You might have VPN issues after installing Windows 11 KB5026372

Be careful before installing this Windows 11 cumulative update

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Key notes

  • The May 2023 Patch Tuesday rollout happened earlier this week.
  • After installing it, users reported a lot of VPN connection issues.
  • Solutions like reinstalling WAN, or flushing DNS will not work.
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You already know how Microsoft’s patches impact your machines, so there’s no point in going on about that anymore.

These security fix patches end up breaking more than they fix sometimes, and this month’s Patch Tuesday rollout is no different.

As a matter of fact, Windows 11’s recent cumulative update KB5026372, released during the above-mentioned event, appears to be causing numerous problems for users.

We’re about to take a much closer look at it and see exactly what users are struggling with after installing this update.

Patch Tuesday broke more than it fixed for many users

Microsoft aimed to bring improvements to Windows 11 via this cumulative update, such as addressing the Kernel-mode Hardware-enforced Stack Protection security feature, and others.

However, a lot of users have reported various issues all over Reddit and forums. One of the most significant concerns has to do with VPN connection issues.

To be more exact. we’re talking about L2TP/IPsec VPN. Reports indicate a drastic decrease in download and upload speeds, while others faced difficulties downloading files from sftp over L2TP/IPsec VPN.

Also, even more disconcerting is the fact that solutions such as reinstalling WAN, flushing DNS, disabling IPv6, and disabling the firewall don’t seem to be of much help.

Furthermore, KB5026372 also causes BitLocker to activate, subsequently trapping users in an automatic repair loop, potentially requiring a complete system wipe and Windows reinstall.

Others claim they have also encountered issues with their computers shutting down instead of restarting after installing the updates.

These software problems have left many users frustrated and seeking solutions, raising concerns about the stability and reliability of Microsoft’s latest update.

And, besides the VPN connection issues previously reported, the broken grey and black boxes are back in Windows Security.

If you didn’t know, these boxes had previously appeared due to a bug that broke the Windows Security app, resulting in security warnings.

Even though the issue was resolved, it returned after the update. TPM detection and core isolation settings remain broken, as they have been for months.

Have you encountered any other issues after installing this update on your Windows 11 PC? Share your experience with us in the comments section below.

More about the topics: Windows 11 Software & Apps