VPN disconnects by Screensaver or screen lock

[JoeMoe]

Hi,

does anyone found a solution, to hold the VPN up and running when the screen is locked?

OS: MacOS Sequoia 15.4 and MacOS Sequoia 15.5

FortiClient: VPN 7.4.3.1761

I had to install the newest FortiClient VPN version after a firewall upgrade as the older versions running in some connection problems.

The older versions were stable and connected when the screen was locked. With the new version, the VPN disconnect each time the screen locks.

In fortitray.log it is good to see, a message is send to forticlient and immediately after the message, the ssl-vpn is disconnecting.

20250508 14:55:24.613 TZ=+0200 [FortiTray:DEBG] AppDelegate.swift:390 System is locked/sleep
20250508 14:55:24.620 TZ=+0200 [FortiTray:DEBG] AppDelegate.swift:404 System is going to sleep
20250508 14:55:24.646 TZ=+0200 [FortiTray:INFO] VpnManager.swift:2163 Check VPN Connect without Reauth
20250508 14:55:24.657 TZ=+0200 [FortiTray:DEBG] VpnManager.swift:2174 VPN Connection without reauthentication enabled, timeout: 60
20250508 14:55:24.676 TZ=+0200 [FortiTray:DEBG] VpnManager.swift:2189 VPN Information saved.
20250508 14:55:24.690 TZ=+0200 [FortiTray:DEBG] VpnManager.swift:1808 Stop current VPN

The network connection is still open and stable. During the screen is locked, I sent a ping without any lost.

Any ideas are welcome.

Jörg

[Fatih-Ceylan]

nope. nobody replied anything yet to me.

[btan]

As per check internally, we do have this 'VPN disconnect when macOS at Screensaver' behavior reported. 

This is fixed in macOS FCT 7.2.9 and 7.4.4 (ETA mid-July 2025).

As FCT 7.4.4 is not yet released, please use macOS FCT 7.2.9 as a permanent fix.

[giogab]

I'm experiencing the same issue on macOS Sequoia 15.5, and have tried all of the above suggestions without luck. I've also verified that I don't lose network connectivity whenever I lock my screen as I have continuous pings running without drops except for the ones requiring the VPN. Can someone from Fortinet please chime in on this thread and escalate?

[DrippyGarnet]

If you can, try and install an older Version of Forticlient VPN. This instant disconnect on sleep/locking the screen seems to be a not yet listed bug in 7.4.3. 

I've downgraded to 7.4.2 where my VPN connection now survives locking the screen. (Keep in mind potentially configured idle timeouts may still kill the connection after a while.)

[btan]

Hi all,

As per check internally, we do have this 'VPN disconnect when macOS at Screensaver' behavior reported. 

This is fixed in macOS FCT 7.2.9 and 7.4.4 (ETA mid-July 2025).

As FCT 7.4.4 is not yet released, please use macOS FCT 7.2.9 as a permanent fix.

Thanks.

[giogab]

Thanks btan,

I've confirmed that macOS FCT 7.2.9 resolves the lock screen disconnect issue I was experiencing. Thank you!

[btan]

Most welcome @giogab .

Hi @JoeMoe , you may test with macOS FCT 7.2.9 too. Kindly mark this as resolved if it worked for you.

Thank you!

[grahamb]

Is there an update on a release for 7.4.4? We're coming up on mid-August. Alternatively, can you please provide the 7.2.9 installer again?

[CDavis]

I was also hoping 7.4.4 would have made an appearance by now.   Any news?   I'm living with 7.4.3 but it's painful.  

[Standa]

https://www.transfernow.net/dl/macfct729free
link is valid for until 12.8.