,

Ethernet Port Not Working? Try these fixes first!

Are you struggling to connect to the internet via an Ethernet port? Don’t worry; the issue is very common. Hardware malfunction, faulty network drivers, and other factors can contribute to the Ethernet port not working issue. 

To troubleshoot the Ethernet port not working, you first need to plug the cable into another port on the router. If this works, it’s a good sign because it implies that one of the ports on your router is not working correctly and needs replacement. If it doesn’t work, switch your ethernet cables and see if that helps with the Ethernet connection.

Ethernet Port Not Working: Quick Fixes

Whether you’re connecting the Ethernet cable from the router to your desktop or gaming console, there may be times when your ethernet cables refuse to comply. It’s also possible that your system is experiencing the ethernet cable not detected issue. There can be many reasons behind Ethernet not working. We have compiled all the troubleshooting methods for it below. 

Turn Off Wi-Fi

You don’t need to turn off Wi-Fi for ethernet to work, but doing so prevents network traffic from being inadvertently routed over Wi-Fi instead of Ethernet. It will also strengthen the security of your device as there will be fewer entry routes for external forces. So, go ahead and turn off the Wi-Fi on your system after plugging in the Ethernet cable. 

Make Sure Ethernet Is Enabled

A deactivated Ethernet could be behind the ethernet cable not detected. Device Manager makes it simple to disable Ethernet and other connected devices. To be safe, even if you don’t recall deactivating Ethernet, you should double-check to be sure. Random disabling of the device can occur anytime or can frequently happen due to a bug. Check and enable your Ethernet by following the simple instructions below:

  1. Press and hold Windows key and R key
  2. Type devmgmt.msc in the text box and press Enter on your keyboard
  3. Look for Network Adapters and double-click it
  4. Now, right-click on the Network Device and select Enable

Note: Ethernet is already enabled on your devices if you get a Disable option instead of Enable. You can just click Disable and then select Enable, which will trigger the device to restart. 

Once the device is back on, check to see if the Ethernet is now working properly. 

Plug Ethernet Into A Different Port

Try inserting the Ethernet cable into a different port on the router. If changing the port on the router fixes your Ethernet, you must replace your router to avoid any inconvenience.  

However, if changing ports on the router does not work, you must try swapping the Ethernet cable to rule out whether the cable is defective or broken. 

Restart Your Computer

There are times when the most straightforward solution is the most effective. Restarting your computer is necessary in this situation. There’s a possibility that your computer’s current session has a bug, and a restart will fix it and restore your ethernet connection to full functionality.

Ethernet Port Not Working: Other Possible Solutions

We’ve put together a bunch of other methods to fix the — Ethernet not working — problem. You can simply go through the list until you discover the one that works best for you.

Update Drivers

An outdated Ethernet adapter’s driver can lead to a wide range of connection difficulties. To make sure your Ethernet adapter is running an updated version of the driver, follow the steps below: 

How to update Ethernet adapter driver:

  1. Click the search bar in the Start menu
  2. Run a search for Device Manager 
  3. Right-click on Device Manager > Network Adapters
  4. Select your Network Adapter > Update Driver Software
  5. Restart your device 

Using Device Manager, you can check if your Ethernet adapter has received an update by searching the internet. As soon as your search is finished, you’ll be shown some new information that has become available. You should then restart your device, install the new driver, and check if your Ethernet connection is stable.

Uninstall / Reinstall Drivers

Even though it is improbable, this problem might be caused by a new driver. Trying to revert to an earlier version of the software may help if you’ve recently installed the latest version.  

  1. Press and hold Windows key and R key
  2. Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter
  3. Now, double-click the Network Adapters option
  4. Find and double click your network device 
  5. Now, click Driver tab and then click on Roll Back Driver
  6. Complete the instructions to roll back the version successfully

Note: If you find the “Roll Back Driver” button greyed out, you won’t roll back the version. 

After reverting to an earlier version, restart your computer to see whether the issue has been resolved. If the issue persists after updating the driver, contact your system manufacturer for assistance.

Uninstalling and Getting Generic Driver

If upgrading or rolling back your driver doesn’t work, you’ll need to install it from scratch. By default, Windows installs generic drivers for your device when you restart your computer after uninstalling a driver. Even though these generic drivers aren’t the most recent, they’re the most up-to-date compared to others. As a result, try it out and see whether it works for you.

  • Press and hold the Windows and the R Key
  • Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter on your keyboard
  • Double-click the Network Adaptors option
  • Find and double click your network device
  • Right-click the network device 
  • Now, follow all the instructions on the screen to complete the function
  • Wait for the uninstallation to process

Once the uninstallation is complete, restart your computer. The generic drivers should be installed after a restart. If a driver issue was to blame, this should put an end to it.

Check Network Cable

You can also see if the Ethernet connection is active by opening the Network connections window and selecting it from the drop-down menu. This step is critical in locating the underlying source of the problem. 

For instance, there will be no connection if your computer does not recognize the cable right away. There are a variety of explanations for this omission. Follow these steps below to make sure the network cable is working correctly.

How to check the network cable

  1. Open the Settings by pressing and holding Windows + I key
  2. Click on the Network and Internet option, and then on the Ethernet option
  3. You will now see ethernet connections 
  4. Suppose you see the Not Connected status below the ethernet connection. In that case, it implies that the cable isn’t being detected right away and that there’s a problem with your adapter, cable, or the software that should be able to detect it.

You can try disconnecting and reconnecting the cable. Overtime or due to carelessness, cables can degrade and become less reliable. Switch to another network cable if your Ethernet adapter continues to indicate it as disconnected. Another thing you may do is try a new port on the router, switch, or modem (if there are any available).

Turn Off Antivirus Protection

It’s possible that a Windows component is to blame for your computer’s problems in some circumstances. Depending on your operating system, the problem might be with Windows Firewall or with Windows Defender. 

You should disable Windows Defender and Windows Firewall to make sure they’re not the source of the problem. As a result, disable any third-party antivirus software you may be using if you’re still experiencing problems after doing so. Follow the steps below to do it.

How to turn off antivirus/firewall protection

  1. Press and hold Windows + R key to open the Run prompt
  2. Now, type Control Panel and press Enter to launch the Control Panel interface
  3. Click on the Windows Defender Firewall option 
  4. Choose the Turn Windows Firewall on and off and make sure you disable the firewall
  5. Save the changes
  6. Check your Ethernet connection if it is working now

Ethernet port not working, still? Then, hop on to the following method.

Reset Network Settings

The problem may be a result of network reconfigurations that failed to correct up until this point adequately. This might be due to damaged root system configurations or cache, and the only method to fix it is to do a thorough network configuration shakeup by resetting it. 

How to reset network settings

  1. Open the Settings page, and click on Network & Internet option, and then go to Status.
  2. Find the Network reset option. You can use this feature to make a network component the default. In some instances, you may require to reinstall your network software.
  3. Click the Reset now button and then click Yes.

If this method also renders ineffective, move to the next one. 

Enable Ethernet Adapter Through BIOS

The ethernet connection may be deactivated by default on some motherboards by the manufacturer, or you may have disabled it by fiddling around with the BIOS. We will therefore enable the Ethernet Adapter in the BIOS. Follow the steps below.

How to enable ethernet through BIOS

  1. Shut down your computer and restart after 10 minutes.
  2. When it is restarting, pay attention to the screen and look for the Press X button to get into the Bios message.
  3. Press X key to enter BIOS. After entering, use arrow keys to navigate
  4. Look for Integrated Peripherals/Onboard Devices/On-Chip PCI Devices or a related option, and then press the Enter key to enter the menu. 
  5. Select the Integrated Peripherals or closely related option if it does not show up in your system’s BIOS.
  6. Now, click Integrated Peripherals/Onboard Devices/On-Chip PCI Devices or related options to ensure it is Enabled. Please enable it using arrow keys on your keyboard. 
  7. After Enabling the option, press the F10 key to save your settings and exit the BIOS. 
  8. Wait for your system to reboot. 
  9. On restarting, the system should now automatically detect your Ethernet controller.
  10. Run a check if your Ethernet cable is getting detected.

Still no luck with the Ethernet port not working issue? Get to the next troubleshooting method. 

Run Internet Connection Troubleshooter

If you’re still having problems with your ethernet connection, you may try running the internet troubleshooter to see if it helps. It explains why your ethernet is not working but might also attempt to fix it. 

How to run an internet connection troubleshooter

  1. Press and hold the Windows + I key to launch the settings.
  2. In the Settings, click Update & Security option and then click Troubleshoot.
  3. Now, click on the “Update and Security” option.
  4. Click on the “Network Connections” option followed by clicking on the “Run the troubleshooter” option to run this troubleshooter on your computer successfully.
  5. Follow the instructions on the screen to run the troubleshooter.

Ping The Loopback Address

InterNIC reserves the IP address 127.0.0.1 as a loopback address to be used in network card testing. When a network card uses its software loopback interface, it does not need to be physically connected to the network to use this IP address. The issue may develop because of a corrupted system or virus that stops the networking from operating correctly. Therefore, use the ping command to see if your network card is functioning correctly or not.

  1. Press and hold Windows + R key to open the Run prompt.
  2. Now, inside the prompt, type cmd and then hit the Shift + Ctrl + Enter keys simultaneously on your keyboard for enabling admin control.
  3. After that, type the command ping 127.0.0.1. The ping sends a message to the machine’s internal network stack to check if it is working properly.

If pinging the IP Address from the command prompt is a success, the networking is working correctly on your computer. So the problem is most likely with a misconfigured piece of software. 

Verify Router’s Firmware

Some router/Access Point difficulties can resolve with fresh firmware upgrades. These are intended for older devices still using their original firmware. Details and directions on how to perform an update can be found in the product documentation or on the manufacturer’s website. 

Manufacturers of routers/Access Points frequently enhance their products by including new functions. Admittedly, not all connected gadgets can take advantage of these added functions. See if disabling these functions is necessary by consulting official sources. 

Reset Network Stack

If you cannot resolve it, your computer may have developed this problem due to a faulty DNS cache or an incorrect network cache. As a result, you should reset the network stack, ensuring that the invalid cache is removed and replaced with a fresh one.

How to reset network stack:

  1. Press and hold Windows + R key to open the Run prompt
  2. Inside the prompt, type cmd and then hit the Shift + Ctrl + Enter keys simultaneously on your keyboard for enabling admin control
  3. After that, type the following commands and press the Enter key after each of the commands:
    ipconfig /release
    ipconfig /flushdns
    ipconfig /renew
    netsh int ip reset
    netsh winsock reset
  4. After running the commands above, restart your computer
  5. Check to see if it solved the ethernet port not working issue

Please be aware that running these commands will reset each of your networking adapters, both physical and virtual, so expect some errors when attempting to use them. Errors like this are to be expected and should not be taken seriously. Even if you’ve done any of them before or encountered difficulties, please go through each step in order.

Disable Virtual Ethernet Devices

If you have virtual Ethernet drivers installed, there may be a problem with your PC’s connection to the internet. If you have removed them and still receive Ethernet port problems, you should look into finding solutions. There are several types of virtual Ethernet drivers, such as VPNs and packet loss reduction programs. Follow the process below to locate and disable any virtual Ethernet devices you come across.

How to disable virtual ethernet devices

  1. Press and hold Windows + R key to open the Run prompt.
  2. Type ncpa.cpl and press Enter key to launch the network configuration panel.
  3. Now, right-click on any software option and not any physical connection to your device. 
  4. Click the Disable option to disable the virtual network connection.
  5. If you are unsure, we suggest running a Google search for each network device before disabling them.  

Disable Auto-Tuning Feature

Automatic window tuning allows the operating system to keep track of variables such as network bandwidth, app latency, and app response time. The fact that it allows the operating system to arrange connections by resizing the TCP window has proven to be a red herring in this instance. As a result, to fix the Ethernet port issue, you need to disable the auto-tuning option temporarily.

How to disable the auto-tuning feature

  1. Press and hold Windows + R key to open the Run prompt.
  2. Inside the prompt, type cmd and then hit the Shift + Ctrl + Enter keys simultaneously on your keyboard for enabling admin control.
  3. After that, type the following command and press the Enter key: netsh interface tcp show global
  4. Find and click the Receive Window Auto-Tuning Level feature and disable it. To disable it, enter the following command and then execute it by pressing Enter key: netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled
  5. After executing the commands, check if the Ethernet port not working problem still kicks in.

Tweak Duplex Setting

Half-duplex and full-duplex are the two duplex communication modes available on Ethernet networks. Users claim that depending on your duplex settings, you may occasionally have Ethernet issues. Not only will the Ethernet port issue be fixed, but your LAN speed will also improve after adjusting your duplex settings.

  1. Press and hold Windows + R key to open the Run prompt.
  2. Inside the prompt, type ncpa.cpl and hit the Enter key to run the network configuration panel.
  3. Open network settings in the Control Panel and right-click on the ethernet connection, and then select Properties.
  4. Now, click Advanced and select Speed/duplex settings.
  5. Set the value of maximum supported speed by the adapter to 100 MB Full Duplex, or you can also use Auto Negotiation.
  6. Click OK to save changes.
  7. Now, check if it solved your ethernet issue.

Disable Large Send Offload

Windows 10’s Large Send Offload is a brand-new functionality. Although LSO was designed to enhance the total network system performance, it also permits background apps to use a significant bandwidth in contravention of their intended purpose. Some people found a workaround by turning off a setting in their operating systems that enabled this feature.

  1. Press and hold Windows + R key to open the Run prompt
  2. Inside the prompt, type Devmgmt.msc and hit the Enter key to run the device manager
  3. Find and double-click on the Network Adapters option 
  4. Now, right-click on the network adapter used by your system
  5. Click the Properties option to open the network properties 
  6. Inside the properties, click the Advanced option on the top
  7. Click the Large Send Offload V2 (IPv4) option and set the value to Disabled to disable the Large Send Offload Option
  8. Now, click Large Send Offload V2 (IPv6) and set the value to Disabled 
  9. Click OK to apply the changes

Resolve Issues With Network Adapter

The Windows control panel may readily identify a problem with your network adapter. The procedures following can help you troubleshoot additional problems if your network adapter drivers have already been updated.

  1. Press and hold Windows + R key to open the Run prompt
  2. Inside the prompt, type ncpa.cpl and hit the Enter key to run the network configuration panel.
  3. Now, right-click on the ethernet adapter and choose the Diagnose option
  4. Allow the system to start the automated diagnosing and then follow the instructions on the screen to diagnose issues with the ethernet connection fully
  5. Check if this solves the ethernet port issue on your system

If your network adapter is set to utilize a static IP address rather than DHCP by default, this will correct the problem. However, it would help if you also did a self-check.

Is Port Configured For Dynamic IP

Ensure that the Ethernet port on your computer is set up for a dynamic IP address if you are having trouble communicating with other networked devices or connecting to the Internet through Ethernet.

  1. Open the Start menu and click the Settings option
  2. Now, click the Network and Internet button to launch internet settings
  3. Click the “Network and Sharing Center” option now and then select the Change Adapter Settings from the left menu
  4. Right-click the Local Area Connection (LAN) or the Wired Ethernet Connection option and then click Properties
  5. Now, double-click the Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) option
  6. Please ensure that the “Use the Following DNS Address” button is enabled
  7. Double-click the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) option 
  8. You need to ensure that the Use the Following DNS Addresses radio button is enabled and then click OK
  9. Now, return to the desktop and close every window

As the final step, restart your system and check if the ethernet port has started functioning properly. If not, get to the following method.

Disable EEE For Network Adapter

Known as Energy-Efficient Ethernet (EEE), it is the collection of improvements to the Ethernet systems protocols to reduce power usage when there is little data being sent or received. As a result, deactivating EEE might resolve the Ethernet issue on your system. 

How to disable Energy-Efficient Ethernet (EEE)

  1. Press and hold Windows + X key to open the Menu
  2. Click the Device Manager option  
  3. Now, double-click the Network adapters option to expand it
  4. Right-click the system’s active network adapter and select Properties
  5. Find and click Advanced and then click the Energy Efficient Ethernet option
  6. In the dropdown menu, under the Value option, change it to Disabled/OFF 
  7. Click OK to apply changes 
  8. Restart your computer and check if it resolves the issue

Enable QoS Feature

Enabling the Quality of Service (QoS) function may help resolve this issue. You may use it to restrict your network speed. However, several users found that turning on Quality of Service (QoS) on their router fixed the problem. Open the router’s settings page and turn on Quality of Service (QoS). 

Because QoS is a sophisticated function, you may need to configure it before using it effectively. It’s also important to keep in mind that your router may not have this capability, so be sure to read the manual to learn more. To access the router’s administrative panel, follow the steps below.

How to enable the QoS feature 

  1. Open your browser and type your IP address
  2. You can find your IP address by pressing Windows + R key together to launch the run prompt and then type CMD, then by pressing Shift + Ctrl + Enter keys together to enter the admin panel. 
  3. Now, type ipconfig/all in the cmd and press Enter key. The IP Address will be next to the Default Gateway option, and it looks like 192.xxx.x.x
  4. Copy that IP Address, paste it in your browser address bar, and then hit the Enter key to open the Router login page.
  5. Enter your username and password. If you have not changed the credentials, the default ones are “Admin” and “password” for username and password, respectively.
  6. After logging in, you need to configure the QoS settings. Click on the Set Up QoS Rule button.
  7. Now, under Priority Category, choose Ethernet LAN Port from the list. Select the priority level to Highest or high
  8. Click Apply

If this does not resolve the Ethernet port not working issue, then move to the final method. 

Connect USB To Ethernet

Essentially, a USB to Ethernet adapter is a USB-to-Ethernet cable converter. Using USB to Ethernet adapters, many devices can be linked together instead of long and less dependable Ethernet cables. Because they work on Plug and Play technology, USB-to-Ethernet adapters let you connect an Ethernet cable to any available USB port. This adaptor may solve your Ethernet port issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

After troubleshooting the Ethernet not working issue by following the methods above, some questions still linger. We answer some of the most asked questions below. 

How do I fix my ethernet port?

You can fix your ethernet port by troubleshooting for damages, verifying the existing cable connections, checking the condition of the connectors, and replacing them if needed. If the port is defective, you can try plugging the ethernet cable into a different port on your router. 

How do I know if my ethernet port is bad?

Check the lights. A green light should be next to most Ethernet ports. The green light suggests that the port is working with sufficient signal strength. The yellow or red light hints at an underlying issue. The port or the cord may be faulty if there’s no light coming on at all.

How do I reset my ethernet port?

You can reset the ethernet port by opening Control Panel > Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset. After opening the network reset menu, click the Reset Now option and then select Yes to confirm. 

Can an ethernet port go bad?

Yes, an ethernet port can go bad. The ethernet port on your wall, especially if you’re renting, could be pretty outdated and in need of replacement. You should also check your computer’s ethernet port for damage, as this might lead to a bad connection. Look for corrosion, cracks, and warping on both.

Conclusion

Ethernet port not working issue is not uncommon as ports, much like cables, can malfunction and fail. The good news is that there is a fix in sight. Our goal is that by using some of our guidance, you can save money by fixing the port instead of replacing it. 

Always be cautious when plugging in the cable since using too much force may damage your port.

Let us know in the comments if this guide helps with your ethernet not working issue. 

Avatar of Nathan
About Nathan

Hello! I'm Nate. I work for an internet company during the week, so you'll probably see me on here jabbering about the internet and building websites, which is my main side hobby.

Leave a Comment

Previous

Mojave vs Catalina – Should you upgrade?

How to clean a laptop screen

Next