Quick answer: WAN Miniport adapters are virtual network adapters built into Windows. Windows’ own VPN client and dial-up or PPPoE broadband connections use them, one for each protocol such as IKEv2, L2TP, PPTP and SSTP. They’re normal, they aren’t malware, and you shouldn’t delete them. If a VPN fails with error 720 or a WAN Miniport shows a yellow warning in Device Manager, uninstall the affected WAN Miniport entries and then select Scan for hardware changes. Windows reinstalls them right away.
Applies to: Windows 11 and Windows 10.
In this guide
What WAN Miniport adapters are
A miniport is a type of network driver. The WAN Miniport drivers connect Windows’ Remote Access components, which handle VPN, dial-up and PPPoE connections, to the rest of the network stack. They aren’t physical hardware, so you’ll find no card or chip for them in your PC.
You can see them in Device Manager: right-click Start, select Device Manager and expand Network adapters. If they aren’t listed, select View > Show hidden devices.
The WAN Miniport types
| Adapter | Used for |
|---|---|
| WAN Miniport (IKEv2) | IKEv2 VPN connections |
| WAN Miniport (L2TP) | L2TP/IPsec VPN connections |
| WAN Miniport (PPTP) | PPTP VPN connections (an old, weak protocol) |
| WAN Miniport (SSTP) | SSTP VPN connections |
| WAN Miniport (PPPOE) | PPPoE broadband connections that sign in with a user name and password |
| WAN Miniport (IP) and (IPv6) | Carry IPv4 and IPv6 traffic over these connections |
| WAN Miniport (Network Monitor) | Lets network monitoring tools capture traffic on these connections |
The exact list can differ slightly between Windows versions. Third-party VPN apps usually install their own adapters (for example TAP or WireGuard adapters) and don’t rely on WAN Miniports.
Should you remove them?
No. They use no noticeable resources when no VPN or dial-up connection is active, and Windows puts them back anyway. Removing them for good isn’t supported. If you uninstall one in Device Manager, Windows reinstalls it at the next hardware scan or restart. That reinstall behaviour is exactly what makes the fix below work.
Seeing many WAN Miniport entries, or seeing them appear after installing a VPN, is normal. They aren’t a sign of malware. If you’re worried about something else on your PC, run a full malware scan instead.
Fix WAN Miniport errors
Reinstalling the WAN Miniport drivers is the standard fix when:
- a built-in Windows VPN fails with Error 720 (“A connection to the remote computer could not be established”) or a similar error,
- a WAN Miniport shows a yellow warning in Device Manager with a code such as Code 10 or Code 31,
- a PPPoE broadband connection stopped working after an update.
To reinstall them:
- Open Device Manager and expand Network adapters. Select View > Show hidden devices if needed.
- Right-click WAN Miniport (IP) and select Uninstall device, then confirm.
- Do the same for WAN Miniport (IPv6) and WAN Miniport (Network Monitor), plus any WAN Miniport that shows a warning.
- Select Action > Scan for hardware changes. The adapters come back with fresh drivers.
- Restart the PC and try the connection again.
If Windows asks whether to delete the driver software, leave that box unticked. For other Device Manager codes, see our guide to Code 28: the drivers for this device are not installed.
Last resort: network reset
If reinstalling the WAN Miniports doesn’t help, a network reset reinstalls every network adapter and puts networking settings back to their defaults. Go to Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset and select Reset now. On Windows 10, it’s under Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset.
The PC restarts, and you’ll need to reconnect to Wi-Fi networks, set up VPN connections again and reinstall some VPN apps. If your internet connection itself is broken, our guides to Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP configuration and DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG cover the usual causes.
Related guides
- Ethernet doesn’t have a valid IP configuration: fixes
- DNS_PROBE_FINISHED_BAD_CONFIG: how to fix it
- Code 28: the drivers for this device are not installed
- How to scan your PC for malware
Official sources: for more detail, see Microsoft’s own documentation:
- Microsoft Learn: Troubleshoot error 720 when establishing a VPN connection
- Microsoft Support: Connect to a VPN in Windows
Frequently asked questions
Is WAN Miniport a virus?
No. WAN Miniport adapters are part of Windows and come with every installation.
Why do I have so many WAN Miniport adapters?
Windows installs one for each VPN and dial-up protocol it supports. They all sit idle until a matching connection is used.
Can I disable WAN Miniport?
You can disable individual entries in Device Manager, but there’s no benefit and it can break the built-in VPN or PPPoE connections. Leave them enabled.
Do I need WAN Miniport for a VPN app like NordVPN or ExpressVPN?
Usually not. Most VPN apps use their own adapters. WAN Miniports matter when you set up a VPN in Windows’ own Settings > Network & internet > VPN page.
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