrorks with no reboot.

This looks and just a bug in the installation package from Forticlient.

this worked for me