PC Ethernet Not Working? How to Fix It (2026)

A wired connection is supposed to feel boringly reliable, so a dead Ethernet port on a Windows PC is maddening. Start with the cable and router port, then move into Windows settings, drivers, and reset tools in the order that solves the most common failures first. The steps below use current Windows guidance for 2026 and avoid retired MSDT troubleshooter methods.

1. Check the cable and router port first

Start here: the fastest Ethernet fix is still the physical connection. A cable that looks plugged in can sit loose enough to break the link.

1. 1.Push the Ethernet cable firmly into the Ethernet port on your PC.
2. 2.Check the router end and plug the cable into a LAN or Ethernet port, not the Internet or WAN port.
3. 3.Try another Ethernet cable.
4. 4.For a laptop, dock, or USB Ethernet adapter, unplug the adapter, reconnect it, and test again.

If another PC works on the same cable, troubleshoot the original PC. If no PC works on that wired connection, troubleshoot the router, cable, adapter, or internet service.

2. Restart the modem and router cleanly

1. 1.Unplug the router power cable.
2. 2.Unplug the modem power cable.
3. 3.If the modem lights stay on, remove the modem backup battery.
4. 4.Wait at least 30 seconds.
5. 5.Reconnect the modem power and wait for the lights to stop blinking.
6. 6.Reconnect the router power.
7. 7.Wait a few minutes, then try Ethernet again.

Do a full power cycle before changing deeper Windows settings, and use that exact order. It resets the home-network side of the connection while leaving Windows untouched.

3. Open Ethernet status in Windows

Check what Windows sees at Start > Settings > Network & internet, then read the status at the top of the screen. If Windows shows Action needed, select Ethernet to open the Ethernet connection settings.

To isolate the fault, connect the PC to Wi-Fi if the router has Wi-Fi, connect another Windows PC to the same Ethernet network, or test with a spare USB-to-Ethernet adapter.

4. Run Get Help network diagnostics

Current Windows 11 builds use the Get Help app for network troubleshooting.

1. 1.Open Get Help.
2. 2.Select the Search bar and enter connect to network and internet.
3. 3.Select Run network diagnostics.
4. 4.Complete the troubleshooting steps shown by Windows.

Skip older instructions that launch legacy network troubleshooters or MSDT commands. Microsoft retired that path, so Get Help is the current Windows 11 route.

5. Put IP assignment back on automatic

A bad static IP address, subnet mask, gateway, or DNS entry breaks Ethernet even when the cable is fine, so set the connection back to DHCP at Start > Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet. Select the Ethernet network, choose Edit next to IP assignment, then under Edit IP settings, select Automatic (DHCP) and save the change.

Use manual IPv4 only when you have the exact IP address, Subnet mask, Gateway, Preferred DNS, and Alternate DNS values for your network.

6. Disconnect blocking VPN and proxy settings

• For VPN: select the Network, Volume, or Battery icon on the taskbar, choose VPN, then disconnect the active VPN. You can also go to Start > Settings > Network & internet > VPN and review the connection there.
• For proxy: open Start > Settings > Network & internet > Proxy. Under Automatic proxy setup, use Automatically detect settings for a normal home setup. Next to Use setup script, select Set up and turn it off or correct the script address. Next to Use a proxy server, select Set up, turn it off or correct the Proxy IP address and Port, then select Save.

VPN and proxy settings sit directly in the path between Ethernet and the web, so check them before replacing drivers. On a managed work or school PC, contact IT if proxy, VPN, firewall, driver, or adapter controls are enforced and cannot be changed.

7. Repair the Ethernet driver

Move to drivers when Ethernet stopped after an update, the adapter appears with an error, or the adapter is missing from normal network screens.

1. 1.Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
2. 2.Expand Network adapters.
3. 3.Right-click the Ethernet adapter and select Update driver.
4. 4.Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
5. 5.If Windows offers it, select Search for updated drivers on Windows update.

Also run Windows Update from Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. For optional driver updates, open Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates, select the relevant Ethernet or network driver, choose Download and install, then restart.

If Windows Update does not have the right driver, install the official driver from your PC, motherboard, dock, USB adapter, or Ethernet chipset maker. Use Dell support for Dell PCs, Microsoft Surface drivers and firmware for Surface devices, Intel's Ethernet Adapter Complete Driver Pack for supported Intel adapters, and Realtek's PCIe or USB Ethernet driver pages for supported Realtek controllers.

If the problem started right after a driver update, right-click the Ethernet adapter in Device Manager, open Properties, select the Driver tab, choose Roll Back Driver, pick a reason, select Yes, and restart if prompted.

8. Reset the Windows network stack

1. 1.Search the taskbar for Command prompt.
2. 2.Select Run as administrator, then choose Yes.
3. 3.Run netsh winsock reset.
4. 4.Run netsh int ip reset.
5. 5.Run ipconfig /release.
6. 6.Run ipconfig /renew.
7. 7.Run ipconfig /flushdns.

Use the command repair when Windows still cannot get Ethernet online after the cable, router, IP settings, VPN, proxy, and driver checks.

For a fuller Windows 11 reset, go to Start > Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset, select Reset now, choose Yes, and wait for the PC to restart. This removes and reinstalls network adapters and resets networking settings. Afterward, you might need to reinstall and set up VPN client software or Hyper-V virtual switches if you use them.

9. Fix adapter status and power settings

Finish with the adapter itself by opening Device Manager, expanding Network adapters, right-clicking the Ethernet adapter, selecting Properties, and reading Device status.

• For Code 22, use Action > Enable Device and complete the wizard.
• For Code 45, reconnect the Ethernet hardware.
• For Code 29, restart the PC, enter BIOS or UEFI using the key shown at startup or documented by the PC maker, enable the onboard LAN or Ethernet controller, save, and restart.

If Ethernet drops after sleep or loses link repeatedly, open the adapter Properties page, select Power Management, clear Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power, and choose OK. If the adapter offers it, open the Advanced tab and set Energy Efficient Ethernet, EEE, or the similar power-saving option to Disabled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Wi-Fi work but Ethernet does not on my PC?

Wi-Fi working means the internet service is active, so check the wired side: Ethernet cable, router LAN port, PC Ethernet adapter, USB Ethernet adapter, driver, IP assignment, proxy, VPN, and adapter power settings.

Should I use Network reset for Ethernet problems?

Use Network reset after checking the cable, router, Ethernet status, IP assignment, VPN, proxy, and drivers. It removes and reinstalls network adapters and resets networking settings.

What should I do if my Ethernet adapter is missing in Device Manager?

Reconnect the hardware first, especially with docks and USB Ethernet adapters. For onboard Ethernet, enable the LAN controller in BIOS or UEFI, then install the correct driver from the PC, adapter, or chipset maker.

Can Windows 10 users follow these Ethernet fixes?

Many Device Manager, driver, command, proxy, VPN, and Ethernet checks apply to Windows 10 PCs still in use. Microsoft consumer support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025, and Windows 11 uses the current Get Help troubleshooting path.