Add Virtual Network Adapter Windows 11 Link Jun 2026

You can also attach a virtual network adapter to an existing VM:

(Note: The devcon.exe utility is part of the Windows Driver Kit (WDK). If devcon is not recognized on your system, Method 1 is the recommended alternative). How to Configure Your New Virtual Adapter

Click on your at the very top of the device list. Click Action in the top menu bar.

Open the Start menu, type , and open the application. add virtual network adapter windows 11 link

& "C:\Tools\devcon.exe" install "C:\Tools\netloop.inf" "ROOT\NETLOOP"

Adding a virtual network adapter in Windows 11 allows you to simulate a network connection for testing software, creating local networks for virtual machines, or troubleshooting network configurations without needing physical hardware The most common method is installing the Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter

Execute the following command to install the loopback driver: powershell Devcon.exe install %windir%\inf\netloop.inf *msloop Use code with caution. You can also attach a virtual network adapter

DevCon is a command‑line utility from the Windows Driver Kit (WDK). It allows you to install drivers by directly matching an INF file. This method is useful when you need to incorporate installation into a larger script or when you work in a driver‑development environment.

: This adapter has no physical link state; it always shows as “Connected” at 1 Gbps.

If your virtual adapter shows "No network access," you need to force a link state. Open PowerShell as Admin and run: Click Action in the top menu bar

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

For power users, PowerShell offers a faster way to add adapters to specific VMs:

Once you've added the virtual network adapter, you can configure it to suit your needs. To do this: