On iOS 26 beta 5, it is impossible to add a VPN configuration when a passcode is set on the device. Every time, all it does is redirect to the Settings app with no prompt for passcode.
The only way around this is to disable passcode on the device so adding a VPN configuration doesn’t have to open the Settings app.
This issue happened intermittently in the past with previous iOS 26 betas and even on iOS 18, but the problem has worsened on iOS 26 beta 5 to the point where you have to turn off passcode to add a VPN.
Feedback ID: FB17974765