Add Virtual Network Adapter Windows 11 Link Jun 2026

That is normal—a loopback adapter does not connect to any physical medium. You must manually assign it a static IP address and, if necessary, configure it to simulate a specific network segment.

Select and click Next .

$netloop = Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_SystemDriver | Where-Object $_.Name -like "*loop*" if (!$netloop) Start-Process "hdwwiz.exe" -ArgumentList "/C" -NoNewWindow -Wait add virtual network adapter windows 11 link

: In Device Manager, you must click on your main computer name at the very top of the list before the "Add legacy hardware" option will appear under the Action menu.

This error occurs if the loopback adapter conflicts with existing physical drivers. Uninstall the loopback adapter from the Device Manager, reboot your computer, and try installing it using the PowerShell method instead. That is normal—a loopback adapter does not connect

Adding a virtual network adapter in Windows 11 is not a single operation but a set of methods that serve different needs:

In the manufacturer list, select Microsoft . In the Model list, select Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter (or "Microsoft Loopback Adapter" on some versions). Adding a virtual network adapter in Windows 11

On Windows 11 version 22H2 and newer, you may need to first enable “Show hidden devices” from the View menu in Device Manager to see the complete list.

For even more automation, you can combine pnputil with a short script that also names the new adapter:

Click in the top menu bar and select Add legacy hardware . In the Welcome wizard window, click Next .

Select and click Next .