After recent Windows 10 update, the loopback adapter doesn't show in the "Network connections" list and I cannot use the old name with newly created loopback adapter.

Question

_{Sunday, January 20, 2019 2:59 PM | 1 vote}

After recent Windows 10 update, the loopback adapter disappeared from "Network connections"

If I add it again, I cannot use the old name that I set on the adapter (e.g. "MS Loopback")

I have tried various attempts to show hidden network adapters, but without luck.

"Show hidden devices" in device manager did not list the old loopback adapter.

I haven't seen anybody reporting below findings.

After I added new loopback adapter, I noticed device name have changed after the update.

Previous device name was "Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter"

Now new "device name" is "Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter #2 in the Network connections window. The same device name shows in device manager also.

Previous "name" I set on "Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter" device  was "MS loopback".

I cannot reuse the old name on new device "Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter #2"

I searched for "MS loopback" and it was under the following registry tree.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\Upgrade\NetworkDriverBackup\Control\Network

I removed all all registry key related to "MS loopback" and "Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter" from registry, newly added microsoft loop back adapter device name in device manager is still  "Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter #2"  and I cannot reuse "MS loopback"

Also I cannot assign the IP address I assigned to previous loopback adapter.

I get a warning saying the IP address 192.168.11.1 is already used by "Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter" but it is not shown in device manager. I only see "Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter #2" in device manager even with "Show hidden devices" selected.

All replies (3)

_{Wednesday, January 23, 2019 2:33 AM}

Hi Byungkook,

Sorry for the delay reply. 

It seems that many people have experienced this issue about the loopback adapter disappeared after the updates. 

Have a look at the thread: https://github.com/nmap/nmap/issues/1416

Note: This is a third-party link and we do not have any guarantees on this website. This is just for your convenience. And Microsoft does not make any guarantees about the content.

Please follow the steps below to check if the service are disabled: 

1. Type Services.msc in search box. 

2. In the right list, find Device Install Service.

3. If it's diabled, right-click it and start, then set Startup type as Manual.

Best regards,

Yilia 

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_{Friday, January 25, 2019 9:02 AM}

Hi,

Is there anything I can do for you?

If you have any problems or concerns, please feel free to post here. 

Best regards,

Yilia

Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected].

_{Saturday, February 16, 2019 1:24 AM}

I wish you can tell me where else windows store network device information other than registry.

I would like to know where it would store assigned IP address also.

Regarding reported issue, looks like the recent Windows update fixed this issue.

The phantom "Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter" showed up in device manager.

But only in device manager.

I was able to delete and reinstall to list it back in network connections.

I was also able to use the same old IP address 192.168.11.1 and also rename it to the same old name "MS loopback".