How to Install Wireshark on Windows 10

ByChase Smith Hours Updated on Categories Networking

Wireshark is a free tool that should be part of every networking professional’s arsenal. While it can be a rather intimidating and cumbersome tool, it allows for inspection of packets in their dissected form.

The beauty of that is packets never lie. When you’re experiencing networking issues or just need to know what’s going on in your network you can trust the data from Wireshark.

Wireshark is potentially one of the best packet analyzer tools available today.

Fortunately, downloading and installing Wireshark is super simple.

How to Download Wireshark for Windows 10 (or Windows Server)

  1. Head over to https://www.wireshark.org/download.html and click on the appropriate installer for your operating system (Windows 10 64-bit in this example, would also apply to Windows Server).
  2. Download link for Wireshark for Windows 10 64-bit on the wireshark website.
  3. Note that a Wireshark-win64-2.6.1.exe file (file name as of July 2018) will be saved to your default downloads location.

How to Install Wireshark for Windows 10 (or Windows Server)

  1. Run the exe installer that was downloaded.
  2. Click Next on the Welcome to Wireshark screen.
    Welcome to wireshark 2.6.1 64-bit setup screen.
  3. Read the license agreement and click I Agree.
    Wireshark license agreement page.
  4. At the Choose Components screen leave the defaults checked and click Next. You can read more about the different components here.
    Wireshark installer screen showing list of components to install, including tshark, plugins & extensions, tools, & user's guide.
  5. At the Select Additional Tasks screen choose your preferred shortcuts and leave the radio button for “associate trace file extensions to Wireshark” selected. Click Next.
    Wireshark installer screen showing different shortcut options and file extension options.
  6. Choose the install location you prefer and click Next.
    Wireshark installer screen showing default location for installing the application.
  7. At the Packet Capture page make sure Install WinPcap 4.1.3 is selected. You need this to capture traffic with Wireshark. Without it you can still view Wireshark capture files. Click Next.
    Installer screen showing option to install winpcap 4.1.3.
  8. At the USB Capture page you can choose to Install USBPcap. Check the box next to Install USBPcap 1.2.0.3 if you desire to capture raw usb traffic as well (such as from a USB to RJ45 Ethernet adapter). Click Install.
  9. Installer screen showing the option to install usbpcap (experimental).
  10. The software will begin installing.
    Wireshark install progress bar screen.
  11. Eventually the installer will pause at “Execute: “C:\Program Files\Wiresharek\WinPcap_4_1_3.exe” and lunch a new installer window for WinPcap. Click Next in this window.
    Welcome to the WinPcap 4.1.3 Setup Wizard installer screen.
  12. Read the license agreement and click I Agree.
    WinPcap License Agreement screen.
  13. Make sure the check box is checked next to “Automatically start the WinPcap driver at boot time” unless you have a good reason for disabling this and click Install.
    WinPcap installer screen showing option to automatically start the winpcap driver at boot time.
  14. The install will begin and eventually complete. Click Finish.
  15. Next the installer for USBPcap will launch. Read the USBPcap Driver license agreement, check the “I accept” box, and click Next.
    GNU General Public License Agreement page for USBPcap driver.
  16. Read the USBPcapCMD license, check the “I accept” box, and click Next.
    License agreement screen for the USBPcapCMD license.
  17. Leave the Installation Options set to Full and click Next.
    USBPcap 1.2.0.3 Options screen showing USBPcap Driver, USBPcapCMD, and Detect USB 3.0 options.
  18. Choose your Installation Folder and click Install. The install will begin.