5 Ways to Fix Ethernet Connection Not Working on Windows 11

Quick Fixes

• Disable the Ethernet connection from Windows Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings, and re-enable it.
• Reset all network settings on Windows 11 from Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset.

Basic Fixes

• Check the Ethernet port and cable: Inspect the Ethernet plug and cable for wear and tear. Also, most PCs have an LED in their Ethernet port to indicate an active connection. If it isn’t blinking or turning on, grab a new Ethernet cable.
• Switch to another port: An existing issue with your router’s Ethernet port might prevent establishing the connection. Pull out the cable from the existing Ethernet port and plug it back into a different one.
• Update or reinstall the Ethernet drivers: Press the Windows key, search Device Manager, and click to open it. Expand Network adapters, right-click Ethernet, and select ‘Update driver’. Alternatively, select ‘Uninstall device’, and reboot your PC to automatically install the compatible Ethernet drivers.

Fix 1: Disable and Enable Ethernet

Disabling and enabling the Ethernet connection manually on Windows 11 fixes existing glitches and misconfigurations, resulting in its error.

Step 1: Press the Windows + I shortcut to open Settings, select Network & internet from the left sidebar, and click Advanced network settings.

Step 2: Click Disable next to Ethernet to turn it off. Wait a few seconds, and click Enable to re-activate it.

Fix 2: Run the Network and Internet Troubleshooter

Windows 11 comes with an in-built network troubleshooter to resolve Ethernet connectivity issues. Here’s how you can use it:

Step 1: Open Windows Settings (check the above steps), select System from the sidebar, and click Troubleshoot.

Step 2: Select Other troubleshooters.

Step 3: Click Run next to Network and Internet and follow the on-screen instructions to resolve Ethernet issues.

Fix 3: Perform a Network Reset

If the in-built network troubleshooter doesn’t resolve the Ethernet issue, run the Network Reset tool on Windows 11 to reinstall all your network adapters (including Ethernet) and set other network components back to their default settings.

Note: Resetting the network removes all networking software such as VPN clients and virtual switches, and you’ll have to configure them again.

Step 1: Select Network & internet from the Windows Settings app’s sidebar, and click Advanced network settings.

Step 2: Select Network reset under ‘More settings’.

Step 3: Click Reset now to perform a network reset on your Windows 11 system.

Fix 4: Adjust Power Management for Ethernet Adapter

By default, Windows 11 automatically turns off the Ethernet connection to save power after a certain duration of inactivity. Disable it using the Device Manager app to get consistent Ethernet connectivity.

Step 1: Press the Windows key, search Device Manager, and click to open it.

Step 2: Expand Network adapters, right-click the Ethernet adapter, and open its Properties.

Step 3: Switch to the Power Management tab, uncheck ‘Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power‘, and click OK to apply changes.

Fix 5: Disable Proxy Server for LAN

When your PC uses a proxy service instead of LAN, you may face issues with the Ethernet connection. Disable the proxy settings to fix the Ethernet connection not working issue.

Step 1: Open the Run dialog using the Windows + R shortcut, type ‘inetcpl.cpl‘, and press Enter.

Step 2: Select the Connections tab, and click LAN settings under ‘Local Area Network (LAN) settings’.

Step 3: Uncheck ‘Use a proxy server for your LAN‘, and click OK to save and apply changes.