# How to Install WinDivert Driver and Service for Zapret: Complete Setup Guide

> Install the WinDivert driver and service for Zapret with our easy setup guide. Follow simple steps to register the service and load the WinDivert kernel driver for seamless operation.

- Repository: [Flowseal/zapret-discord-youtube](https://github.com/Flowseal/zapret-discord-youtube)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-05-02

---

**Run `service.bat` as Administrator, select "1. Install Service", choose a strategy file, and the batch script automatically registers the `zapret` Windows service and loads the WinDivert kernel driver from `bin/WinDivert64.sys`.**

The Flowseal/zapret-discord-youtube repository provides a deep packet inspection (DPI) bypass tool that requires the WinDivert driver to intercept and modify network traffic on Windows. Installing the WinDivert driver and service for Zapret is fully automated through the repository's batch scripts, which handle driver registration, service creation, and cleanup without requiring manual `sc` commands for the main components.

## Prerequisites: Download and Extract the Release

Before installing the driver, obtain the correct binaries from the repository. Download the latest ZIP archive from the releases page of Flowseal/zapret-discord-youtube.

Extract the contents to a folder path containing **only Latin characters**—avoid spaces, Cyrillic, or special characters. The archive includes a `bin` directory containing the essential driver files:

- `bin/WinDivert64.sys` – The signed 64-bit WinDivert kernel driver
- `bin/WinDivert.dll` – The userspace library for driver communication  
- `bin/winws.exe` – The Zapret executable that loads the driver

If Windows blocked the downloaded ZIP, right-click the archive, select **Properties**, check **Unblock**, then extract.

## Automatic Installation via Service Manager

The recommended method uses `service.bat`, which automates service creation and driver loading.

### Step-by-Step Service Installation

1. Open an **elevated Command Prompt** (Administrator rights are mandatory for driver installation).

2. Navigate to the extracted folder and launch the service manager:

   ```batch
   service.bat
   ```

3. From the menu, select **1 → Install Service**.

4. When prompted, choose a strategy file (e.g., `general.bat`) that defines your DPI bypass rules. The script captures this selection and configures the service to launch `winws.exe` with the appropriate arguments.

5. The script verifies the presence of `bin/WinDivert64.sys`. If the driver file is missing, it aborts and instructs you to restore the files from the repository.

### How the Installation Works

The `service.bat` script performs several critical operations defined in the source. It first stops and removes any existing `zapret` service to prevent conflicts:

```batch
set "BIN_PATH=%~dp0bin\"
net stop %SRVCNAME% >nul 2>&1
sc delete %SRVCNAME% >nul 2>&1

```

Then it creates the new Windows service using the `sc` command:

```batch
sc create %SRVCNAME% binPath= "\"%BIN_PATH%winws.exe\" !ARGS!" DisplayName= "zapret" start= auto

```

When the system starts the `zapret` service, `winws.exe` automatically loads `WinDivert64.sys` into the kernel. No separate `sc create WinDivert` command is required because the executable handles driver initialization internally.

## Verifying the Driver Installation

Confirm that WinDivert is active using built-in Windows tools. After installation, run these commands in an elevated prompt:

```batch
driverquery | find "Divert"
sc query WinDivert

```

Both commands should report the driver status as **RUNNING**. If the service has not yet been started by the bypass strategy, it may show as **STOP_PENDING** until you activate the Zapret service:

```batch
sc start zapret

```

## Manual Driver Installation (Optional)

If you prefer to register the WinDivert driver independently rather than using the automatic service manager, copy `WinDivert64.sys` to a permanent system location and create the service manually:

```batch
copy bin\WinDivert64.sys C:\Windows\System32\drivers\
sc create WinDivert binPath= "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\WinDivert64.sys" type= kernel start= auto
sc start WinDivert

```

This mirrors the behavior performed automatically by `service.bat`, but gives you direct control over the kernel driver registration. Note that you must still create the `zapret` service separately to run the actual DPI bypass logic.

## Removing the Driver and Service

To uninstall WinDivert and clean up all Zapret services, run `service.bat` again and select **2 → Remove Services**. This executes the cleanup routine that stops and deletes both the `zapret` service and any orphaned `WinDivert` or `WinDivert14` driver services.

For manual removal, use these commands:

```batch
sc stop zapret
sc delete zapret
sc stop WinDivert
sc delete WinDivert

```

This ensures the kernel driver is unloaded and the service registry entries are purged.

## Summary

- **Primary method**: Run `service.bat` as Administrator and select "Install Service" to automatically configure the `zapret` service and load `WinDivert64.sys`.
- **Key files**: The driver resides in `bin/WinDivert64.sys` with its companion `bin/WinDivert.dll`, loaded by `bin/winws.exe` when the service starts.
- **Verification**: Use `driverquery` and `sc query WinDivert` to confirm the driver is running.
- **Cleanup**: Use `service.bat` option 2 or manual `sc delete` commands to remove services and unload the driver.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Do I need to manually register WinDivert64.sys with Windows?

No. According to the Flowseal/zapret-discord-youtube source code, the `service.bat` script creates only the `zapret` service. The `winws.exe` executable automatically loads `WinDivert64.sys` from the `bin` directory when the service starts. Manual registration using `sc create WinDivert` is optional and only necessary if you want the driver loaded independently of the Zapret service.

### Why does the installation fail with a "driver not found" error?

The batch script checks for `bin/WinDivert64.sys` before creating the service. If this file is missing—often caused by antivirus software quarantining the driver or an incomplete extraction—the script aborts. Restore the file from the original ZIP archive or disable real-time protection temporarily during extraction, as noted in the repository's [`README.md`](https://github.com/Flowseal/zapret-discord-youtube/blob/main/README.md).

### Can I install the driver if my folder path contains Cyrillic characters?

No. The batch scripts and Windows service commands require ASCII-compatible paths. Extract the repository to a directory containing only Latin characters (A-Z, a-z) and no spaces. Paths like `C:\Tools\zapret\` work correctly, while `C:\Пользователи\запрет\` cause service creation failures.

### How do I know if WinDivert is actually filtering traffic?

After starting the service with `sc start zapret` or through `service.bat`, run `driverquery | find "Divert"` in an elevated prompt. If the driver status shows **RUNNING**, WinDivert is active in the kernel. Additionally, the `zapret` service process (`winws.exe`) should appear in Task Manager, indicating the DPI bypass strategy is executing.