Windivert Driver Cannot Be Installed You Must Restart Your Computer [ 2026 ]

Because WinDivert intercepts network traffic, security software often flags it as a "Trojan" or "Hacktool," blocking the driver from loading.

Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDivert . Right-click the folder and select Delete . Because WinDivert intercepts network traffic

This comprehensive article will explain exactly what the WinDivert driver is, why this error occurs, and provide a step-by-step guide to fix it permanently. why this error occurs

Graceful Driver State Manager Target Scenario: Handling the "System Restart Pending" error (ERROR_ACCESS_DENIED / 0x5) during WinDivert installation. check these common conflicts:

If the driver installation is stuck in a "pending" state, a standard shutdown won't clear it.

WinDivert operates at the kernel level and requires elevated privileges to install and run its driver.

If restarting doesn't fix the issue, check these common conflicts: