Are you having trouble connecting to the internet via Ethernet, but your Wi-Fi is working just fine? Don’t worry; you’re not alone.
Many people use Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi because it is generally more reliable and offers faster speeds. But sometimes, while the Wi-Fi is working perfectly fine, the ethernet might not work due to various reasons. Many users experience this problem, and it can be a real hassle to try and fix.
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In this blog post, we will discuss some of the most common causes of this issue and how to fix them.
Why Is Ethernet Not Working but Wi-Fi Is?
The most common reasons why Ethernet is not working while Wi-Fi is are:
- Faulty or disconnected cables: If the cable is not securely connected to both devices, or if the cable itself has gone bad, it may be causing your Ethernet connection problems.
- Incorrect network settings: It’s possible that the settings for your Ethernet connection have become corrupted. This can cause issues with connectivity.
- Incorrect Ethernet settings: You may have set up the Ethernet connection incorrectly in your device’s settings.
- Outdated network driver or firmware: If your device’s hardware is not up to date, it can cause strange issues with internet connections.
- Network adapter conflict: If a computer has more than one network adapter installed and enabled, this can cause conflicts with the Ethernet connection.
- 3rd party software interference: Antivirus software, in particular, can interfere with an Ethernet connection.
- Virus attack: If there is a virus or malware on your device, it can cause Ethernet connections to be unstable.
How to Fix Ethernet Not Working but Wi-Fi Is Issue
- Check Your Ethernet Cable Connection
- Restart Your Computer and Network Hardware
- Update Your Network Drivers and Software
- Run Network Adapter Troubleshooter
- Try Troubleshooting Commands
- Update Windows
Check Your Ethernet Cable Connection
First, check to make sure your Ethernet cable is fully plugged in. If it’s not securely connected, you won’t be able to access the internet.
Make sure your cables are undamaged, and check for any loose connections. If you’re still having problems, try using a different Ethernet cable to see if the issue is with the adapter or cable rather than your system.
Restart Your Computer and Network Hardware
The simplest way to fix any problems with your Ethernet connection is by restarting both your network hardware and computer.
First, shut down or turn off your computer. Then, unplug your router and any other network hardware you have in place. After a few minutes, plug them back in one by one and turn them all on.
This can help clear out any issues with your network hardware that could be causing problems with your Ethernet connection.
Update Your Network Drivers
If restarting your network hardware hasn’t fixed the problem, another simple solution is to update your network drivers. You can do this by heading to your device manufacturer’s website and downloading the latest driver files. Or you can follow these steps to update the driver from Device Manager:
- Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.
- Expand the Network Adapters
- Right-click on the WiFi adapter and select Update driver.
- Similarly, update all the Network Cards one by one.
If you find it difficult to update the drivers manually, you can get a dedicated driver updater program that would keep your system drivers updated.
Next, check for any software updates from Windows 11. This includes both system updates and third-party programs that could be having an impact on your Ethernet connection.
Run Network Adapter Troubleshooter
If you’re still having issues with your Ethernet connection, you can use the built-in troubleshooter tool to automatically detect and fix any potential problems with your network adapter.
Windows 11 comes with excellent troubleshooting features. When trying to fix any Windows OS issue, the first step should always be to use this inbuilt troubleshooter. Since our current problem is related to Network Adapter, we will initiate the Network Adapter Troubleshooter.
To run Windows 11 Network Adapter Troubleshooter, follow these steps:
- Launch Windows 11 Settings and switch to the System tab.
- Under System Settings, scroll down and select Troubleshoot.
- On the next page, click on Other Troubleshooters.
- Look for the Network Adapter troubleshooter and click on Run.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting.
Try Troubleshooting Commands
If none of the above steps work, there are a few troubleshooting commands you can run to try and find and fix the problem.
- Launch Command Prompt with the Administrator Rights.
- Type or copy/paste the following commands one by one and hit the enter key.
- ipconfig /release
- ipconfig /renew
- netsh winsock reset
- netsh int ip reset
- ipconfig /flushdns
- ipconfig /registerdns
- netsh int tcp set heuristics disabled
- netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled
- netsh int tcp set global rss=enabled
- netsh int tcp show global
- Restart the system
These commands are meant to renew the IP address, reset Winsock, Flush DNS cache, and reset TCP/IP.
Update Your Windows 11 System
An outdated OS is a common cause of issues with Ethernet connections. Make sure that your version of Windows 11 is up to date and that all available updates have been installed.
To update Windows 11, follow these steps:
- Open Windows 11 Settings.
- On the left pane, switch to the Windows Update tab and click on Check for updates on the right.
- After the latest updates are finished downloading, click on Install now.
- Restart your device.
Summing Up
It can be extremely frustrating when your Ethernet connection isn’t working while your Wi-Fi works just fine. However, with the help of this article, you should be able to troubleshoot and fix the issue quickly. If these tips don’t help, contact an IT professional for further assistance.
The most common reason for this issue is a faulty or disconnected cable.
You can usually update your drivers and software by going to your device’s manufacturer’s website and downloading the latest version. Alternatively, you can use third-party software such as Driver Booster to do this for you automatically.
If the troubleshooting commands don’t work, try restarting your computer and network hardware. You may also need to update your Windows operating system or contact an IT professional for further assistance.
Yes, a virus or malware infection can interfere with your internet connection and make it unstable. Make sure to install antivirus software and regularly scan your system for any malicious files.
Peter is an Electrical Engineer whose primary interest is tinkering with his computer. He is passionate about Windows 10 Platform and enjoys writing tips and tutorials about it.
