Windivert Driver Cannot Be Installed You Must Restart Your Computer [ 2025 ]

How to Fix the "WinDivert driver cannot be installed, you must restart your computer" Error

Some security tools block dynamically loading kernel drivers:

This feature often blocks older or non-WHQL signed drivers from loading. Go to Windows Security > Device Security > Core isolation details and try turning off Memory integrity temporarily to see if the driver installs.

Once you've resolved the error, you can take steps to avoid seeing it again. How to Fix the "WinDivert driver cannot be

WinDivert is "installed on demand" when an application calls it. For it to work, WinDivert.dll , WinDivert.sys , and WinDivert.inf must all be in the same directory as the program you are running. If you are on a 64-bit system, ensure you have WinDivert64.sys available. Summary Checklist Orphaned Service Run sc delete windivert as Admin. Registry Ghost Delete the key in CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDivert . Security Block Disable Memory Integrity in Windows Security. File Mismatch Ensure both .dll and .sys files are in the app folder.

This guide covers why this error happens and how to fix it without endless reboot loops. Why This Error Happens

Once Windows boots up, run your application as an administrator. WinDivert is "installed on demand" when an application

alongside this message, or did this occur immediately after a Windows Update ?

Because this is a long-form technical article, standard formatting is applied below to ensure a comprehensive, natural reading experience without unnecessary structural constraints.

The conflict could be caused by a background program, such as an antivirus. Summary Checklist Orphaned Service Run sc delete windivert

Are you seeing this error while using a like X-VPN or a gaming tool? WinDivert not working on Windows 10 20H2 #253 - GitHub

The WinDivert driver ( windivert.sys or windivert64.sys ) must register with the Windows Service Control Manager to intercept network traffic. The installation fails and triggers this specific error due to a few common system roadblocks:

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