In the Model list, select Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter .
This key distinction makes it incredibly powerful: because it looks and acts like a standard network card, you can assign it any IP address you wish (such as 192.168.x.x ), configure advanced settings, and have other networking tools interact with it just like a real interface.
Software developers frequently need to test network-dependent applications without an actual network connection. The loopback adapter provides a simulated network environment, allowing applications to bind to network ports and communicate locally as if they were on a live network. microsoft loopback adapter windows 11
New-NetIPAddress -InterfaceAlias "Loopback" -IPAddress 192.168.100.1 -PrefixLength 24
Unlike a physical NIC, a loopback adapter has no DHCP server. You must assign a static IP or it will default to an APIPA address (169.254.x.x). In the Model list, select Microsoft KM-TEST Loopback Adapter
Note: Administrative privileges required.
Whether you're debugging network code, running virtual machines without physical network hardware, or simply need to trick a finicky piece of software into thinking you have a network adapter, the Microsoft Loopback Adapter provides a simple, reliable solution that has stood the test of time across multiple Windows versions. Note: Administrative privileges required
Configuring the Microsoft Loopback Adapter in Windows 11 is a straightforward process:
In Hyper-V or VirtualBox, you can bridge a virtual machine's network card to the KM-TEST adapter to simulate an internal network connection.
In Device Manager, click on your computer's name at the top of the device list (this ensures the "Action" menu displays correctly). Then, click on the "Action" menu and select "Add legacy hardware".