In an era where we are slowly moving towards wireless connectivity, the importance of wired connectivity is still not lost at all. Ethernet connection has been used as the preferred form of connection for network connectivity due to its stability. It is preferred to use wired ethernet connectivity for servers, download machines, media streaming, and gaming. But sometimes there are issues with Ethernet connection too.
Despite the stable connectivity, the ethernet connection is still not free from errors. Now and then some issues might creep up with a wired ethernet connection. And the reason behind these issues is more than one. So here in this article, we have compiled a guide on all the possible solutions that could fix any problems that you are having with your ethernet connection.
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Initially, we will take a look at all the software fixes that you can try, and then we will move on to the solutions for the hardware causes of this issue too.
Check the drivers:
Sometimes network drivers are not correctly configured on your system. So you will have to check if that is what you are dealing with too.
- Right-click on the Windows(Start) button in the bottom left corner and click on Device Manager.
- Here scroll and find the network adapters section. Then double-click on it to expand it.
- Here find the network adapter you are using for the connection and right-click on it. Then choose properties.
- In the general tab, under Device status, if you see “This device is working properly”, then your network driver for the connection is fine.
- If you see a question mark or an exclamation mark with the adapter, then you need to update the drivers. To do that, go back to the device manager window and right-click on the adapter you are using for connectivity(which has the exclamation mark).
- Then choose the option Update driver and then follow the on-screen instruction to complete the installation.
After the update is complete, check if your ethernet connection issue is resolved or not. If it is still there, then move on to the next fix mentioned below.
Check whether the connection is enabled:
There is an option to disable a connection in the network connection. So check if the connection is enabled or disabled for the ethernet connection you are having issues with.
- Right-click on the Windows(Start) button in the bottom left corner and click on Network Connections.
- Find your connection from the list here and if you that your link is disabled, then right-click on it and choose the option enable.
If it is already enabled, then you can move on to the next fix. If it was disabled and you just enabled it then try using your ethernet connection again. If you still encounter problems, then move to the next potential solution.
Run the Internet connection troubleshooter:
Windows has a default utility called troubleshooter present in Windows 10 that lets you fix common problems with just a few clicks.
- Press and hold Windows Key + I to open up the Windows Settings window.
- Then click on Update & Security.
- Now click on the troubleshooter tab in the left pane of the new window.
- In the right pane, you will see Internet Connections. Click on it and then click on Run the Troubleshooter.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.
Once that is done, try using your ethernet connection again. If the ethernet connection is still having issues, then move on to the next potential solution.
Turn off antivirus, firewall, and VPN software:
Third-party antivirus and firewall programs can sometimes block your internet connection presuming that it is not safe. And if you have a VPN software, then even that might be causing hindrance to your connection. So if you are using an antivirus, or a firewall or a VPN program, then try turning it off or uninstalling it. If the problem with your connection is resolved after that, then you have found the culprit behind your network connection issues. Then use an alternate antivirus, firewall, or VPN program that does not cause you any network issues.
However, if uninstalling these programs did not bring any positive results to your ethernet connection issues, then move on to the next solution mentioned below.
Check your connection details:
It would be best if you made sure that the Network connections settings are set correctly. Otherwise, you will have issues with your ethernet connection.
- Right-click on the Windows(Start) button in the bottom left corner and click on Network Connections.
- Find your connection from the list here and right-click on it. Then choose Properties.
- In the connection properties window, double click on the Internet Protocol Version option.
- Here enter the correct details fo your connection. Most ISPs work fine when Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically is enabled. But check with your provider and ask them whether you need to put any manual values for the connection.
After your connection details are all sorted and set accordingly, you can then close that window and check the connection. If you still experience connection issues with your ethernet connection, then try the next fix.
Reset the network:
This is the final software fix that can try to fix your issues with the ethernet connection. It will reset your entire network settings in your PC, and that might finally fix your network issues too.
- Press and hold Windows Key + I to open up the Windows Settings window.
- Then click on Network & Internet.
- Now click on the status tab in the left pane of the new window.
- In the right pane, you will see Network Reset. Click on it.
- Now click on the Reset Now button.
This network reset will clear out everything saved in your system regarding the network. So you might have to reinstall specific network driver software and even configure them.
Check the cable:
Check if the ethernet cable connected to your system is connected correctly or not. Try removing the connection and connecting again. If that does not work, then try connecting your ethernet wire to a different port in the router, switch, or modem. If you are still having the issues, then try changing the wire too as ethernet wires sometimes degrade quicker than usual.
If after trying all these, you are still having issues with your ethernet connection, then try the next potential solution.
Check the network hardware:
If none of the fixes mentioned above worked out your issues, then the problem is probably with the network hardware. To verify this, try connecting the ethernet wire to a different system. If the connection is not working there too then, it is indeed the connection, and not the device it is connected to. So try changing the router, switch, or modem in your connection and check if the issue is fixed or not. If even this does not work, then contact your internet service provider as the problem could be from their side too. Even if it is not from their side, you can ask them to come and fix the issue for you.
So these are all the possible fixes that you can try to fix the issues with your ethernet connection. If you have any questions or queries about this guide, then comment down below, and we will get back to you. Be sure to let us know which solution solved the issue on your system. Also, be sure to check out our other articles on iPhone tips and tricks, Android tips and tricks, PC tips and tricks, and much more for more useful information.