Is it a Virus?
✔ NO - Safe
Must be located at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\tap-windows6.sys
Warning
Multiple TAP adapters may appear in VPN setups
Each VPN profile or connection can create a separate TAP adapter
Can I Disable?
✔ YES
Disconnect VPN clients and disable or uninstall TAP-Windows if not used
What is tap-windows6-driver?
tap-windows6-driver is the Windows kernel-mode TAP driver that provides a virtual network adapter used by VPN clients to tunnel traffic. It creates a virtual Ethernet interface which VPN software uses to encapsulate and route traffic securely through the tunnel.
tap-windows6 interacts with the Windows NDIS framework to register a TAP (virtual NIC) interface. This enables VPN applications to route traffic via the virtual adapter, isolating VPN traffic from the physical NIC while maintaining standard network tooling compatibility.
Quick Fact: The TAP driver enables VPNs to present a virtual Ethernet device to Windows, commonly used by OpenVPN clients for secure tunneling.
Types of TAP Driver Components
- Kernel-Mode TAP Driver: Core component implementing the virtual adapter in kernel space
- Device Interface: Virtual NIC exposed to Windows networking stack
- User-Mode VPN Clients: OpenVPN, SoftEther, and other clients consume the TAP interface
- VPN Service Interaction: Orchestrates tunnel start/stop via VPN services
- Driver Installer/Updater: Maintains driver files and INF for Windows updates
Is tap-windows6-driver Safe?
Yes, tap-windows6-driver is safe when obtained from official sources (e.g., OpenVPN installer or trusted VPN software). It is a standard VPN TAP driver used by many clients.
Is tap-windows6-driver a Virus or Malware?
The real tap-windows6-driver is not a virus. Malware can masquerade as a TAP driver; verify signature and location.
How to Tell if tap-windows6-driver is Legitimate or Malware
- File Location: Must be in
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\tap-windows6.sys or a Windows-provided OpenVPN directory. Any other path is suspicious.
- Digital Signature: Right-click the file in File Explorer -> Properties -> Digital Signatures. Should show "OpenVPN Technologies, Inc." or a trusted VPN vendor.
- Resource Usage: Normal usage is minimal CPU/memory when idle; VPN activity may increase usage during tunneling.
- Behavior: Should only load when VPN software is active. If it loads without VPN usage, investigate for tampering.
Red Flags: If tap-windows6.sys is located outside the expected system folders, loads without VPN usage, lacks a valid digital signature, or shows unexpected network activity, scan with updated antivirus and verify installer authenticity.
Why Is tap-windows6-driver Running on My PC?
tap-windows6-driver runs to provide the virtual TAP adapter needed by VPN clients. It loads when a VPN session starts and can remain active to support background tunneling and rapid reconnection.
Reasons it's running:
- Active VPN Session: A current VPN connection requires the TAP adapter for tunneled traffic.
- VPN Client Startup: OpenVPN or other VPN clients may start and load the TAP driver at login or launch.
- Background TAP Adapter Management: Some VPN tools manage adapters in the background to preserve connections.
- Automatic Reconnect: If a VPN session reconnects, the TAP driver may reinitialize to re-establish paths.
- System or VPN Service Startup: VPN software may set the TAP driver to initialize on Windows startup or user login.
Can I Disable or Remove tap-windows-driver?
Yes, you can disable tap-windows-driver. If you don’t use VPNs, you can unload the driver and remove associated software.
How to Stop tap-windows-driver
- Disconnect VPN: Disconnect all active VPN connections in your VPN client.
- Disable TAP Adapter: Open Network Connections, right-click the TAP-Windows Adapter, and choose Disable.
- Stop TAP Driver Service: Open an elevated command prompt and run: sc stop tap-windows6
- Prevent Startup: Task Manager > Startup tab > disable OpenVPN GUI or related VPN startup items.
- Uninstall VPN Software: Uninstall the VPN client (OpenVPN, etc.) to remove the TAP-Windows driver completely.
How to Uninstall TAP-Windows Driver
- ✔ Windows Settings -> Apps -> OpenVPN (or VPN client) -> Uninstall
- ✔ Control Panel -> Programs -> Uninstall a program -> OpenVPN -> Uninstall
- ✔ Reboot the PC after removal
Common Problems: TAP Driver Issues
If tap-windows6-driver causes VPN connectivity or network issues, try the following common fixes and verify driver health.
Common Causes & Solutions
- VPN connection fails to establish: Ensure the TAP adapter is enabled, the VPN server is reachable, and credentials are correct. Reinstall TAP-Windows if needed.
- TAP adapter not listed in Network Connections: Reinstall the TAP-Windows driver via your VPN client installer; ensure the adapter appears after reinstall.
- Blue Screen or driver crash: Update to the latest OpenVPN/TAP-Windows version; check Windows update and system logs for conflicts.
- DNS or routing leaks when VPN is active: Reset DNS (ipconfig /flushdns) and verify VPN-provided DNS settings or use VPN's DNS server.
- High CPU or memory usage with VPN active: Limit simultaneous connections, disable unnecessary adapters, and update to latest VPN client; consider rebooting.
- Driver signature warnings: Install from official sources and ensure Windows driver signature enforcement is compatible with the VPN software.
Quick Fixes:
1. Disconnect VPN and disable TAP adapter, then re-enable after a moment
2. Restart the VPN client and re-establish the connection
3. Reinstall TAP-Windows driver from the official VPN installer
4. Run Windows Windows Update to ensure drivers are trusted on your system
5. Verify network settings and DNS configuration after VPN connects
Frequently Asked Questions
What is tap-windows6-driver used for?
It provides a virtual TAP network adapter used by VPN clients like OpenVPN to tunnel traffic over a secure VPN connection.
Is tap-windows6-driver safe to keep on my PC?
Yes, when installed from official sources and used with legitimate VPN software; verify digital signature and path.
Can I uninstall tap-windows6-driver if I don’t use VPN?
Yes. If you don’t use VPN software, you can uninstall the VPN client and the TAP driver will be removed in most cases.
How do I check if tap-windows6-driver is installed?
Open Device Manager → Network adapters; look for TAP-Windows Adapter v9 (or similar). You can also check C:\Windows\System32\drivers for tap-windows6.sys.
Why do I see multiple TAP adapters after VPN installation?
Some VPN configurations create a separate TAP adapter per profile. You can disable or delete unused adapters in Network Connections.
How can I fix TAP driver installation errors?
Run the VPN installer as Administrator, ensure Windows driver signing is supported, and reinstall the TAP-Windows component from the VPN package.