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.
Are you using a specific program like GoodbyeDPI or a custom script when this happens? WinDivert not working on Windows 10 20H2 #253 - GitHub
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 This blog post addresses the common "WinDivert driver
: 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
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
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. Action : Right-click on the Windivert installer and
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
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
Ensure you have administrative privileges.
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. try reinstalling the WinDivert driver.
Restart now · Remind me later
Introduction
WinDivert is a user-mode packet diversion driver that allows developers to capture, modify, and redirect network traffic on Windows systems. However, some users have reported encountering an issue during the installation of the WinDivert driver, which states that the driver cannot be installed and that a computer restart is required. This report aims to investigate the causes of this issue and provide possible solutions.
Background
The WinDivert driver is a kernel-mode driver that requires administrative privileges to install. During installation, the driver attempts to load into the Windows kernel. If the installation is successful, the driver creates a network interface that can be used to capture and modify network traffic.
Causes of the Issue
Based on user reports and online forums, the following are possible causes of the "WinDivert driver cannot be installed, you must restart your computer" issue:
Solutions
To resolve the "WinDivert driver cannot be installed, you must restart your computer" issue, try the following solutions:
Conclusion
The "WinDivert driver cannot be installed, you must restart your computer" issue can be caused by a variety of factors, including pending system restarts, conflicting kernel-mode drivers, insufficient privileges, and system configuration issues. By trying the solutions outlined in this report, users should be able to resolve the issue and successfully install the WinDivert driver.
Recommendations
Future Work
| Step | Action | Success Rate | |------|--------|---------------| | 0 | Full restart (proper) | 20% | | 1 | Run as Administrator | 40% | | 2 | Clear pending registry flags | 70% | | 3 | Disable driver signature enforcement | 80% | | 4 | Disable antivirus temporarily | 90% | | 5 | Clean leftover WinDivert files | 95% | | 6 | SFC / DISM repair | 98% | | 7 | Manual driver install | 99% | | 8 | Safe Mode | 99.5% |
Start with Solution 2 (registry pending flags). It is the single most effective fix for the specific wording “you must restart your computer” when you already have.
Once cleared, your VPN, packet sniffer, or proxy tool will install WinDivert silently and begin intercepting traffic as intended.
Windivert driver installation failed. Please restart your computer to complete the installation.
