Perhaps understanding why your Ethernet is not working will help you know the steps necessary to troubleshoot the issue. However, it’s a challenge to pinpoint the causes in many instances.
If you can browse seamlessly using a Wi-Fi connection but cannot access the internet using your Ethernet cable on the same network, there is an issue or two with your Ethernet.
Ethernet not working can be caused by hardware issues, damaged internet cables, driver issues, and configuration hitches, among other reasons.
Luckily, this article will guide you through the best ways to troubleshoot and fix Ethernet issues.
How Do I Fix My Wired Ethernet Not Working?
To fix the issue, you must conduct several steps, from simple ones to complex troubleshooting. Here is how you can fix your unstable Ethernet internet connection:
1. Fix Your Ethernet Port and Cable
Ethernet cables can cause internet connection problems if they are old, damaged, or counterfeit. You will need another cable to know if your cable has a hitch.
Alternatively, you can use your cable with another computer to check if the cable is okay or if it’s something to do with your settings, ports, or anything else.
In many instances, there are always slight damages to your port if you frequently connect and remove your cables. This makes your connection unstable or not working at all.
You will also need to check if the port has dust. Use an air blower or something like a small brush to wipe out the debris that might be stuck inside the port.
The LED light beside the Ethernet port may also help pinpoint the issues. In many PCs, the lights turn on when the connection is okay and turn off or go off after a minute if the connection has issues. If that is the case, you can use a USB to Ethernet adapter and fix the problem immediately.
Read more: Ethernet Not Working in Windows 10? [Easy Steps]2. Check Your Network Components
Your ISP service or hardware issues can cause your Ethernet not to work. To fix this, you need to check if your router lights are on to indicate that the internet connection with your ISP is working. You should check if the cables are not damaged or loosely connected.
Before making changes to the software or PC settings, ensure you check that all the hardware from your ISP service is on point. You may contact your internet service provider if it’s not something you can rectify.
3. Scan For Malware and Viruses
This is not common, but it’s worth fixing before tweaking software or system settings. Your Windows firewall or antivirus may detect an issue, and it blocks the Ethernet connection to protect your system.
A whole system scan is advised to prevent further harmful infections from viruses and malware.
If the above steps didn’t fix your problems, it’s time you go deeper into your systems and try to tweak some settings or check for any anomalies.
4. Fix Using a Troubleshooter Tool
Windows 10 has an inbuilt system troubleshooter that you can use to fix many issues on your PC. Follow these steps to fix Ethernet not working:
- To start, go to your Settings by pressing the Windows key + I. On the same window, you will see Update & Security. Click it and head to the Troubleshoot button on the left side menu.
- At the bottom of the window, click on the Additional Troubleshooters. You will see a section called Find and fix other problems. In this section, you must choose Network Adapter and click on the Run the Troubleshooter option.
- Now, from the list, click on Ethernet, followed by Next, to set up the troubleshooting process.
The troubleshooter will look for any problems with your network adapter that may cause your Ethernet to fail to work.
After the scan is through, the troubleshooter may fix small issues automatically, but for bigger ones, you will need to follow the recommendations in its report.
5. Update Your Ethernet Network Adapter Driver
In many cases, if the drivers are missing, damaged, or outdated, they may cause many issues with your PC network connection. Here’s how to update the driver:
- Go to the Search box, type Device Manager, and choose the app from the results list. Once the app opens, navigate to View, then hit on Show hidden devices.
- You will see Network adapters. Expand them by double-clicking and choosing Expand.
- Now you have to right-click on the Ethernet driver, and from the list, you choose Update driver. Then hit the Search automatically for drivers option.
The Device Manager will look up the latest drivers from the internet. Once the search is over, you must install and restart your PC to effect the changes.
Is Wi-Fi or Ethernet Faster?
The major difference is that the Wi-Fi connection is wireless, and Ethernet uses cables to access the internet from your router or modem.
However, Ethernet connections are generally faster, more secure, and more reliable than Wi-Fi. The fastest Ethernet speed is reported to be 10Gbps, while the quickest Wi-Fi speed is 6.9Gbps. Although, the actual speeds are always lower than that.
Want to fix mouse issues on windows 11? We have a guide waiting for you.
It’s our hope the above solutions solved your Ethernet not working on your Windows 10 PC. We invite you to leave a comment below. Tell us which solution worked for you or which other fix you think would resolve the problem.
Great article