Microsoft Research Virtual WiFi: A Free Tool to Enable Wi-Fi Direct on Windows
How to Download and Install Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter Driver
Wi-Fi Direct is a wireless technology that allows devices to connect directly without using a router or an access point. It is useful for sharing files, streaming media, printing, gaming, and more. However, to use Wi-Fi Direct on your Windows 10 device, you need a driver that enables this feature. In this article, we will explain what Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter Driver is, how to check if your device supports it, how to download and install it, how to use it, and how to fix some common issues with it.
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What is Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter Driver?
Definition and function of the driver
Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter Driver is a software component that allows your Windows 10 device to communicate with other devices using Wi-Fi Direct. It creates a virtual network interface that acts as an access point for other devices. It also handles the authentication and encryption of the connection using WPA2 security protocol.
Benefits and advantages of using Wi-Fi Direct
Wi-Fi Direct has several benefits and advantages over other wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth or NFC. Some of them are:
It has a faster data transfer rate, up to 250 Mbps, compared to Bluetooth's 25 Mbps or NFC's 0.4 Mbps.
It has a longer range, up to 200 meters, compared to Bluetooth's 100 meters or NFC's 10 centimeters.
It supports multiple devices, up to eight, in a group connection, compared to Bluetooth's seven or NFC's two.
It is compatible with legacy Wi-Fi devices, meaning you can connect to devices that do not support Wi-Fi Direct as long as they have a Wi-Fi chip.
It is secure, using WPA2 encryption and authentication methods.
How to Check if Your Device Supports Wi-Fi Direct
Using Windows PowerShell
One way to check if your device supports Wi-Fi Direct is to use Windows PowerShell. Here are the steps:
Press Windows + X keys on your keyboard and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
Type netsh wlan show wirelesscapabilities and press Enter.
Look for the line that says Wi-Fi Direct Device. If it says Supported, then your device supports Wi-Fi Direct. If it says Not Supported, then your device does not support Wi-Fi Direct.
Using Device Manager
Another way to check if your device supports Wi-Fi Direct is to use Device Manager. Here are the steps:
Press Windows + X keys on your keyboard and select Device Manager.
Expand the Network adapters category and look for an entry that says Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter. If you have it, then your device supports Wi-Fi Direct. If you don't have it, then your device does not support Wi-Fi Direct.
How to Download and Install Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter Driver
Using Windows Update
The easiest way to download and install Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter Driver is to use Windows Update. Here are the steps:
Press Windows + I keys on your keyboard and select Update & Security.
Click on Check for updates and wait for Windows to scan for available updates.
If there is an update for Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter Driver, it will be listed under the Optional updates section. Click on Download and install to install it.
Restart your device and check if the driver is working properly.
Using Microsoft Research Virtual WiFi
Another way to download and install Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter Driver is to use Microsoft Research Virtual WiFi. This is a tool that was developed by Microsoft Research to enable virtualization of multiple wireless network adapters on a single device. It also supports Wi-Fi Direct functionality. Here are the steps:
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Download Microsoft Research Virtual WiFi from .
Extract the zip file and run the setup.exe file as an administrator.
Follow the instructions on the screen and complete the installation.
Restart your device and check if the driver is working properly.
Using a Third-Party Software
A third way to download and install Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter Driver is to use a third-party software that can scan your device for missing or outdated drivers and update them automatically. There are many such software available online, but some of them may contain malware or adware, so be careful when choosing one. Here are some examples of reputable software that can help you with this task:
: This is a free software that can scan your device for missing or outdated drivers and download them from its database of over 8 million drivers. It also has a pro version that can update all your drivers with one click and provide other features such as backup and restore.
: This is another free software that can scan your device for missing or outdated drivers and download them from its database of over 3 million drivers. It also has a pro version that can update all your drivers with one click and provide other features such as backup and restore, game boost, and system optimization.
: This is a paid software that can scan your device for missing or outdated drivers and download them from its database of over 160,000 drivers. It also has other features such as backup and restore, driver uninstaller, hardware monitor, and system cleaner.
To use any of these software, you need to download and install them on your device, run them, and follow their instructions to update your drivers.
How to Use Wi-Fi Direct on Windows 10
Connecting to Other Wi-Fi Direct Devices
To connect to other Wi-Fi Direct devices on Windows 10, you need to enable the feature first. Here are the steps:
Press Windows + I keys on your keyboard and select Network & Internet.
Select Wi-Fi from the left pane and click on Show available networks.
Select the network that has Wi-Fi Direct- in its name and click on Connect.
If prompted, enter the PIN or password of the other device and click on Next.
You should see a message that says You're connected!. You can now use Wi-Fi Direct to share files,