Windivert Driver Cannot Be Installed You Must Restart Your Computer Fix (Exclusive Deal)

A previous session of the app crashed, leaving an orphaned WinDivert driver instance running in the background.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDivert . Delete the WinDivert entry and restart your computer.

Until the installation issues are resolved, I would caution others to avoid this driver. If you're experiencing similar problems, you may want to consider alternative solutions. I hope the developer addresses these issues soon.

Scroll down to Exclusions and click . Click Add an exclusion and select Folder .

Restart your computer. This forces Windows to completely clear the driver from memory. 3. Clear the Driver Files from System32 A previous session of the app crashed, leaving

Antivirus programs often flag WinDivert as a "PUP" (Potentially Unwanted Program) or a generic Trojan due to its ability to manipulate network traffic.

Before modifying system drivers, ensure the application using WinDivert isn't running hidden background processes. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the . Click on the Details tab.

Go to > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart .

This stops any running WinDivert service and removes its entry from the Windows registry. If you have an old version like WinDivert1.3 , use sc stop WinDivert1.3 and sc delete WinDivert1.3 instead. Until the installation issues are resolved, I would

What (e.g., GoodbyeDPI, a specific VPN, or a custom script) is triggering this error?

The WinDivert driver may already be running because another application (for example, a VPN client running in your system tray) is using it. You cannot install a new driver over an active one. The installer detects the driver is already loaded and refuses to proceed.

Windows Security features like can block WinDivert because it is a kernel-mode driver.

If you are using an older version of WinDivert or a custom build, Windows 10/11 might block it because it lacks a modern digital signature. Scroll down to Exclusions and click

Before diving into fixes, it's essential to understand what WinDivert is and why your system is so protective of it. WinDivert is an directly within the Windows network stack. In simpler terms, you can think of it as a "traffic police" station for your network data. Every data packet entering or leaving your computer must pass through this checkpoint, where it can be inspected, altered, redirected, or even blocked.

Windows Fast Startup can prevent drivers from unloading properly.

The "cannot be installed" error usually triggers due to one of three main reasons:

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ . Look for any entry named WinDivert and delete it 1.2.2 . Summary Checklist Target Issue Full Restart Clears memory-locked driver files Run as Admin Fixes permission errors Delete .sys files Removes corrupt drivers Disable Sig Enforcement Allows unsigned driver loading