Virtual Devices
The virtual switch is the software network hub that connects virtual machines to each other and, through an external switch, to your real network card. You manage it in Hyper-V Manager rather than as a driver you install, and its behavior decides whether VMs are isolated, share the host's connection, or sit on the physical LAN. Most connectivity problems here trace back to choosing the wrong switch type or binding it to the wrong physical adapter.
Documented for: Windows 10, Windows 11
Managed through Hyper-V Manager and Windows features, not a standalone driver.
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This adapter is how a Hyper-V virtual machine reaches the network: it acts as the software equivalent of a network card plugged into a virtual switch. It appears the moment you enable the Hyper-V feature and disappears when you remove it, so it is not generally something you download. If it stops passing traffic, the fix lies in Hyper-V's switch configuration and the underlying physical adapter, not in the virtual adapter itself.
Documented for: Windows 10, Windows 11
Installed by enabling the Hyper-V optional feature; serviced by Windows Update.
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The loopback adapter is a virtual network card with no physical port, used mainly by developers and testers who need a stable interface that lets the PC talk to itself. You add it by hand through Device Manager's Add legacy hardware wizard rather than by downloading anything, then assign it a static address for your scenario. It is harmless when present but pointless unless a specific test setup calls for it.
Documented for: Windows 10, Windows 11
Inbox virtual adapter added via Device Manager's legacy hardware wizard.
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This virtual adapter is created by the Windows wireless stack to support Wi-Fi Direct connections and features like a mobile hotspot, riding on top of your real Wi-Fi card. Because it is generated by the physical Wi-Fi adapter's driver, its health depends on that driver being current and working. You do not install it separately; if it misbehaves, update the wireless adapter driver from your PC or Wi-Fi chip maker.
Documented for: Windows 10, Windows 11
Created by the wireless stack; tied to your physical Wi-Fi adapter driver.
Read the full family referenceKeyboards
This is the generic driver Windows loads for many keyboards. It covers standard typing but does not provide every manufacturer's special keys, lighting, or configuration features. If basic typing works but optional features are missing, identify the keyboard model before deciding whether an OEM hotkey package or vendor app is relevant.
Documented for: Windows 10, Windows 11
Standard typing works under Windows; Surface keyboards update through the Surface driver pack.
Read the full family referenceTouchpads
This is the Microsoft standard where Windows itself interprets touchpad gestures rather than a vendor control panel, giving consistent swipe and scroll behavior across laptops that support it. The settings live directly in Windows under Touchpad, but the underlying sensor still needs the correct device driver, which the laptop maker supplies. On Surface hardware that driver ships inside the Surface driver pack and updates through Windows Update.
Documented for: Windows 10, Windows 11
Precision settings are built into Windows; Surface devices update it through the Surface driver pack.
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Windows Sandbox spins up a lightweight, disposable Windows session, and to do so it registers virtual networking, display, and storage devices for the duration of that session. These devices are provided entirely by the Sandbox optional feature and Windows Update, so there is nothing to download or maintain by hand. They exist only while Sandbox is enabled, and enabling the feature also requires hardware virtualization turned on in firmware.
Documented for: Windows 10, Windows 11
Provided by the Windows Sandbox optional feature and Windows Update.
Read the full family referenceWebcams
This is the generic USB Video Class support Windows loads for many webcams. It can provide basic video while model-specific controls may require software from the camera or computer manufacturer. Identify the camera model and check its documentation before adding software.
Documented for: Windows 10, Windows 11
Basic video works under Windows; Surface cameras update through the Surface driver pack.
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The Windows Subsystem for Linux creates its own virtual network adapter so the Linux environment can reach the internet and talk to Windows. It is provisioned and serviced by WSL itself, which means the way to keep it healthy is to keep WSL updated rather than to look for a separate driver. When WSL networking breaks after an update, refreshing WSL and rebooting may restore this adapter.
Documented for: Windows 10, Windows 11
Created by the Windows Subsystem for Linux; update WSL to service it.
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