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Windivert Driver Cannot Be Installed You Must Restart Your Computer Top ~upd~ May 2026

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

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 Fixing the "WinDivert driver cannot be installed, you

It sounds like you’re encountering a WinDivert driver installation error, often seen with tools like Proxifier, Charles Proxy, Fiddler, npm, or certain VPN/packet capture software on Windows.

The full error message typically reads something like:

“Piece regarding WinDivert driver cannot be installed. You must restart your computer.”

Here’s what that means and how to resolve it: “Piece regarding WinDivert driver cannot be installed

Step‑by‑step fix

Solution 1: Run the Application as Administrator (Non-Negotiable)

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.

Solutions

Longer support text (below the prompt)

The Windivert driver could not be installed automatically. Restarting Windows will allow the installer to finish adding the driver and register it properly with the system. After reboot:

  1. Re-run the installer you were using (if it doesn't continue automatically).
  2. If installation still fails, run the installer as an administrator.
  3. Temporarily disable antivirus or endpoint protection and try again (re-enable afterward).
  4. Check Device Manager → Network adapters → look for "WinDivert" or an unknown device; right‑click → Update driver → Browse my computer → Let me pick → Have Disk if you have the driver files.
  5. If you see a driver signature error, enable test-signing mode or obtain a signed driver from a trusted source.
  6. For persistent issues, collect the installer log and Windows Event Viewer System logs and contact support with those files.

Fix 8: Check for Conflicting Kernel Drivers

Some network filter drivers conflict with WinDivert. List all NDIS filters:

Get-NetFilterBinding | Format-Table Name, Enabled, ComponentID

Look for:

Disable or uninstall conflicting filters (e.g., uninstall Npcap via Programs and Features, reboot, then install WinDivert).

What Is WinDivert?

WinDivert (Windows Packet Divert) is a high-performance, open-source driver that allows user-mode applications to capture, modify, and redirect network packets on Windows. It operates at the network layer (NDIS) and is widely embedded in:

Unlike older techniques (like LSP/Winsock hijacking), WinDivert is clean, stable, and doesn’t require a reboot after initial installation—except when something goes wrong.