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Many people consider Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) as the ultimate anti-monitoring tool on the internet. The booming user statistics for VPN services like NordVPN, ExpressVPN and the likes indicate as much. Not only do virtual private networks help the user to camouflage their online activities from prying eyes, but also benefits like the ability to access content blocked in a certain location make VPNs a must-use option for an ever-increasing user base.

But like all useful tools, VPNs are subject to the odd breakdown. Sometimes, the feature that hides the user’s location fails, leading to IP and DNS leakage. Other times, the VPN servers go down or experience glitches that prevent the user from connecting. And that is before we mention the ultimate snag of the VPN simply not working and preventing the user from connecting to the web.

There are so many issues that affect VPN users that it will be impossible to list them all here. We will make do with the most common ones, their error codes and simple fixes. Our focus in this guide is, however, on the VPN Error 609. If you experience it, reading this guide will show you at least one effective way out of the quagmire.

What Is VPN Error 609 on Windows 10?

Though there are loads of VPN Errors, Error Code 609 seems particularly annoying due to its tendency to randomly pop up and disrupt the VPN experience. Affected users in Windows 10 are stymied by the error, which appears with the following simple message:

A device type was specified that does not exist

Computer nerds who know the ins and outs of network connections will usually understand this message straightaway. However, the casual user who just wants to click Connect on the VPN client and start hiding their IP is likely not going to make either heads or tails of the message. However, we’re here to explain it to you:

Unlike most errors that are generated by the system, this error is generated by the VPN client. The error message is the software’s way to inform the user that it cannot reach the port it needs for connection. This is mostly because the device type definition that enables access to that specific port is missing or not configured correctly.

Virtual private networks use a number of protocols to negotiate the secure encryption of communication between client and host computers. The most popular of these are:

  • PPTP — Point to Point Tunneling Protocol
  • L2TP — Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol
  • IKEv2 — Internet Key Exchange Version 2
  • SSTP — Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol

The device type configured on your computer needs to match the VPN in use, otherwise the VPN won’t work and will display the Error Code 609 instead.

When the Error Code 609 issue is present on your Windows 10 system, using it without interruption becomes a tall order. Sometimes, the error just pops out of nowhere and crashes the current program window. Other times, launching the VPN client either crashes the system immediately or does do shortly after the error code is displayed. Alongside these symptoms is the tendency for the error to cause system slowdowns and even freezes. In short, the sooner you get rid of it, the better for system stability.

How to Resolve VPN Error 609

When the VPN Error Code 609 happens, your first task is to check that the device type needed by the VPN actually exists on the system. There are two ways you can go about it. The first involves using Device Manager. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Right-click the Start Menu icon at the bottom of the screen and select Device Manager.
  • Select the View tab and click on the “Show hidden devices” option. This will make the miniports on your computer visible in Device Manager.
  • Expand the Network Adapters container and check whether WAN Miniport (PPTP) and WAN Miniport (L2TP) are present.

Or you can use the Command Prompt instead:

  • Press the Windows key and X buttons at the same time and select Command Prompt (Admin).
  • Type or copy-paste the following command in the CMD window and hit the Enter key:

netcfg.exe -q < miniport name >

The miniport name depends on the protocol your VPN uses. It should be one of these:

PPTP:   MS_PPTP

L2TP:

MS_L2TP

IKEv2:

MS_AGILEVPN

SSTP:

MS_SSTP

The result you get after running the command will tell you whether the device type is configured correctly.

At this point, restart the system, and everything should fall into place. Many users didn’t need to do much more than this.

If you’re experiencing annoying system slowdowns alongside the VPN Error Code 609 issue, a reboot can remove the issue but leave your system still slow and freezing. The problem is gone, but the effects linger. To get rid of this and restore system stability and performance, Auslogics BoostSpeed is your best bet.

The program has been developed to fix a myriad of performance issues that cause Windows systems to experience lags, glitches, freezes, and crashes. Like an experienced surgeon, it removes corrupt registry keys, junk files, damaged browser caches, useless update files, and other causes of glitches on Windows 10. You just need to scan your system with it and watch it solve the effects of the VPN Error Code 609.

If the issue persists after a reboot, you can use the inbuilt Windows diagnostics tool. You can also check the status of the Remote Access Connection Manager.

  • Use the Inbuilt Windows Diagnostics Tool

Unlike the usual troubleshooters in Windows 10, this tool accompanies the error message and can be launched straight from the dialog.

When you get the error, click the Diagnostics button and select the Repair option, and the tool will go to work trying to find out what is interfering with your VPN connection. Follow the onscreen instructions and carry out any remedy they suggest.

  • Using the Remote Access Connection Manager

The Remote Access Connection Manager (rasman) is a service that handles connections between your Windows 10 system and remote connection types like VPN and dial-up connections. Assuming that nothing is wrong with this service, your connections go swimmingly. But if there’s something wrong with it, it can throw up random errors like the error 609 when using a VPN.

One way to fix it is to restart the service.

  • Press Win Key+R and type “services.msc” in the Run dialog.
  • Hit the Enter key to launch the Windows 10 Services interface.
  • Select Services (Local) in the left pane.
  • Scroll down the list of services in the right pane until you find the Remote Access Connection Manager service.
  • Right-click the Remote Access Connection Manager service and select Properties.
  • In the General tab of the Properties window, click the drop-down Startup Type option and choose Manual.
  • Under “Service status”, select Stop.
  • Click Apply.
  • Click OK.

Now reboot your system and return to the Services window. Find the Remote Access Connection Manager service once again and open its Properties window. Start the service and check that the VPN issue with Error Code 609 no longer shows up.

To increase the chance of the above fix succeeding, your VPN should be off and its processes disabled in Task Manager. After restarting the rasman service, launch the VPN client again and connect as usual.

In general, these two methods should be sufficient to fix Error Code 609 when connecting to a VPN. If the problem still persists, you will be well served contacting customer support for further assistance.

That rounds up our look at the VPN Error Code 609. However, if you get another error instead, the rest of the guide can help you. We provide a snapshot of the most common VPN errors besides Error 609, explain why they happen in a few words, and suggest the best solution.

Other Common VPN Error Codes

VPN users can run into any number of bugs relating to their use of the identity-hiding software. Usually, restarting the system or tweaking a setting or two remedies the situation and restores the browsing session. But this isn’t always the case. There are times when the harried user is instead faced with an error code.

The list of VPN errors is as long as a Black Friday queue, but most are more snags than bugs and often go away on their own. The ones listed below tend to be more common and more stubborn to resolve.

VPN Error Code 0x800704C9 Error Message: No SSTP ports available on the server

Most Common Cause: Improperly configured remote servers

Solution: Increasing the Maximum Port number in the Routing and Remote Access control panel

  • Log in to the server via Remote Desktop.
  • Open the RRAS control panel.
  • Find your server and click it once to expand the entry.
  • Right-click Port and select Properties.
  • Select Name.
  • Select Miniport (SSTP) and click the Configure button.
  • Increase the number in the Maximum Ports field from 128.
  • Click OK.

VPN Error Code 51 Error Message: Unable to communicate with the VPN subsystem

Most Common Cause: A breakdown in communication between the VPN software on your system and the inbuilt VPN client on Windows 10. Without this connection, the VPN software cannot do its job.

Solution: Run the Network Diagnostics Troubleshooter. When you’re done, launch the VPN client again and check that it works.

VPN Error Code 0x80072746 Error Message: Connection Closed by Remote Host

Most Common Cause: The connection has been terminated by the VPN server. This can happen for any number of reasons. You might be trying to access a website that has been flagged by the VPN filter, or the site has an expired certificate. Usually, there is a problem with the VPN server’s own certificate, and that is causing the service to experience problems.

Solution: If this occurs when trying to access a specific website, whitelist the site, and that should resolve it. On the other hand, if it is an issue with the VPN server’s https certificate, you can’t do much more than wait for the provider to resolve it. You may send them a message to expedite the process.

VPN Error Code 412 Error Message: The remote peer is no longer responding

Most Common Cause: The remote peer, in this case, is the server which the VPN client installed on your Windows 10 PC is communicating with. When you activate the client and use it, your requests are relayed to the VPN server, which processes them and sends the requested information. Error 412 occurs when the client suddenly loses contact with the server, perhaps due to a network failure or disconnection.

Solution: Try loading the page or restarting your activity, and communication should be established. You can also close the client, run the Network Diagnostics Troubleshooter, then launch the client once more and try to connect.

VPN Error Code 619 Error Message: A connection to the remote computer could not be established

Most Common Cause: If you have Windows Firewall enabled, it could be preventing the VPN from connecting to the network. This can also happen if the firewall component of your antivirus is interfering with the activities of the VPN. In that case, the VPN loses connection and everything stops working.

Solution: Turning off your firewall is a recommended solution — though not for too long. Given that this may be a temporary fix, you should also check if there are multiple virtual private networks on the system as these can interfere with one another. Perhaps you may wish to use one, but another is already operational. Open Task Manager and check for other VPNs that may be running. If found, end their processes and uninstall the programs if you wish.

VPN Error Code 633 Error Message: The modem (or other connecting device) is already in use or is not configured properly

Most Common Cause: A conflict between the VPN and another program is mostly responsible for this error. When the TCP port that the VPN requires for connection is already in active use by another program, the VPN is unable to progress, hence the error message.

Solution: Restarting the computer should erase the other program from memory and give the VPN free rein to use the port. If that doesn’t work, restarting the Remote Access Connection Manager (rasman) service should help with the issue.

VPN Error Code 691 Error Message: Access denied because username and/or password is invalid on the domain

Most Common Cause: This error is more common on Windows 10 than on older versions of the OS. It results from entering incorrect login credentials. The VPN server requires that the correct username and password must be entered before access can be granted.

Solution: If you believe you’ve entered the correct details, enter them once more to make sure you didn’t make a mistake at first. Now is a good time to check whether the Caps Lock is active as passwords on Windows are case-sensitive.

If that doesn’t work, you can consult the VPN server administrator or the client company to troubleshoot your account.

VPN Error Code 13801 Error Message: IKE authentication credentials are unacceptable

Most Common Cause: There is a problem with the Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv2). Specifically, the server’s authentication certificate is invalid, broken or expired.

Solution: Unless you’re the VPN server administrator, there’s nothing you can do apart from hurrying the VPN operators into coming up with a fix.

VPN Error Code 812 Error Message: The connection was prevented because of a policy configured on your RAS/VPN server

Most Common Cause: You don’t have sufficient permission to use the VPN to connect to the internet. Perhaps you’re trying to use a server in a region that isn’t included in your subscription plan.

Solution: The obvious remedy is to gain use privilege on the specific server. You do this either by paying for the required subscription or asking the VPN provider for help if you believe the issue stems from their end.

VPN Error Code 809 Error Message: The network connection between your computer and the VPN server could not be established because the remote server is not responding

Most Common Cause: This error is due to the inability of the VPN client to access the 1723 port, usually due to interference from a firewall.

Solution: Talk to your Internet Service Provider about it, and they’ll tell you what you need to do.

VPN Error Code 789 Error Message:

The security layer encountered a processing error during initial negotiations with the remote computer

Most Common Cause: This error is mostly due to incompatibility between client and server certificates.

Solution: Check that the Pre Shared Keys of both client and server certificates match each other.

VPN Error Code 720 Error Message: A connection to the remote computer could not be established

Most Common Cause: If you manually set up your VPN connection, instead of relying on a pre-configured client, and you get this error, it’s likely due to entering the wrong VPN type protocol.

Solution: Enter the correct protocol in the VPN type field.

As mentioned earlier, there are loads more errors associated with VPN use on Windows 10. The Error Code 609 and the rest talked about in this guide, however, cover the base regarding the ones most likely to be experienced by users.