If WinDivert was partially installed before (from a different tool or an aborted installation), leftover files can prevent new installations. The flag "driver cannot be installed" may actually mean "a conflicting driver is already loaded."
This article provides a complete, step-by-step guide to diagnosing and resolving the "WinDivert driver cannot be installed" error. We will cover permissions, pending updates, antivirus interference, and the infamous "pending restart" state. Follow these solutions —the first one resolves 70% of cases.
Many older applications bundle outdated versions of WinDivert (like version 1.4.0 or older) that are incompatible with newer Windows 10 and Windows 11 builds.
If it says [SC] DeleteService SUCCESS , the conflict is resolved. If WinDivert was partially installed before (from a
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| 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% |
Now that we've discussed the causes, let's move on to the solutions. Follow these step-by-step guides to resolve the error: Follow these solutions —the first one resolves 70%
Before diving into fixes, it's essential to understand why this happens. The error implies that the WinDivert driver ( windivert.sys ) couldn't initialize, usually because:
A: A restart is the most effective way to reset your system's memory and ensure no process is using the WinDivert driver files. It provides the cleanest slate for a fresh installation attempt. While you could manually stop all services, a restart is more reliable and recommended.
, the installation might fail because the modern WinDivert driver is signed with To prevent future blocks, navigate to > Manage
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.
The most effective fix is to manually stop and delete the existing service entry so the application can perform a "clean" install of the driver.
当 Windows 注册表项存在异常、 System32/drivers 目录下的旧版本 WinDivert.sys 文件未能被清除、或 Winsock（Windows 网络编程接口）协议栈损坏时，WinDivert 也会拒绝安装。
If another application (like a firewall or VPN) holds an open handle to WinDivert64.sys , the driver cannot be replaced or installed until that process ends.