Add Virtual Network Adapter Windows 11 Link [portable] May 2026

Adding a virtual network adapter in Windows 11 can be a useful step for various purposes, such as setting up virtual machines (VMs), testing network configurations, or enhancing privacy and security through virtual private networks (VPNs). Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to add a virtual network adapter in Windows 11 and how to link it, if necessary.

Method 2 — Add the Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter (legacy, simple virtual NIC)

1. Open Device Manager (right-click Start → Device Manager).
2. Click Action → Add legacy hardware.
3. Click Next → select “Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced)” → Next.
4. Choose Network adapters → Next.
5. Under Manufacturer select Microsoft; under Network Adapter choose “Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter” or “Microsoft Loopback Adapter”.
6. Click Next → Install → Finish.
7. Configure IP settings via Settings → Network & internet → Advanced network settings → More network adapter options, then right-click the new adapter → Properties → Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Properties.

Step 5: Select Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter

On the left pane, select Microsoft. On the right pane, scroll until you find Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter. add virtual network adapter windows 11 link

Important Note for Windows 11: In older versions of Windows, this was simply called "Microsoft Loopback Adapter." In Windows 11 22H2 and newer, look for the "KM-TEST" variant. Adding a virtual network adapter in Windows 11

Click Next and then Finish to install.

Result: You have successfully added a virtual network adapter. You can verify this by going back to Device Manager > Network Adapters. To configure its IP address, go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings. Open Device Manager (right-click Start → Device Manager)

Issue 2: Hyper-V Services Not Running

• Press Win + R, type services.msc.
• Ensure Hyper-V Virtual Machine Management and Hyper-V Host Compute Service are running (Automatic).

Adding a Hyper-V Virtual Adapter via PowerShell

Run PowerShell as Administrator:

# Create a new virtual switch (which creates a virtual adapter)
New-VMSwitch -Name "MyPowerShellSwitch" -SwitchType Internal
Quick Command Summary (Run as Admin)
| Task | Command |
|------|---------|
| List all network adapters | Get-NetAdapter |
| Create a virtual adapter via PowerShell (requires Hyper-V) | New-VMNetworkAdapter -Name "VirtualLink" -SwitchName "VirtualNet" |
| Remove a virtual adapter | Remove-VMNetworkAdapter -Name "VirtualLink" |
| Restart a virtual adapter (reset link) | Restart-NetAdapter -Name "vEthernet*" |