# Microsoft Retracts Always On VPN Fix Claim for Windows 11

> Microsoft's October 2026 Windows updates, KB5127648 and KB5127646, failed to fix a persistent 'Always On VPN' connection problem despite initial claims that they would, leaving the issue unresolved as of October 20, 2026.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-24T14:13:40.391206Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/microsoft-retracts-always-on-vpn-fix-claim-for-windows-11-dc176688

Microsoft's October 2026 Windows updates, KB5127648 and KB5127646, failed to fix a persistent 'Always On VPN' connection problem despite initial claims that they would, leaving the issue unresolved as of October 20, 2026 [5][6][8][9]. This ongoing technical glitch impacts Windows 11 users who rely on stable VPN connections for work.

This continuous problem means IT administrators and businesses still face disruptions in secure remote access for employees using Windows 11 devices [3][5][7][9][15]. The initial false announcement of a fix by Microsoft created confusion and wasted efforts for those trying to restore critical network access [5][8].

## What the records show
The 'Always On VPN' connection issue started with September 2026 Windows security updates, specifically KB5124008 for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, and KB5124012 for version 26H1 [3][15]. This bug affects VPN configurations that use automatic protocol selection, such as IKEv2 with SSTP [3][7][15][17]. Affected connections either become stuck in a "Connecting" state or fail with an error stating "The specified port is already in use" [7][15][17][18]. Microsoft's suggested workaround for administrators involves configuring the Always On VPN profile to use a single, specific protocol like SSTP or IKEv2 [3][5][7][9][13].

## The timeline
In September 2026, the Windows security updates KB5124008 and KB5124012 introduced the Always On VPN bug [3][15]. On October 13, 2026, Microsoft released its cumulative updates, KB5127648 and KB5127646, initially stating these updates contained a fix for the VPN problem [2][7][10][13]. By October 20, 2026, Microsoft officially reversed its position, updating the change logs for KB5127648 and KB5127646 to indicate that the fix would arrive in a future release [5][6][8][9][11][12][19].

## Other update consequences
The KB5127648 update also introduced other known issues. Some devices have been unable to turn on Smart App Control if it was previously disabled [25][26]. Remote Desktop connections might also fail for non-administrative users with error 0xC000000D [25][26]. Separately, Windows 11, version 24H2 Home and Pro editions reached their end of updates with the October 2026 security update on October 13, 2026 [20][21][22][23][24].

## What Microsoft has said publicly
Microsoft's Windows release health advisory for the issue, tracked as WI1482218, had its status changed from "Resolved" to "Mitigated" [8]. The company stated that the disclosure was "mistakenly updated to Resolved status on October 13, 2026" and offered an apology for the confusion [8][9]. Microsoft has indicated that a permanent fix is expected in a future update "within the next several weeks" [9].

## What we could not confirm
The specific technical reason for Microsoft's error in marking the Always On VPN issue as "Resolved" on October 13, 2026, before retracting the claim, is not detailed in the available records [6][8][9][11][12][19]. The precise release date for the permanent fix is also not specified beyond the general timeframe of "within the next several weeks" [9].

## Evidence cited
1. (October 16 2026) If your work or school Windows 11 laptop suddenly will not join the office Wi-Fi, will not sign in on a wired office network, or will not connect to the company VPN after this week's updates, you may be hitting a change Microsoft made in the October 13, 2026 security update, KB5127648 (Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2). Here is the plain split: Your home Wi-Fi works, but work Wi-Fi, office Ethernet, or VPN fails. That matches what Microsoft describes. The automatic "use (chasms.com) — https://chasms.com/
2. Windows 11 KB5127648 Update: What's New in October 2026 Update (prajwaldesai.com) — https://prajwaldesai.com/
3. (September 23 2026) Microsoft has warned IT administrators that the September 2026 Windows 11 security updates can break Always On VPN. The affected updates are KB5124008 on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 and KB5124012 on version 26H1. The problem hits VPN profiles that automatically fall back to a second connection method, such as IKEv2 with SSTP, and those connections can hang or fail to connect. Microsoft's temporary fix is to switch affected profiles to a single protocol while it works on (windowsforum.com) — https://windowsforum.com/
4. October 13, 2026—KB5127648 (OS Builds 26300.9711, 26200.9711 and 26100.9711) (microsoft.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFdQbKituldb8-cxldD5sbnNo89stSiIL-r7Slu8AITKk2P4Ch3EIeLoxub9kMRYb_KQU-3TSLsuT-mUDiY1Jst52frV3R65i2OGh8LLvQt4ga6LuAYX7wxl99UmJn4oGGBs2sSy1elgYYaFrCRWF2dsz-rnKrm59LjBoqncRFxhLYiOqbkJKbo0Vr6dGALB4-iGXfwyynu3hB0kvRo2gEoJ8WUBcDBG2oV07nPp_fXoAM=
5. Microsoft admits Windows 11 'Always On VPN' is still broken after botched October update (techradar.com) — https://techradar.com/
6. Microsoft says Always On VPN issues are NOT fixed despite what it said before (youtube.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEJQ4cnX6GHKr3ezIMOUlSvYcMFjpxs0mSCtLrHQPkE09N-iTsU5TorA6RKJvzHKEj2jweEONQ24d-EOpXNYrZ0ybTUGOYaNSIiBmCm7qayVXjiK3ldsKeYdXVLNcvGloN5APtmlA==
7. Microsoft fixes a Windows update bug that left VPN connections stuck (verisq.ai) — https://verisq.ai/
8. Microsoft Admits October Update Failed to Fix Always On VPN Bug (windowsforum.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHIdyqi_BtI1ZLbPV3bJvl9LZi1_Qyho7n1Ma6TZQhh6Upsu4SPslEJTWFBZF6X-9ywURLYf6PqLZuZ7cUjTNoGSwsjxd36qwmRwvqrWDXxqU4SNqsHp_MwMRIBtDrUHnhSdEuFIIoijX1l9zzEr8QkHZwZZpLIdvOpdW5tWOzUyrgnv47J7q5Z3RhZkgwwh_v9LdnO1I7t0kZeDez094bGgW_jUbFozw==
9. Microsoft admits Always On VPN remains broken after botched October update (betanews.com) — https://betanews.com/
10. Microsoft fixes Always On VPN failures caused by September Windows updates (bleepingcomputer.com) — https://bleepingcomputer.com/
11. Microsoft says October updates didn’t actually fix VPN issues (bleepingcomputer.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFATMDzsxi8rEAqpG4LHptj4_xcoonQPhF2gNWtZ8z_YhSdilyxlekKb-tj1NTJFAk2zAm4mN7A_0vz3SlyRL5KBWd9HoimS_DuD_FTCeb6fFZ6DqEHbnrG-I-cuOD7NRYlyiui6dqMsGMLTvjaiwchGkvkoI8HSpefkHSEzK-suzqER-K7HbiR15vnxGAaqeZ14rsGRlXnDPQAKa6-pnvMcMKUaNHhW5-uYU4q
12. Microsoft Says October Updates Didn't Actually Fix VPN Issues (slashdot.org) — https://slashdot.org/
13. Microsoft fixes a Windows update bug that left VPN connections stuck (adyog.com) — https://adyog.com/
14. Windows fixes an Always On VPN bug, but the update brings new issues (allvpn.org) — https://allvpn.org/
15. Microsoft admits Always On VPN remains broken after botched October update (betanews.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQF3i_rfj_Wp6eku2yO6hc0VAuycGzgNaR_csXx0Eb7WaM-bpuNwCcT27w0NXyjPj1uvR8L-5Z2DgUl7Pw1we0cbLEa8lQIeS7GrDJifW80MzX9DqIajmWdqVb5n-6dMUqkBcCfZtoAla5FMdEOEGJgXAePURoY=
16. Windows 11 KB5124008 VPN Bug: Always On VPN Fails After Update (cyberupdates365.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHMP--w2uIcpUuqyIGtxrVqbXpVqkAOSoc7iCeJdk3bos59TDcEooWMstHkk3_IhD-vdLIguKZegtBH95vYAfWRGJ9Fe8e7T51xcwG0J0jD2JudYcxo5wuOyN0Nb0ImFazhMU6o0SHB-ZKx6qEnG4joGW1Nzpt8pvElwAUNJx78Lns5
17. Microsoft: September Windows updates break Always On VPN connections (reddit.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGItxOx-vce5ksul5ho5WbG1pO4dl_WP3c4iffQ1STA24yxZFz8en2hd4a0ilBcM2BJc2OXtc8W1P1M29pCsyR-bn00mSD3Mqpm0fX_SUsR51jkLdHVlTjpFfTZf0SFVSXbbphyv5QfbOHAb4rMm2clH2RhYOiB-vS0Amtb7OQ2THP763KtCEogUA-s-6MezO7fLsXPIXY=
18. Microsoft fixes a Windows update bug that left VPN connections stuck (verisq.ai) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGQOpa2_n2T8Worrk0YfHWhTn0WDElJx_pbFaYte-Kz1xSrFm8OX7YrroAsnXZRQTIUkSQ17R36gcDBCJ_yTO5wLoqYxljGR78BGygNHm43kqZ-8r6ZQ7tHFSrGwk-wLQ0Q3og7fGeAHkQa53IIqXgvFawKsZtYOJ8d5eY-3OO0Lsq9ho7xaw3yMYzz7QM3TiFpuF3r6eJSvxg-iwLWMKhZbcg=
19. Microsoft says Always On VPN issues are NOT fixed despite what it said before (youtube.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEJQ4cnX6GHKr3ezIMOUlSvYcMFjpxs0mSCtLrHQPkE09N-iTsU5TorA6RKJvzHKEj2jweEONQ24d-EOpXNYrZ0ybTUGOYaNSIiBmCm7qayVXjiK3ldsKeYdXVLNcvGloN5APtmlB==
20. Microsoft: Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro reached end of support (bleepingcomputer.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGoJ2XUVY8Unay64Kh-D-amIzZnj5Z1OpCZh9Hqm6YGq1iRkw-WuVbQo58AkWMaDizYRh5uF0Htu6lKqyn6pWBR7Stq36YADEszj5C9wBE0Nf_K6k-R0NKe5w7ON6j_VzcnmkgxYdfYeh2yiwc8-36GS4PgLv_7-eBxQeur29-gOb23RydJ9KMtA9Q_3-ca212fWUuh2ocVFlPaFMqMZ_HubAZ0_wi4gB7u
21. Windows 11 24H2 End of Life: Support Ended, Move to 26H2 (netsysgroup.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHOuspfyqC5LRj3u_rR2O2CJslmgz7R2RveqgLXOjkDdVN6P8IxtdMJ1D1a1m_zs9L3cX3VeWaUZ54EdPa2vL-VX9VZ3bTlOSyvGuvPMzmjgwa0uMBPddxjikG01Z5MI0shUMjXoeN2JdIExbDpYemdAKWWBTw6PvtsO_TzJOM=
22. Windows 11 24H2 End-of-Life: What to Do Next (techframework.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEjMtPBr2-Mm-jJvU2zs_wdw_WggKW4UrPPNGFty5108b1pxf1lC59RTaWHz4_z32FXDJEBQE8srvNS-AYZ9e7BKitxvUCCP2DaEns4JuYLNQd8QHJ_RisdoUYXFWRRiGLEBUTSCdIF8DQQDd5CDYsZEbIOmnLh8LmjZE1b-A==
23. Microsoft's October 2026 Patch Tuesday fixes zero-day, critical flaws (techrepublic.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHsabpUJVkI8QC3d_y8Of4BpUHJMwVxTwdiDxQA8kJiuLVUOFdrR7YGbU6XkHSLAEzluFyFbGe5U-X6ewr7cAP8_9RXfL7iAYRYFG_biN3WGMVhFHOUlDtH77-1eR3YE-5uyxsDqGYYye7z637dR7h8dd-2s7HyfM9VlOswsvx2WN5Gm8hPAIA92bI=
24. October 13, 2026—KB5127648 (OS Builds 26300.9711, 26200.9711 and 26100.9711) (microsoft.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQG25u6UWeHG-T1YcL2b9-BXW-TfPOv2E8KnGZc1hFiGGHB3malTIOowQf6FDgFURCvlusKPGn7ci8n4g9ONOMRbpm5kXIlp7YJ4XQ_bQ1w8AgNOmUDsuFBKuFc-5JfOppG9uJhKfiPNMXIczKLixyFQShuLY7izJtDr_ZchfHGOeTPl3rQQRYBFNFbv7aduc3P7lZeZ52Bz13Q0afmsVbdC937bEXh4zKS5t_Bv5ruRlLtT
25. Windows 11 KB5127648 Update: What's New in October 2026 Update (prajwaldesai.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGgftO09OUFNCyOIDqMgbbq7B7c2v5o707EUiyqt5Y9fzGrtkGUyodVteAaKYy8RMXCemwN21VufjgTfM4L4RNsjDIgBsAimQ0lYrm3Vianhhoan7prslZ1mzBQbPi3EtwZeeVFKAVdi2PQGjgcgeQzsNKlcQ==
26. Microsoft releases KB5127648 for Windows 11, version 24H2 (senserva.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEw6_zBd_dLBa2fiCfphPfYGBSAd4ofOTa-VcyM7SZ6UCKVAbPn2va9gCoxsKrscdTrDGK5w85cEmAmNjcq4IVQ1f567FKAB6UdRBO0BJ8ll0QJLgee_aM3aw5mdJm6Jw==
27. KB5127648 for Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2 (ninjaone.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHdew8e2_lVfHV6tjCXXOp5nclo-0VBPl52A4iRShG6CZ5Bvea5O_uivHlVWF__js9lRDkFFO4weUWjbJm_4pRtRpGyJTehrIQiVJb4oj_wNO1YPtD-ex1U2o_1kQEuRu3DoJfaXRVuiOI=
28. KB5127648: the October 2026 security update for Windows 11 (senserva.com) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGxMKgG1r7bTiAWOIVAl_QYQXnbkDSwNaBk-6NJPezv1YCX9zIwJ6nKLLwJXz4WzVJXVAm1tgrRpqqBAfQK0Kzjz0NKrTvXt3QIdQiTQygArjwpKQ0A7lI89bKWZBoJBD3Bqn3TD6-z51mDjDosw8v5ArRxGQ==