TAP Adapter Missing or Disabled (Windows)

Applies To: Cloud-managed Fireboxes, Locally-managed Fireboxes

This topic describes common problems and solutions for issues with the TAP adapter that the Mobile VPN with SSL client requires to establish connections. Because the TAP adapter creates the virtual network interface, issues with the TAP adapter might prevent the establishment of the SSL VPN tunnel. Without a functional TAP adapter, the connection process stops before SSL VPN authentication completes.

Other third-party OpenVPN clients might also install a TAP adapter used by the Mobile VPN with SSL client. Sometimes, third-party OpenVPN clients remove the adapter if you uninstall the client.

Symptoms

When the TAP adapter is missing or disabled on the client computer, these symptoms might occur:

  • Mobile VPN with SSL connections stall or fail at tunnel setup.
  • The Mobile VPN with SSL client authenticates, but the connection fails when it tries to set up the tunnel.
  • Client logs indicate that the virtual interface is missing.
  • Client logs show TAP initialization failures, binding errors, or interface creation failures.
  • The TAP adapter does not appear in Device Manager > Network Adapters in Windows.
  • The TAP adapter appears in Device Manager > Network Adapters, but its Status is Disabled.

Diagnostic Steps

  1. In Windows, right‑click Start and select Device Manager.
  2. Expand Network Adapters.
  3. Locate TAP‑Windows-Adapter V9.

    Screenshot of the Tap adapter location

  4. Verify that the adapter is present and enabled.

Possible Causes and Solutions

Possible Cause Solution
The TAP adapter is disabled.

Enable the TAP adapter:

  1. In Device Manager, locate TAP‑Windows-Adapter V9.
  2. If the TAP adapter icon shows a down arrow, right‑click the TAP adapter and select Enable Device.

    3. Screenshot that shows how to enable the TAP adapter

TAP adapter is corrupted or missing

Perform a clean uninstall of the Mobile VPN with SSL client, then reinstall the client to restore the TAP adapter. For more information, go to How do I uninstall Mobile VPN with SSL and remove all related files?
Tap driver installation fails.

Reinstall the Mobile VPN with SSL client with elevated rights:

  1. Right‑click the Mobile VPN with SSL client installer and select Run as Administrator.
  2. Select Next.
  3. Select a destination location and click Next.
  4. Select the Tap Driver check box and click Next.

    5. Screenshot that shows how to select the TAP adapter.

  5. Select Full Installation (if the installer prompts you).
  6. Select Install.

For more information, go to Install the Mobile VPN with SSL Client.
Security software blocks TAP driver components.

Add exclusions in any security software, then reinstall the Mobile VPN with SSL client.

Add exceptions for:

  • WG‑MVPN‑SSL.exe
  • WG‑MVPN‑SSL_<version>.exe

Typical installation locations:

  • C:\Program Files(x86)\WatchGuard\WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL\
  • C:\Program Files\WatchGuard\WatchGuard Mobile VPN with SSL\

Related Log Messages

When there is an issue with the TAP adapter, you might experience these types of Mobile VPN with SSL client log messages:

  • TAP initialization or binding failures.
  • Virtual adapter creation errors.
  • Connection attempts that fail with logs, such as:
    SSL VPN Error: connect() failed. ret = -1 errno=10061

Related Topics

About Mobile VPN with SSL

Troubleshoot Mobile VPN with SSL