Microsoft is investigating reports that users are experiencing slow speeds when using L2TP/IPsec VPN connections after installing recent Windows updates. The issue was first reported by users in the Microsoft forums, and it has since been confirmed by Microsoft. It is directly related to the Windows 11 April 2023 optional KB5025305 preview update.
According to posts on Reddit and Microsoft Support forums, some users are experiencing extremely slow download and upload speeds when connected to a VPN, making it impossible to use remote desktop protocol (RDP) or other applications that require a stable connection. Some users claim that the problem only affects Wi-Fi connections, and that wired internet works fine with VPNs.
A Microsoft spokesperson has confirmed to BleepingComputer that the company is aware of the issue and is looking into it. However, no official workaround or fix has been provided yet. The only option for users who are affected by this issue is to uninstall the problematic update and revert to the previous version of Windows 11.
“Microsoft is aware of the issue and is looking into it,” a spokesperson said. On Reddit, Ahud7 summed up the general issue admins are experiencing: “I'm having users with the exact same problem, I've got 5-15 users out of 43 with that problem and not all have that update I just verified, everything from 4th-11th gen I tell, laptops and desktops, windows 11 and 10, any connect and windows built in, We even tried rolling back to 17.10.2 firmware on our mx and it didn't help, we're on 17.10.5 now.”
What to do if You Experience VPN Issues on Windows 11
The issue is affecting Windows 11 and Windows 10 devices that have installed the May 2023 updates. The updates include security fixes for a number of vulnerabilities, but they also appear to be causing problems with L2TP/IPsec VPN connections.
L2TP/IPsec is a popular VPN protocol that is used by businesses and individuals to connect to remote networks. The protocol is considered to be secure and reliable, but it can be slow if it is not configured properly.
If you are experiencing slow speeds when using L2TP/IPsec VPN connections after installing the May 2023 Windows updates, there are a few things you can do to try to fix the problem. First, you can try uninstalling the May 2023 updates. To do this, open the Windows Update settings and click on “Uninstall updates.” Select the May 2023 updates and click on “Uninstall.”
Once you have uninstalled the May 2023 updates, you can try reinstalling them. To do this, open the Windows Update settings and click on “Check for updates.” Windows will automatically download and install the latest updates.
If you are still experiencing slow speeds after reinstalling the May 2023 updates, you can try the following:
- Check your VPN settings. Make sure that your VPN is configured properly and that you are using the correct settings for your network.
- Restart your computer. This can sometimes fix temporary problems that can cause slow speeds.
- Contact your VPN provider. If you are still experiencing slow speeds after trying the above steps, you can contact your VPN provider for assistance.
Microsoft is working on a fix for the slow VPN speeds issue, and it is expected to be released in a future update.
Last Updated on May 25, 2023 10:52 am CEST by Markus Kasanmascheff
