Are You Experiencing Slow VPN Speed on Microsoft Windows 11? Here’s Why
A lightning-fast VPN connection is a dream for every internet user, whether you’re working from home or streaming the latest binge-worthy show. However, several users of Microsoft’s Windows 11 have recently reported experiencing slower speeds when using their VPN services, specifically with L2TP/IPsec VPN connections. We, from Time4VPN, as usual are here to explore this issue, examine its potential causes, and provide solutions.

So, without further ado, let’s jump in.


What’s Causing the Slowdown?

The slow VPN speed problem began with the release of Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 10 and Windows 11. After installing the KB5026372 cumulative update, several users reported a significant reduction in their VPN download and upload speeds. Interestingly, these issues appear more prevalent on Wi-Fi connections, while wired connections remain largely unaffected.


Digging Deeper: The KB5026372 Cumulative Update

But why has this specific update affected VPN speeds? It seems the KB5026372 cumulative update unintentionally impacts the performance of L2TP/IPsec VPN connections, a popular method for implementing VPNs. It’s worth noting that the update has also caused other issues, such as forced reboots, BitLocker activation, and SSD slowdowns.

Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and is working on a fix. Until that’s available, they recommend uninstalling the update to mitigate the VPN speed issue.


Navigating Slow VPN Speeds

Experiencing slow VPN speeds can be frustrating, but there are several steps you can take to improve your situation:


VPN for Windows

It’s important to remember that these slowdown issues are not a general feature of VPN usage on Windows. Most VPN providers offer robust and fast VPN for Windows services, and this recent issue is likely a temporary glitch that Microsoft will resolve in due course.

Moreover, these problems don’t extend to other operating systems. Mac VPN users, for example, are unlikely to experience similar issues unless a similar update affects macOS.


Looking Ahead

Given the essential role that VPNs play in online security, any issue affecting their performance warrants prompt attention. The recent VPN slowdown on Windows 11 provides a valuable reminder to keep your system updated and to keep an eye on how these updates can impact various applications.

It also underlines the importance of flexible VPN services that offer a range of protocols. Being able to switch protocols can help circumvent issues like these and ensure a fast and secure online experience.

The current VPN slowdown is inconvenient for many users, but with the suggested mitigations and a fix on the way from Microsoft, it won’t be long before we’re all back to enjoying high-speed, secure VPN connections on Windows 11.


FAQs

The KB5026372 cumulative update for Windows 11 is known to cause slower VPN speeds, particularly affecting L2TP/IPsec connections and Wi-Fi connections.


Microsoft recommends uninstalling the problematic update to resolve the slow VPN speed. Alternatively, switching to a different VPN protocol or using a wired connection might help.


Yes, the recent VPN slowdown is specific to the KB5026372 update released for Windows 11 and does not affect other operating systems like macOS.


The slowdown issue mainly impacts L2TP/IPsec VPN connections. Other VPN protocols like OpenVPN or IKEv2 may not experience the same problem.

Microsoft is aware of the VPN slowdown issue and is working on a fix. However, there’s no official timeline for the fix release yet.