Windows
VPN sign-in fails immediately with "login failed"
The VPN client returned "login failed" right after the password was entered. The connection was restored by confirming the credentials, moving the PC to a hotspot-only connection, starting the VPN, and approving the sign-in from the phone.
Killed once by someone from XL.net, on 2026-01-07.
Affects
Apps
- VPN client
What you see
- VPN prompt immediately shows "login failed" after the password is entered.
- VPN connection does not establish on the normal network connection.
Why it happens
Suspected Exact cause was not established; the sign-in only completed after switching the PC to a hotspot and approving the VPN authentication from the phone.
When it shows up
A Windows PC can reach the VPN prompt, but the login fails immediately after password entry and the connection will not come up on the normal network path.
You are in this case if:
- Immediate "login failed" message in the VPN prompt after password entry.
- VPN connection succeeds only after the machine is placed on a hotspot connection.
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 2026-01-07. It is written up from that one repair, so it cites no outside page.