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VPN client stopped working after last night Windows update

Cumulative and feature updates regularly break VPN virtual adapters. Especially older clients (legacy AnyConnect, GlobalProtect) on Windows 11.

Try this first

  1. 1Check Device Manager > Network adapters. A yellow triangle on the VPN adapter points to a driver that did not survive the update.
  2. 2Uninstall the VPN client fully (Programs and Features, or installer /uninstall). Reboot.
  3. 3Reinstall the latest version of the client, not the one you had. Vendors usually ship a fix-release a few days into a Windows cycle.
  4. 4Still broken, check whether WinTUN or WinTAP is properly registered. WireGuard and some clients ship a separate adapter installer.
  5. 5If nothing works, roll back the Windows update via Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates. Temporary, the update returns.

When to bring us in

Whole department locked out after patch Tuesday: tell us, we push a new client version via Intune for the group. Beats 12 people calling separately.

See also

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