If your VPN connection recently stopped working on your computer (Windows 10 or 11) There's a good chance Windows update KB5036893 installed itself. KB5036893 is the most recent Windows 10 and 11 update to come to Windows that breaks VPN connections but there is a quick and easy way to solve the problem so follow along as we show you how to fix it.
Takeaways:
- Windows 11 won't let you use a VPN for private browsing.
- How to fix KB5036893 breaking VPN connections.
How to Uninstall Windows 11 Update KB5036893? The One Breaking VPN Connections?
To start the process of uninstalling updates on Windows 11, you’ll need to do the following:
- First, open the Settings app by pressing the Windows Key + I on your keyboard or by searching Settings from the Start menu.
- Next, click Windows Update in the left-hand pane of the main Settings screen. This will take you to a new page where you will need to click Update history.
- Once you have clicked Update history, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Uninstall Updates.
- Here you will see a list of recent updates that you can uninstall. If you see KB5036893 on the list click Uninstall next to it, then confirm the uninstallation. You will have to restart your computer after the process completes.
When your computer reboots you should be able to use your VPN connections without any connection or performance issues. If that doesn't work I would just uninstall all of the other updates that are listed as the issue might have been injected in one of the other updates as well (it's happened before).
Note: When selecting an update to uninstall, it’s usually best to remove the most recent update first then work your way back until you see the issue you are having solved.
How to Roll Back an Entire Windows 11 Build? Uninstall the Latest Windows 11 Build.
Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update History > Recovery > Go back. This will allow you to roll back an entire Windows 11 build. This method works well but does take a lot longer to complete, so make sure you have some extra time to wait.
The latest Windows Update is Breaking VPN connections
The recent cumulative update for Windows 10 and 11, KB5036893, has reintroduced one of Windows's most annoying VPN connection bugs. This update issue affects all VPN connections and some users have noticed a significant decrease in both download and upload speeds, while others have encountered difficulties in downloading files from SFTP over L2TP/IPsec VPN. Beyond performance issues, some users are unable to establish VPN connections altogether. Though perhaps unexpected for some, this specific issue has persisted over time, making its recurrence in Windows updates every few months unsurprising. It comes and goes at least once every six months from my experience on both Windows 10 and 11.
