VPN Not Connecting to server

[FortiUser12345]

Hi I'm struggling to get the VPN connection to work on my work laptop. I'm using the latest version of FortiClient VPN 7.4.0.1658 and all settings are 100% correct as I've tested the same on another laptop where it is working.

My laptop: DELL Latitude 5590

Windows 11 64bit

All drivers are up to date.

Can anyone help me sort this out or provide me with a link to download the 7.2 version to try and see if older version solves the problem?

Here is what I've tried already:

• Reinstalling many times
• Tried version 7.0
• Updated all firmware and bios
• Cleared %appdata% and %localappdata% before every reinstall
• Opened the necessary ports on my firewall
• Turned off firewall temporarily

Please help me.

[AEK]

Hi

Did you try installing Visual C++ Redistributable?

On the other hand 7.2.5 can be downloaded from support portal with a valid contract.

[FortiUser12345]

Just tried installing Visual C++ Redistributable. Didn't fix the issue. I don't have a contract so can't access 7.2.5 to download.

[AEK]

Hello

Can you describe the issue?

Is it SSL VPN or IPsec?

Do you get some percentage progress when you login, like 40%?

Do you get any error message?

Can you share the relevant logs from FortiClient? (and debug logs from FortiGate if possible)

[FortiUser12345]

It's SSL VPN. It get to 89% usually then it just fails with generic error on the tray: "SSL VPN connection is down". The error in the notifications log is: "Unable to establish the VPN connection. The VPN server may be unreachable. (-5053)"

[AEK]

Follow this link and according to the percentage check the listed reasons.

https://community.fortinet.com/t5/FortiGate/Troubleshooting-Tip-Possible-reasons-for-FortiClient-SSL...

Also check if this post can help.

https://community.fortinet.com/t5/Support-Forum/FortiClient-VPN-Error-5053-5052-89/td-p/265416

[FortiUser12345]

I've tried all the steps in the shared links. When connecting with the same credentials on a different laptop it works 100% so it's nothing to do with the user setup.

[sw2090]

I remember there was a bug that rendered FortiClient unfunctionable when trying to establisch a vpn upon realtek devices in windows 11. Don't currently know if that has been fixed yet. Maybe this is striking you?

[ezhupa]

There was an old community thread where this issue was seen only on Windows 11. 
However there was an error pop-up in the FCT after attempting to connect. 
I think the thread below is regarding one of those issues:
https://community.fortinet.com/t5/Support-Forum/FortiClient-VPN-Not-working-on-Windows-11/td-p/27321...
A downgrade of the RealTek drivers resolved the issue in many cases.

[FortiArt]

Steps to follow toward solving the problem:

1-disable any security software on source PC and try different PC or forticlient versions

2-enable ping on the public fortigate interface and try to ping from your PC to confirm reachability

3-change the listening port for sslvpn as some ISPs block certain ports and re-test the issue

4-check if fortigate has local-in-policies configured that block incoming sslvpn connection traffic

5-make sure the sslvpn firewall policy and relevant groups are there and authentication rule is configured properly

If Windows 10 PC try to disable tls 1.3 experimental from Internet options and disable any Windows defender or 3rd party tunnel software or any security software and test if this helps