Fix Microsoft Teredo Tunneling Adapter Driver Problem in Windows

If you see a yellow exclamation mark next to Microsoft Teredo Tunneling Adapter in Device Manager, or Windows reports a driver problem for it, this guide will help you fix it. Teredo is a networking component that helps certain apps (like Xbox Game Pass, Party Chat, and some VPNs) work over IPv6 when your network is IPv4-only. The fix usually involves reinstalling the adapter, updating drivers, or tweaking the registry. You’ll need administrator access to your Windows PC.

What You’ll Need

Administrator account on your Windows PC
Internet connection (to download updates if needed)
Patience – some steps require a restart

Step-by-Step

Open Device Manager. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager from the menu.
Locate the Teredo adapter. Expand the Network adapters section. Look for Microsoft Teredo Tunneling Adapter. It may have a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark next to it.
Check the driver status. Right-click the adapter and select Properties. Under the General tab, you’ll see a message like “This device cannot start. (Code 10)” or “The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)”. Note the code – it helps with troubleshooting.
Uninstall the adapter. Right-click the adapter and select Uninstall device. Check the box that says Delete the driver software for this device if it appears, then click Uninstall.
Scan for hardware changes. With Device Manager still open, click the Action menu at the top and select Scan for hardware changes. Windows should detect the missing Teredo adapter and reinstall it automatically. If it doesn’t, proceed to the next step.
Manually add the adapter. If the adapter didn’t reappear, click Action > Add legacy hardware. Click Next, then select Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced). Click Next, then choose Network adapters from the list. Click Next, then on the left pane select Microsoft, and on the right pane select Microsoft Teredo Tunneling Adapter. Click Next and follow the prompts to install it.
Restart your PC. After reinstalling, restart your computer to apply the changes.
Update the driver (if the problem persists). Right-click the adapter in Device Manager, select Update driver, then Search automatically for drivers. If Windows doesn’t find a newer driver, try Browse my computer for drivers > Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer. Select Microsoft Teredo Tunneling Adapter and click Next.
Check the Teredo state. Open Command Prompt as administrator (right-click Start > Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin)). Type netsh interface teredo show state and press Enter. Look for State. It should say qualified or client. If it says offline or disabled, continue.
Enable Teredo via netsh. In the same Command Prompt, type netsh interface teredo set state type=default and press Enter. Then type netsh interface teredo set state enterpriseclient and press Enter. Restart your PC.
Check the registry (if still broken). Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip6\Parameters. Look for a DWORD value named DisabledComponents. If it exists, double-click it and change the value to 0 (or delete it). This value can disable IPv6 and Teredo. Restart your PC.
Run the Windows Network Troubleshooter. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Find Network Adapter and click Run. Follow the prompts.

Common Mistakes

Not deleting the driver software when uninstalling – this leaves old corrupt files behind.
Skipping the restart – Windows often needs a reboot to properly reinitialize network components.
Disabling IPv6 entirely – some guides suggest disabling IPv6, but Teredo requires it. If you’ve disabled IPv6, re-enable it.
Using third-party driver updaters – these can install wrong or incompatible drivers. Stick with Windows Update or manufacturer drivers.
Forgetting to run Command Prompt as administrator – the netsh commands will fail without admin rights.

Tips

Make sure your firewall or security software isn’t blocking Teredo. Temporarily disable it to test (but re-enable after).
If you’re on a corporate network, Teredo might be blocked by group policy. Check with your IT admin.
Keep Windows updated – many Teredo issues are fixed by cumulative updates.
If you’re using a VPN, disconnect it before troubleshooting, as VPNs can interfere with Teredo.
Use the netsh interface teredo show state command after each fix to verify the state changed.

Troubleshooting

If the above steps don’t work, try these additional checks:

Check if IPv6 is enabled. Open Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings. Right-click your active adapter, select Properties, and make sure Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) is checked.
Reset Winsock and TCP/IP stack. Open Command Prompt as admin and run: netsh winsock reset and netsh int ip reset. Restart your PC.
Check Windows services. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and find IP Helper. Make sure its startup type is Automatic and it’s running. If not, right-click and set it.
Update network drivers. Sometimes the Teredo adapter depends on your physical network driver. Update your Ethernet or Wi-Fi driver from the manufacturer’s website.
Check for conflicting virtual adapters. If you have VMware, VirtualBox, or Hyper-V, they can create virtual adapters that conflict. Try disabling them temporarily.
Run SFC and DISM. Open Command Prompt as admin and run sfc /scannow. After it finishes, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. Restart.
If all else fails, consider a system restore to a point before the issue started, or use the Windows Media Creation Tool to do an in-place upgrade repair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Teredo adapter keep showing a driver problem?

This usually happens after a Windows update, a failed driver update, or when IPv6 is disabled. The driver files become corrupted or missing, and Windows flags it.

Can I just disable the Teredo adapter?

Yes, you can disable it in Device Manager, but that will break features that rely on Teredo, like Xbox Party Chat or some peer-to-peer apps. If you don’t use those, disabling is a quick workaround.

Is Teredo a security risk?

Teredo is a legitimate Windows component, but it can be used by malware to bypass firewalls. If you’re concerned, you can disable it, but only if you don’t need the features it provides.

Will reinstalling Windows fix this?

Usually not necessary. Reinstalling the adapter and resetting network settings works in most cases. A full reinstall is a last resort.

Why does the Teredo adapter show as ‘not present’ in Device Manager?

That means the adapter isn’t installed at all. Use the ‘Add legacy hardware’ method described in Step 6 to manually install it.

Does this affect my internet speed?

No. Teredo only activates when an app needs IPv6 connectivity over an IPv4 network. It doesn’t slow down normal browsing or downloads.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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