TAP-Windows Adapter is a network driver through which VPN services can allow your computer to connect to the VPN servers. Unfortunately, when connecting to a VPN, you may get the error that says,
There are no TAP-Windows adapters installed on this system.
Similar to the All TAP-Windows adapters on this system are currently in use error, this is not a crucial error, and the message states precisely what is wrong with the connection.
There are no TAP-Windows adapters installed on this system
You can repair this TAP driver issue in three stages. The troubleshooting guide will list these stages and explain how to go about them.
- Restart the TAP-Windows adapter.
- Reinstall TAP-Windows drivers.
- Create a new TAP-Windows adapter.
Below is the full guide. I advise that you follow the steps in the order in which I’ve listed them here.
1] Restart the TAP-Windows adapter
The recommended way to fix this TAP driver error is to restart the TAP adapter. To do this, follow the steps below:
Right-click on the network icon on your taskbar and click on Open Network & Internet settings.
In the network status window that opens, select Change adapter options.
Find the TAP adapter on this screen. They are named differently based on the VPNs, so you can only look out for an adapter or connection with TAP in its description.
Right-click on the TAP and hit the Disable option.
After disabling the network adapter, right-click on it again and re-name it.
2] Reinstall TAP-Windows drivers
If you restart the TAP network adapter and still receive the error, then you should go ahead and reinstall the TAP drivers. You can do this in several ways.
First, you may uninstall your VPN software and reinstall it again. Ensure that you restart your computer after uninstalling the VPN.
When the machine comes back on, install the VPN software, and the installation will most likely come with TAP drivers.
Press the Windows key + R combination, type devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog box and hit ENTER.
In Device Manager, expand the Network adapters section and find the TAP-Windows adapter listed under it.
Right-click on the driver and choose the Uninstall device option.
Complete the uninstall process by following the on-screen instructions.
With the driver uninstalled, launch your VPN client, and it may ask you to install the missing TAP network drivers.
Some VPNs will only prompt you that the driver is missing. If this is the case, you need to download the driver off the internet or download the VPN client’s latest version.
Alternatively, you download the TAP-Windows driver software and install it on your computer manually. If you’re unsure where to download the drivers or even how to use them, this guide is a great starting point.
3] Create a new TAP-Windows adapter
Windows says that it couldn’t find TAP-Windows adapters on your system. The most straightforward method is to create a new TAP-Windows adapter.
Windows creates a new TAP-Windows adapter when you create a hyper-machine or connect to a VPN service.
Also, note that you can have only one TAP-Windows adapter active at a given time.
