To resolve the "WinDivert driver cannot be installed" error without a full restart, you can manually force the removal of old service handles and registry entries that are blocking the new installation. 1. Force Stop and Delete the Service
: The application is trying to use a 32-bit driver on a 64-bit system, or the necessary .sys files are missing from the app's directory. Step-by-Step Fixes 1. Manually Clear the Old Service
Before opening any apps, go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers and ensure no WinDivert files remain. To resolve the "WinDivert driver cannot be installed"
Ensure that you're running the WinDivert driver installation package with administrative privileges:
Windows 10 and 11 require drivers to be digitally signed by Microsoft. While official WinDivert releases are signed, some older or custom-compiled versions may trigger a signature error (sometimes misreported as the “must restart” message). Step-by-Step Fixes 1
If you have a previous version of WinDivert installed, try uninstalling it:
To prevent future blocks, navigate to > Manage settings > Exclusions . While official WinDivert releases are signed, some older
Sometimes, overprotective antivirus software (like Avast or McAfee) flags windivert.sys as malicious because it intercepts network traffic.
在理解错误之前，首先需要明白“WinDivert”是什么。WinDivert 全称是 Windows Packet Divert（Windows 数据包分流），它是一个强大的用户态数据包拦截库，专门用于 Windows 系统。其核心组件 WinDivert.sys 是一个内核驱动，被安装在 Windows 网络堆栈之下，用于捕获和重定向网络流量。
Even after applying multiple fixes, the error may return. The is Fast Startup combined with a leftover driver service entry in the registry.