If you need to add a new network adapter in Windows, the loopback adapter is what you are searching for.

Let’s have a look on how to install it.

Localhost and Loopback

When we say localhost, we normally mean the loopback adapter that is a virtual network interface.

Conventionally localhost is always resolved with the reserved IPv4 address 127.0.0.1 and the IPv6 ::1.

In general, any application installed in your system uses this interface in order to communicate with other processes on the same host.

Localhost is often used also by services that don’t need to be externally reachable, one example is represented by a database that runs in the same machine in which runs also the web application that get used of it.

In Windows, the loopback adapter is not installed as default, but of course it’s still possible to add it.

Let’s see how to do that.

Installing the Adapter

In order to add the loopback interface, let’s open a command prompt and digit the following command:

This command will open the Add Hardware Wizard:

Click on Next and select the option Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced):

Select Network adapters and then click Next:

In the Manufacturer list select Microsoft and then in Network Adapter on the right select Microsoft Loopback Adapter. Click Next:

Now you can see a summary of what you are going to install. Click Next and, once finalized, Finish.

Conclusions

Once terminated, if you open the Control Panel and you click Networks and Internet -> Network Connections, you will notiche that it has been added a new virtual network interface: