Wireshark Installation

Before a user can start capturing and analyzing network traffic, a user needs to download and install Wireshark on a users system. The process itself is simple, but getting the setup right — especially drivers and permissions — is what ensures Wireshark can actually capture packets.

Install Wireshark on Windows

  1. Go to the official Wireshark download page
  2. Download the Windows (64-bit) installer
  3. Run the installer and make sure Npcap is selected (this is required for packet capture)
  4. Complete the installation and launch Wireshark
Important: Run Wireshark as Administrator to ensure it has permission to capture network traffic.

Without Npcap or proper permissions, Wireshark may open normally but will not capture any packets.