How to Fix Your Ethernet Connection Not Working on Windows 11

Ethernet connections are meant to be more stable and reliable than Wi-Fi, but that doesn’t mean they’re without their own problems.

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.

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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:

Press Win + I to open the Settings panel.
In the System tab, scroll down and click on Troubleshoot.
Next, click on Other troubleshooters.
Click the Run button for Internet Connections to launch the troubleshooter.
Select Troubleshoot my connection to the Internet. The troubleshooter will look to identify the problem and recommend applicable fixes.
Apply the fixes and close the troubleshooter to see if the issue is resolved.

If the issue persists, follow these steps to run the Network Adapter troubleshooter:

Open Settings, and go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
In the right pane, scroll down and click on the Run button for Network Adapter.
In the Network Adapter troubleshooter dialog, select Ethernet.
Click Next. Windows will look for any issue and recommend fixes if applicable.

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. Make sure 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 on choosing an Ethernet cable for your wired connection to 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:

Unplug the router’s power brick from the wall outlet.
Next, unplug the modem power brick from the power source.
Leave the network devices idle for a minute or two.
Plug in the power adapter for the router and then for the modem.
The modem and router may take some time to power on fully. Wait for all the lights to stop blinking.
Once done, check your PC to see if the Ethernet connection is restored.

5. Run Network Commands to Perform a Network Reset

Windows 11 features a bunch of useful commands to reset network devices and network stack to troubleshoot networking issues. Run the following command in the given order to reset your network settings successfully.

Press Win + S to open Windows search.
Type cmd, right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
In the Command Prompt window, type the following command one by one and press Enter to execute:
```
 netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns 
```
Once successfully executed, close the Command Prompt and restart your PC to apply the changes.

You can also perform a network reset using Windows 11’s Settings panel.

To perform a network reset from Settings:

Press Win + I to open Settings.
Open the Network & Internet tab in the left pane.
Click on Advanced network settings.
Scroll down to the More settings section.
Click on Network reset.
Next, click the Reset now button for Network reset.
After resetting the network, you must restart your PC to apply the changes.

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.

Press Win + R to open Run.
Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open Device Manager.
In Device Manager, expand the Network adapters section.
Next, right-click on the Ethernet adapter and select Properties.
Open the Power Management tab in the Properties dialog.
Here, unselect the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power option.
Click OK to save the changes.
Close Device Manager and restart your PC to apply the changes.

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:

Press Win + R to open Run.
Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open Device Manager.
Next, expand the Network adapters section.
Right-click on the Ethernet adapter entry and select Uninstall device.
Confirm the decision and click on Uninstall.

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:

Press Win + I to open Settings.
In the left pane, click on the Network & internet tab.
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Advanced network settings.
Click the Disable button for Ethernet under the Network adapters section.
You’ll notice the Ethernet icon disappear from your taskbar. Wait for a few minutes, then click on the Enable button for Ethernet.
Once the Adapter is active, check if you can access the Internet via Ethernet.

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 on how to update your router’s firmware to 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.