Hyper-V Virtual Ethernet Adapter
Hyper-V creates virtual network adapters for virtual machines and virtual switches; names and lifecycle depend on the configuration. Hyper-V is not available as a host feature on every Windows edition, and Microsoft documents processor, firmware-virtualization, and security requirements. Service it as part of Windows and Hyper-V rather than downloading a standalone adapter package.
Family profile
- Reference coverage
- Eligible 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions with Hyper-V requirements met
- Hardware category
- Virtual Devices
- Manufacturer
- Microsoft
- Related families listed
- 13 in this category, 3 elsewhere from Microsoft
This coverage label describes releases discussed by this publication, not certified compatibility. Confirm the exact device or PC model, hardware revision, current Windows release, and current package requirements on the publisher source before making a change. Windows 10 Home and Pro reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Extended security updates and other editions have separate lifecycle terms; a driver listing does not extend Windows support.
Microsoft Hyper-V Virtual Ethernet Adapter at a glance
| Detail | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Device kind | Virtual network adapter for VMs |
| What created it | The Hyper-V optional feature |
| Where the driver comes from | Windows itself, not a download |
| How to service it | Update Windows; toggle the feature to refresh |
| Appears in | Network adapters, with Hyper-V in the name |
| Typical failure mode | Wrong switch binding cuts VM traffic |
How to tell this is what you have
- Hyper-V-related adapter shown when the platform and a virtual network are configured
- Bound to a Hyper-V virtual switch
Worth knowing: Installed by enabling the Hyper-V optional feature; serviced by Windows Update.
Device Driver Guide does not host driver files or bundle an updater. This page documents the Microsoft Hyper-V Virtual Ethernet Adapterfamily; its citations are selected from the package-source policy recorded for this family.
Device Driver Guide hosts no executables or updater tools. External citations are limited to official publisher documentation pages and are labeled before you leave this site.
Browse related families
Open the listed virtual devices directoryPackage path for Microsoft Hyper-V Virtual Ethernet Adapter
The family record names Windows itself, not a download as the package source. Use Eligible Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions with Hyper-V requirements met only as reference coverage, then check the current publisher requirements for the exact model, hardware revision, Windows release, and PC configuration. A family name alone does not establish compatibility.
Shared identification, preparation, installation, verification, and rollback procedures are maintained on the full virtual devices guide, rather than repeated on every family page. The citations below follow this family’s declared vendor, system-update, PC-maker, or motherboard-maker source policy.
Official sources and citations
These links serve two different purposes. A manufacturer support selector helps you find an exact model, but does not prove that a package or feature exists for every product in a family. Claim-specific documents explain the cited technology, requirement, lifecycle, or bounded package example. In either case, check the publisher domain, exact model and hardware revision, operating-system release, supported-products list, and package notes before making a change.
- Windows driver-update documentation
Microsoft documentation: Publisher documentation for Windows Update and Device Manager.
- Microsoft Update Catalog
Microsoft: Microsoft's searchable catalog of published update packages.
- Windows 10 Home and Pro lifecycle
Microsoft Lifecycle: Lifecycle documentation for Windows 10 Home and Pro; separately governed editions and servicing channels can have different dates.
- Hyper-V host hardware requirements
Microsoft Learn: Documents processor and firmware virtualization prerequisites; client edition requirements also apply.
Device Driver Guide is an independent reference, not a repair or technical-support service. It does not host or mirror installers and receives no payment for these links. A named-model package example applies only to the systems and operating systems on that publisher page; it is not a recommendation to install the package across a family. Report a moved or incorrect link through the correction form.
Other virtual devices families to compare
Microsoft Hyper-V Virtual Ethernet Adapter next to the other 13 families in this category
| Family | Manufacturer | Reference coverage | How you recognize it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Hyper-V Virtual Ethernet Adapter (this page) | Microsoft | Eligible 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions with Hyper-V requirements met | Hyper-V-related adapter shown when the platform and a virtual network are configured |
| Hyper-V Virtual Switch Extension | Microsoft | Eligible 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions with Hyper-V requirements met | Configured in Hyper-V Manager |
| WSL Virtual Network Adapter | Microsoft | 10/11 releases supported by the selected WSL installation method | WSL is installed and its version/configuration is known |
| Windows Sandbox Virtual Devices | Microsoft | 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions only; current Sandbox prerequisites apply | Associated with an enabled Windows Sandbox feature on an eligible edition |
| Microsoft Loopback / KM-Test Adapter | Microsoft | Use only on releases covered by the applicable Microsoft procedure | Exact Microsoft procedure calls for a loopback adapter |
| Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter | Microsoft | 10/11 only with compatible Wi-Fi hardware, driver, and feature support | Exact virtual-adapter name and physical Wi-Fi adapter |
| NVIDIA Virtual Audio Device (companion feature) | NVIDIA | 10/11 only where an exact NVIDIA product/package lists it | Exact Device Manager name, hardware ID, and driver provider |
| AMD Virtual Audio / Display Endpoint (companion feature) | AMD | 10/11 only where an exact AMD product/package lists it | Exact endpoint name, provider, and hardware ID |
| Intel Virtual Display / Graphics Endpoint (companion feature) | Intel | 10/11 only where the system or Intel package lists it | Exact Device Manager name, hardware ID, and provider |
| Realtek Virtual Audio Endpoint (companion feature) | Realtek | 10/11 only where the exact PC/board audio package lists it | Exact endpoint name and provider in Device Manager or Sound settings |
| ASUS Utility Virtual Audio Mixer (companion software) | ASUS | 10/11 only where an exact ASUS product page lists the utility | Exact ASUS product model |
| MSI Utility Virtual Device (companion software) | MSI | 10/11 only where an exact MSI product page lists the utility | Exact Device Manager name and provider |
| Gigabyte Utility Virtual Device (companion software) | Gigabyte | 10/11 only where an exact Gigabyte product page lists it | Exact device name, provider, and parent application |
| Corsair Virtual Audio Device (companion software) | Corsair | 10/11 only where the exact Corsair product/app lists it | Exact endpoint and driver-provider names |
Other Microsoft families in the catalog
Microsoft hardware documented outside virtual devices
| Family | Category | Reference coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Precision Touchpad (Microsoft Standard) | Touchpads | 10, 11 |
| Windows HID Keyboard (Standard Typing Support) | Keyboards | 10, 11 |
| Windows UVC Camera (Standard Support) | Webcams | 10/11 for devices implementing supported UVC descriptors |