Windivert Driver Cannot Be Installed You Must | Restart Your Computer Top

If the driver is partially installed, manually delete it:

Once you have resolved the issue, follow these best practices to prevent recurrence:

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.

Windows 10 and 11 require drivers to be digitally signed by Microsoft. While official WinDivert releases are signed, some older or custom-compiled versions may trigger a signature error (sometimes misreported as the “must restart” message).

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.

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 If the driver is partially installed, manually delete it:

, 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

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

To resolve the "WinDivert driver cannot be installed" error without a full restart, you can manually force the removal of old service handles and registry entries that are blocking the new installation. 1. Force Stop and Delete the Service

The most common cause is a ghost service from a previous session that didn't shut down properly. Open Command Prompt as an Administrator and run these commands to clear it: sc stop WinDivert sc delete WinDivert

If you are using an older version (e.g., v1.0), the service name might be specific, such as WinDivert1.0 . 2. Clear Residual Registry Entries

If the commands above fail, manually removing the service key from the registry often bypasses the need for a reboot, as suggested by developers on GitHub . 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. Retry your application. 3. Verify File Integrity and Permissions

Ensure all required driver files are present in the application's root folder. Missing files often trigger generic "installation failed" errors.

File Check: Verify that WinDivert.dll, WinDivert64.sys (or WinDivert32.sys), and WinDivert.inf are all in the same directory .

Admin Rights: Always run the host application (like GoodbyeDPI) as an Administrator to allow driver injection . 4. Advanced System Compatibility

If the error persists, check these system-level security features:

Core Isolation: Disable Memory Integrity in Windows Security (Device Security > Core Isolation) as it can block low-level drivers like WinDivert .

Digital Signatures: If you are using a custom-built version, Windows will block it unless Test Signing mode is enabled via bcdedit /set testsigning on .

For more specific troubleshooting regarding driver opening failures, you can check the community-sourced solutions on Stack Overflow . 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: Once you have resolved the issue, follow these

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

The "WinDivert driver cannot be installed" error usually happens when a previous version of the driver is stuck in a half-uninstalled state or blocked by system security settings. While a simple restart is the first recommended step, it often doesn't clear the underlying service conflict or digital signature block. Troubleshooting the WinDivert Driver Error

Run as Administrator: Ensure the application using WinDivert is running with elevated privileges, as it cannot install or load drivers otherwise.

Force-Remove the Service: Use the Command Prompt (Admin) to manually clear the stuck driver: sc stop windivert sc delete windivert Restart your computer and try again.

Check Registry Entries: If the service commands fail, manually delete the WinDivert registry key:

Open regedit and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDivert. Delete the entry and reboot.

Security Software & Memory Integrity: Antivirus software (like Sophos) or Windows' Memory Integrity setting can block the driver. Try temporarily disabling Memory Integrity in Windows Security > Device Security > Core Isolation.

Digital Signature Issues: If you see "Error 577," Windows is rejecting the driver's signature. Updating Windows often resolves this by refreshing root certificates.

Blog Post: How to Fix the "WinDivert Driver Cannot Be Installed" Loop For 64-bit Windows with Secure Boot:

If you're seeing the "WinDivert driver cannot be installed, you must restart your computer" message on repeat, you’re likely stuck in a "zombie service" loop. This driver, used by tools like GoodbyeDPI or FakeNet-NG, often fails because an older version didn't clean up after itself or Windows Security thinks it’s a threat. 1. The "Clean Slate" Method (Admin Prompt)

Most of the time, the driver is registered but not actually running. You can clear this by opening Command Prompt as Administrator and typing: sc stop windivert sc delete windivert Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard

Restart your PC immediately after. This forces Windows to drop any "pending" installation requests. 2. Clear the Registry "Ghost"

If the command prompt doesn't work, the driver's ghost is in your registry. Search for regedit.

Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDivert Right-click and Delete the WinDivert folder. 3. Disable Core Isolation

Windows 10 and 11 have a feature called Memory Integrity (part of Core Isolation) that blocks drivers it doesn't recognize. If your WinDivert version is older or unsigned, Windows will block it silently.

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Device Security.

Click Core isolation details and toggle Memory integrity to Off. Restart and try the installation again. 4. The "Missing File" Quick Fix

Sometimes the driver fails because WinDivert64.sys isn't where the program expects it to be. Try copying the .sys file from your program's folder directly into C:\Windows\System32\drivers to see if it bypasses the install error.

WinDivert: What is the reason behind the error message "error

WinDivert installation requires administrative privileges to load a kernel driver. Even if your user account is an administrator, UAC (User Account Control) may block the driver silently.

If you’ve ever tried using a network monitoring tool (like NetBalancer, mitmproxy, Proxifier, Charles Proxy, or Windscribe VPN), you may have encountered the frustrating error:

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

This message typically appears mid-installation or when launching an application that relies on the WinDivert packet capture library. The error halts your workflow, prevents network redirection, and leaves you confused—especially after you’ve already rebooted once (or twice).

In this extensive guide, we’ll explore:

Some third-party tools bundle outdated or broken versions of WinDivert. You can manually install the latest signed version from the official source.