What do I do to fix the error message “you’re connected using a virtual network adapter that we can’t test”

Question

What do I do to fix the error message “you’re connected using a virtual network adapter that we can’t test”

Henry Hughes 10

I do not have an option to turn wifi on and off it just disappeared and the get help thing is telling me that i’m using a virtual network adapter that they can’t trust. I don’t know why this happened I was using my computer earlier in the day with no problems but this is what I came back to

Locked Question. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

Cammy Attaway 0 Reputation points

2026-11-08T00:04:59.6133333+00:00

None of these solutions helped me.
JuliaMarvin 23,995 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-11-08T08:00:43.64+00:00

@Cammy Attaway
Please start your own thread. Do not resurrect old threads.

2 answers

Cammy Attaway 0 Reputation points

2026-11-08T00:04:59.6133333+00:00

None of these solutions helped me.
JuliaMarvin 23,995 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-11-08T08:00:43.64+00:00

@Cammy Attaway
Please start your own thread. Do not resurrect old threads.

Answer 1

GsN5034 - IA 79,830 Independent Advisor

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

1 Run the Network Troubleshooter.

Go to Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters.
Locate Network in the lists, then click Run.
Wait for the troubleshooter to finish running. Once done, restart your computer.

2 Reinstall Network Adapters.

Go to Device Manager.
Right-click the default Wi-Fi driver (Intel or Realtek), select Uninstall device, select the "Attempt to remove the driver for this device" check box, and then select Uninstall.
Once uninstalled, restart your PC.

Windows will automatically reinstall the drivers for your PC.

Check whether the Wi‑Fi toggle has reappeared in Network & Internet settings.

Carol M 0 Reputation points

2026-02-27T17:08:33.3466667+00:00

The first suggestion brought the WiFi back on after getting a Virtual Network Adapter message. We had tried several YouTube suggestions with no luck so are very pleased with the suggestions from Gunasekar N.
Olympia 0 Reputation points

2026-03-04T05:30:48.3266667+00:00

Hello, I know this is from a few months ago but am commenting out of desperation. The first option did not solve the issue for me, and when I restarted my PC after uninstalling the Intel driver, the WiFi toggle was still missing from my settings. I opened device manager again and clicked show hidden device and the Intel driver is still uninstalled. Is there a way I can reinstall it manually?

Answer 2

To address the error message "you’re connected using a virtual network adapter that we can’t test," you can try the following steps:

Check Network Adapter Settings: Go to Device Manager, expand the "Network adapters" section, and see if there are any issues with your virtual network adapter. You may need to update the driver or disable and re-enable the adapter.
Power Management Settings: Ensure that the power management settings for your wireless network adapter are configured correctly. Right-click on the adapter in Device Manager, select Properties, go to the Power Management tab, and make sure the option "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" is checked.
Reset Network Settings: You can reset your network settings to restore default configurations. This can often resolve issues with virtual network adapters. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status, and look for the option to reset your network.
Reinstall Network Adapter: If the above steps do not work, you can uninstall the virtual network adapter from Device Manager and then restart your computer. Windows should automatically reinstall the adapter.
Check for Windows Updates: Make sure your system is up to date with the latest Windows updates, as these can include important fixes for network issues.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to look for additional troubleshooting specific to your virtual network configuration or consult Microsoft support for further assistance.