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FIX: TAP-Windows Adapter V9 error (4 foolproof solutions)
4 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
TheTAP-Windows Adapter V9 is a network driver that’s essential forVPNconnections.
More often than not, this network driver gets automatically installed along withVPNclients.
Usually, the driver’s default path is:C:/Program Files/Tap-Windows
However, certain users noticed that their internet connections don’t always work while the TAP-Windows Adapter driver is enabled.
What’s even more strange is that even disabling it wouldn’t work, as the TAP network driver would re-enable itself shortly after.
Therefore, users were still unable to establish a connection.
If that ever happened to you, check out some easy-to-follow suggestions that could fix your TAP-Windows Adapter V9 error.
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How can I fix the TAP-Windows Adapter v9 error?
Use the Internet Connections Troubleshooter
The easiest fix would be using Windows’ built-inInternet Connections troubleshooter.
This tool can usually fix various connectivity issues, so it might be worth checking out.
Here’s what you need to do:
Reset the TAP-Windows Adapter Connection
Disabling and re-enabling the TAP adapter driver will (or better yet should) reset its network functions.
Furthermore, it may also fix the TAP-Windows Adapter V9 error and it’s a really simple task.
All you have to do is:
Reinstall TAP-Windows Adapter and VPN client
The best resolution for the TAP-Windows Adapter V9 error might be to reinstall the driver altogether.
However, considering that most TAP adapter drivers are a dependency forVPN clients, most VPN providers come with their own version.
Thus, it would be easier to just uninstall the TAP driver and your VPN client, and perform a clean install of both services after you’re done.
This is how you should reinstall your TAP driver and VPN client:
If you notice that reinstalling your VPN client and TAP adapter driver didn’t work, you might consider switching to a better alternative.
Private Internet Access, for instance, is an excellent VPN service that comes with its own TAP driver.
Furthermore, even if it stops working at some point, you can easily reinstall it directly from the VPN client’s configuration screen.
Private Internet Access
Reset Windows 10
Apparently,resetting Windows 10fixes the TAP-Windows Adapter V9 error in most cases.
You can resetWindows 10and also keep your files. However, you’ll need to reinstall all the apps and drivers, as those will be swept clean from your PC.
Additionally, you’ll lose any configuration you did before resetting your PC.
Granted, this method is one of the most drastic ones, but it also gets the job done most of the time.
Follow these steps to reset your Windows 10 PC:
Conclusion
To wrap things up, if you notice that your TAP-Windows Adapter V9 triggers various connectivity errors, there are some things you could try.
More often than not, reinstalling the TAP driver andVPNclient will fix the issue.
However, you may need to go as far as resetting your PC altogether, so buckle up and don’t lose hope.
More about the topics:Fix network issues,internet connection errors,VPN errors
Vlad Constantinescu
Vlad might have a degree in Animal Husbandry and Livestock Management, but he’s currently rocking anything software related, ranging from testing programs to writing in-depth reviews about them.
He spent 3-4 years as a software editor at Softpedia and another year as a VPN specialist before he landed his current job as an author at Windows Report.
In his free time, Vlad enjoys playing guitar, doing jigsaw puzzles, researching cybersecurity, and even having a good read on rainy days.
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