How to Fix Your Ethernet Connection Not Working on Windows 11
An Ethernet connection offers many advantages over its wireless counterpart. However, when it stops working, diagnosing and fixing the Ethernet not working issue can get a little tricky in Windows 11.
While you can use the built-in troubleshooter to find and fix network problems, there can be other underlying issues causing your Ethernet connection to act up. Here we show you the common contributing factors that can break your Ethernet connection in Windows 11 and how you can fix them to get connected.
1. Run the Network Adapter Troubleshooter
Windows 11 features a built-in troubleshooter to fix the most common issues with your PC. You can use the Internet Connection and Network Adapter troubleshooter to detect and fix any issues with the network devices.
To fix the Ethernet not working issue:
If the issue persists, follow these steps to run the Network Adapter troubleshooter:
If Windows detects no issue, you can try the steps below to troubleshoot and fix the problem yourself.
2. Check the Ethernet Cable, Port, and Connection
If you see the No Internet access message, it can be due to a loose Ethernet connection to your PC or the router. Disconnect the cable from your PC and router’s port. Then, reconnect the cable and watch for the click sound to ensure it’s firmly connected.
Your router has multiple ports. The Internet port is used to connect your router to the modem. confirm the cable is connected to the Ethernet port and not the Internet port.
Try to connect using a different Ethernet cable. This will help you determine if the issue is with your cable or something else. If you are shopping for a new cable, explore our guide onchoosing an Ethernet cable for your wired connectionto make the best decision.
Additionally, try to use a different Ethernet port on your router. If it works, you may have a faulty port requiring attention.
4. Perform a Power Reset for Your Modem and Router
You can create a new connection with a quick power reset. Useful to fix issues triggered by a temporary glitch.
Note that your Internet will be temporarily unavailable during the power reset. Make sure to pause any activity that relies on an active Internet connection.
To power reset the modem and router:
5. Run Network Commands to Perform a Network Reset
Windows 11 features a bunch of useful commands toreset network devices and network stack to troubleshoot networking issues. Run the following command in the given order to reset your network settings successfully.
you may also perform a network reset using Windows 11’s Settings panel.
To perform a network reset from Settings:
6. Check the Ethernet Adapter’s Power Management Settings
Your PC can turn off connected but idle devices to save power. While a handy feature, this can also disrupt essential services.
To fix the problem, configure your Ethernet adapter’s power management settings in Device Manager. Here’s how to do it.
7. Uninstall the Ethernet Adapter Drivers
Outdated or corrupt Ethernet adapter drivers can cause the adapter to malfunction. To fix the issue, uninstall the adapter driver from Device Manager. Your PC will reinstall the driver upon restart.
To uninstall the Ethernet adapter driver:
Once done, restart your PC. Windows will automatically detect connected devices and install the missing driver for the Ethernet adapter.
8. Turn On and Off the Ethernet Adapter
Windows 11 lets you turn off individual network adapters for Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Bluetooth from Settings. Reportedly, disabling and re-enabling the Ethernet adapter has fixed issues with the Ethernet connection.
To disable and re-enable the Ethernet adapter:
9. Update your Router’s Firmware
Router firmware updates often tend to bring performance improvements and security patches. However, they may also include bug fixes related to your Ethernet connectivity issues.
Some routers are configured to install new updates automatically. But all of them allow you to check for new firmware updates and install them manually.
Explore our easy guide onhow to refresh your router’s firmwareto see if that helps resolve the Ethernet not working problem.
Restoring the Ethernet Connectivity on Your Windows 11 PC
The plug-n-play nature of the Ethernet connection can make it difficult to troubleshoot issues when it stops working. However, in most cases, a quick disconnect and reconnect of cables, power reset, and Windows network reset can fix the problem for most users.
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