Windivert Driver Cannot Be Installed You Must Restart Your Computer Top ✦ Genuine

Outdated Windows builds can have driver signature enforcement issues. Run Windows Update and restart.

Most likely solution:
Just restart your computer before doing anything else. The driver installation was interrupted, and Windows is waiting for a reboot to complete it.

If you need help with a specific software (e.g., Proxifier, Charles, Fiddler), let me know and I’ll give you the exact steps for that tool.

The WinDivert (Windows Packet Divert) driver installation often fails with a persistent restart loop if there are orphaned services, conflicting registry entries, or missing dependencies. Because WinDivert is installed "on-demand" by applications

, the error usually indicates the system is unable to initialize its kernel-mode service. Common Fixes for WinDivert Installation Errors

If you are repeatedly prompted to restart but the driver still won't load, try these steps in order: Remove Orphaned Services

: A "zombie" service from a previous version or failed install can block new instances. Run these commands in a Command Prompt as Administrator to force-remove them: sc stop WinDivert sc stop WinDivert1.4 depending on your version) sc delete WinDivert Clear the Registry

: If the service commands don't work, manually delete the registry key. Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDivert and delete the entire folder, then your computer. Disable Memory Integrity

: Modern Windows security features can block third-party drivers. Go to Windows Security > Device Security > Core Isolation and try turning off Memory Integrity Verify File Placement

: WinDivert requires specific files to be in the application's home directory to install correctly on-demand. Ensure WinDivert.dll WinDivert.sys WinDivert.inf

are all present in the folder of the program you are trying to run. Check for Conflicts

: Some antivirus or firewall software (like Sophos) is known to block the WinDivert driver. Temporarily disabling these may allow the driver to load. Test-Signing Mode

: If you are using a custom or older build, you may need to enable Test-Signing mode via the command: Bcdedit.exe -set TESTSIGNING ON followed by a Microsoft Support Why does this happen? According to technical discussions on Stack Overflow

, the "restart required" message is often a generic Windows response to a driver that failed to initialize due to: Architecture Mismatch : Attempting to load a 32-bit driver on a 64-bit system. Missing Privileges : The application calling the driver must be Run as Administrator Virtualization : WinDivert is often incompatible with environments like or certain setups that do not support standard device drivers. Are you getting a specific error code (like 110, 577, or 1275) along with the restart message? A driver can't load on this device - Microsoft Support Most likely solution: Just restart your computer before

Applies To. Security Windows 10 Windows 11. Our free trial of Microsoft 365 is waiting for you. Unlock now. Windows 11 Windows 10. Microsoft Support WinDivert not working on Windows 10 20H2 #253 - GitHub

This error generally occurs because a previous version of the WinDivert driver is stuck in a half-installed or corrupted state, or a security program is blocking its loading. Since WinDivert is "installed" on demand when an application calls it, it often requires administrative cleanup rather than just a standard reboot. Immediate Solutions

If a simple restart does not work, try these steps in order:

Manually Force-Delete the Service: Open a Command Prompt as Administrator and run these commands to clear out the old driver service: sc stop WinDivert sc delete WinDivert

Note: If the version is specific, like WinDivert1.4, use that exact name.

Check Program Permissions: Ensure the application using WinDivert (like GoodbyeDPI or a VPN) is being Run as Administrator.

Clear the Registry (Advanced): If the error persists after a reboot, the registry entry might be corrupted. Use regedit to navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDivert and manually delete the WinDivert entry, then restart your computer. Common Root Causes

Security Software Interference: Programs like ESET, Sophos, or other deep-packet inspection antiviruses often block WinDivert from loading as they see it as "suspicious" driver activity. Try disabling your antivirus temporarily to verify if it’s the culprit.

File Mismatch or Missing Files: Ensure both WinDivert.dll and the appropriate driver (WinDivert32.sys or WinDivert64.sys) are in the same folder as the program you are trying to run.

Outdated Windows (Win 7 Users): Older Windows 7 installations often lack SHA256 digital signature support, preventing the driver from loading. Ensure you have the KB3033929 update installed. Specific Fix for Tools (e.g., GoodbyeDPI)

If you are using GoodbyeDPI, users have found success by copying WinDivert64.sys directly into the C:\Windows\System32 directory to bypass loading issues, though this should be a last resort. WinDivert not working on Windows 10 20H2 #253 - GitHub

Fixing the "WinDivert driver cannot be installed, you must restart your computer" error typically requires clearing stuck driver services or addressing permission conflicts. This error occurs because WinDivert is a kernel-level packet interception driver that must be installed "on demand" by an application—if a previous version is still active or a service entry is corrupted, the installation fails. Immediate Solutions to Fix the Installation Error 1. Manually Stop and Delete the WinDivert Service

The most common cause is a ghost service from a previous session. You can forcibly remove it via the Command Prompt: Open Command Prompt as an Administrator. Type sc stop windivert and press Enter. Type sc delete windivert and press Enter. Restart your computer to clear the system's driver state. 2. Run as Administrator

WinDivert requires Administrator privileges to load its driver into the Windows kernel. If the application using WinDivert (like GoodbyeDPI or a VPN) is not run as an admin, it will trigger an installation failure. 3. Clear Registry Corruptions "WinDivert driver cannot be installed

If the service commands don't work, a corrupted registry entry might be blocking the driver:

Press Win + R, type regedit, and navigate to:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDivert Right-click the WinDivert folder and select Delete. Restart your PC. Common Causes for Failed Installation WinDivert – Real-Time Network Traffic Control on Windows

This blog post addresses the common "WinDivert driver cannot be installed" error often encountered in tools like GoodbyeDPI, ReQrypt, or custom network applications.

How to Fix: WinDivert Driver Cannot Be Installed (Must Restart)

If you are seeing the message "WinDivert driver cannot be installed, you must restart your computer," you’re likely stuck in a loop. Even after rebooting, the same error pops up. This usually happens because an old version of the driver is "ghosting" in your system or a third-party security tool is blocking the installation. Here is how to break the cycle and get it working. 1. Manually Clear the Old Service

The most common cause is a previous instance of WinDivert that didn't shut down properly. Windows thinks it’s still there, so it won’t let a new one install. Open Command Prompt as Administrator. Type the following commands one by one and hit Enter: sc stop WinDivert sc delete WinDivert Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard If you are using a specific version (like 1.4 or 2.0), try: sc stop WinDivert1.4 sc delete WinDivert1.4 Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Restart your computer immediately after running these. 2. Check for Conflicts (VPNs & Antivirus)

WinDivert is a powerful packet-interception tool, which means some antivirus programs flag it as suspicious.

NordVPN / X-VPN: Some users report that "NordDivert" or similar modules in VPN apps conflict with standard WinDivert. Try closing your VPN entirely before launching your app.

Antivirus: Temporarily disable your real-time protection or add the folder containing WinDivert64.sys to your exclusions list. 3. The Registry "Deep Clean"

If the sc delete command didn't work, you might need to manually remove the service entry from the Windows Registry. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.

Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDivert Right-click the WinDivert folder and select Delete. Reboot your PC. 4. Verify Your Files

Ensure you aren't missing the core driver files in your application folder. You should see: WinDivert.dll WinDivert64.sys (for 64-bit systems) WinDivert32.sys (for 32-bit systems)

Tip: Some users find success by copying WinDivert64.sys directly into C:\Windows\System32\drivers, though this should usually be a last resort.

Still stuck? Make sure you are always right-clicking your application and choosing "Run as Administrator." WinDivert requires high-level permissions to interact with your network stack. For 64-bit Windows with Secure Boot:

Are you using a specific program like GoodbyeDPI or a custom script when this happens? WinDivert not working on Windows 10 20H2 #253 - GitHub

This is a very common and frustrating error, typically associated with software that needs to intercept or modify network traffic (such as VPNs, ad blockers like AdGuard, or firewall applications like SimpleWall).

Here is a review of the error message, what it actually means, and how to fix it.

The error doesn’t always mean the driver is broken. It often indicates that Windows cannot load the driver because of one of the following:

If you are reading this, you have likely been stopped mid-task by a frustrating pop-up error:

"WinDivert driver cannot be installed. You must restart your computer."

This message typically appears when launching network manipulation tools—such as VPN clients (ProtonVPN, Windscribe), packet sniffers (Wireshark with WinDivert), proxy tools (mitmproxy, SocksEscort), or gaming VPNs (ExitLag, NoPing). The error halts the driver installation, preventing the application from functioning.

Why does this happen, and more importantly, how do you fix it without going in circles?

This article provides a complete, step-by-step guide to diagnosing and resolving the "WinDivert driver cannot be installed" error. We will cover permissions, pending updates, antivirus interference, and the infamous "pending restart" state. Follow these solutions in order—the first one resolves 70% of cases.

In 90% of cases, this error is resolved by using the Shift + Restart method to bypass Windows Fast Startup. If the error persists, use the Command Prompt commands (sc delete windivert) to manually purge the stuck driver from the system registry.

WinDivert is a legitimate open-source driver used to capture and filter network packets. Windows takes network driver security very seriously. If Windows detects that a previous instance of the driver was not unloaded correctly, or if there are pending file operations in the System32 drivers folder, it blocks the new installation and demands a restart to clear the buffers.

If the driver is partially installed, manually delete it:

For 64-bit Windows with Secure Boot:

Note: This only works temporarily for installation. You won’t need to do it every time once installed.

If after trying these steps you're still unable to install the WinDivert driver, the issue might be specific to your system configuration or the software itself. Further troubleshooting might require delving deeper into system logs or reaching out to Microsoft support for Windows-specific issues.