Windows
VPN login fails with 'login failed' after password entry
VPN sign-in was failing immediately after password entry with the prompt showing 'login failed'. The issue was traced to a certificate problem and was resolved by the escalations team.
Killed once by someone from XL.net, on 2026-01-06.
Affects
Versions
- Windows
Apps
- VPN client
What you see
- VPN prompt immediately responds 'login failed' after entering a password and pressing Enter
- User cannot connect to the VPN
Why it happens
Likely Certificate issue affecting VPN authentication
When it shows up
A Windows machine shows an immediate 'login failed' response during VPN sign-in after a recent certificate change or fix elsewhere has already restored access for other users
You are in this case if:
- Exact dialog text: 'login failed'
- VPN authentication fails immediately after password submission
1 fix below
The steps that killed it
The steps are behind a quick check
There are two ways in and both take a few seconds. Signing in opens the steps on every bug page; so does reading the picture.
Or answer this
Drawing a picture for you.
Can't read it? Sign in instead.
Someone from XL.net killed this on a Windows computer on 2026-01-06. It is written up from that one repair, so it cites no outside page.