Permission Denied Forticlient VPN after updating to iOS 18.4

[gcollins]

Since updating to iOS 18.4 from ver 17 last week, when I click "Connect" there is an error saying "permission denied".

I have tried removing and reinstalling the app

Deleted and recreated my connections.

There is no issue with the connection as even when I put dummy setting in, it doesn't even try to connect.

Have tried on another phone running lower iOS version, if dummy server details are put in it will try to connect and saying connecting....  

With iOS it doesn't even try to connect.  Every time says "permission denied"

Forticlient 7.4.5.0174  Iphone 11     (Same on Iphone 13)

Status says "Invalid" 

Thanks

[Jiveshs]

Go to: Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > VPN 

Make sure FortiClient is listed and has permission to control VPN.

[gcollins]

No its not listed here.  I have other listed for AnyConnect etc but not one for Forticlient.    How can I get it into this this?

[Jiveshs]

1. Uninstall FortiClient

2. Restart phone

3. Reinstall FortiClient

4. Open FortiClient and allow all prompts, especially the one that asks for VPN permission.

[gcollins]

I tried removing the app, shut down the phone. Reinstalled the app again and took note of the popups.  One of the pop ups said "Warning - FortiClient will not create any VPN account. Please re-launch FortiClient, and Allow to add/create VPN Configuration".  I did re-launch and shutdown/restart again. No difference.

Our company phones do have Mobile Device Management and I noticed within the profile restrictions its says "VPN creation not allowed" so maybe I need to contact our internal IT team.

BUT

I have checked two other phones which also have the same Management Profile. (Iphone 7 Plus 15.8.4 and Iphone 11 17.6.1)  My Iphone was also working on version 17xx. None of those phone still working have Forticlient mentioned anywhere in the VPNs on the phone, other than in the Forticlient App.    So it looks like maybe the latest iOS is blocking or enforcing something that wasn't enforced/blocked before.

Tried on an Iphone Pro Max 18.3 without any management profile and works on there.     Thanks for your tips, I'll contact our IT people unless you can suggest any other reasons why its only stopped working in the latest iOS.    

[gcollins]

Has anyone confirmed that they Forticlient 7.4.5.0174 actually works on version 18.4 on iOS??

[gcollins]

Still haven’t had anyone confirm if they have had it working on ver 18.x on Iphone

[btan]

Hello there,

Tested that SSLVPN and IPsec VPN is working on iOS 18.4. I am using the latest iOS FCT 7.4.6.0178 from App Store.

Your statement: 'Tried on an Iphone Pro Max 18.3 without any management profile and works on there.', this hints that the root cause is very likely on your company MDM configuration.

Go to Settings > VPN, [FortiClient VPN] must be listed here. If it is not, suggest to check with your respective team who manage the company MDM.

[gcollins]

Thanks for your confirmation btan. I am in the process of trying to get someone who manages the MDM.      

Other employees with the same MDM restrictions with 17.xx iOS is working and they don't have the VPN listed in the settings.... so I don't know how its working, but somehow it is :)   Thats why it doesn't make sense....       

Anyway thanks again for your help.