How to Fix Ethernet Not Working in Windows 11 (8 Methods)

If you don’t know, Ethernet is a communication technology that connects devices in a wired local area network. Every laptop or motherboard has an Ethernet port where the Ethernet cable is inserted to connect the device to the Internet.

Compared to WiFi, Ethernet helps you achieve faster internet speed and stability. However, many Windows 11 users have recently faced problems with Ethernet. Many users have claimed their Ethernet connection not working on Windows 11.

Ethernet not working in Windows 11 is a common problem, but there are a few ways to fix it. Below, we have shared some of the best ways to resolve it. Let’s get started.

1. Restart your Windows Computer

If you have just plugged in the Ethernet cable on the port, and the connection is not showing up on your PC, restarting the computer is best.

Restarting Windows 11 PC will likely rule out the temporary bugs on your system, which may prevent Ethernet from not working.

Hence, click the Windows 11 Start button and select the Power Option. On the Power Menu, select ‘Restart’

2. Check the Ethernet Port and Cable

If the Ethernet connection still does not work after the restart, you need to check the Ethernet port and the cable.

First, you need to check the basics. Check whether the Ethernet cable is plugged in properly, inspect its condition, and other things.

Modern PCs have an LED indicator that shows whether the Ethernet connection is active. If the LED light is not blinking, check for a loose connection. The goal here is to rule out the hardware issues.

3. Use a different port on the router

Modern routers have multiple ethernet ports, which allow you to share the internet on multiple devices.

So, if one port shows Ethernet is unavailable, you can try connecting the cable to a different port on your router.

4. Power Reset Your Router

If your router is faulty, you are bound to face connectivity issues. It doesn’t matter whether you are supposed to connect via WiFi or the Internet; if the router is faulty, you must fix it first.

The best way to fix the router issue is by power resetting the router. You simply need to turn off the router and turn it back on after a few minutes. Some router also has a reset switch/button which can be used as well. While this isn’t a sure-shot fix, sometimes it works.

5. Reinstall the Ethernet Drivers

After ruling out the router issue, the next best thing you can do to fix the ethernet not working in Windows 11 is to reinstall the Ethernet drivers.

Maybe your PC is using an outdated Ethernet driver, which is failing to detect the Ethernet connection. Reinstalling the Ethernet drivers can resolve driver-related issues. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Click the Windows Start button and select Device Manager.

2. When the Device Manager opens, expand the Network Adapters.

3. Now right-click on the Network adapter you are using and select Uninstall Device.

4. Once uninstalled, you need to restart your Windows 11 computer.

Make sure your Ethernet cable is plugged in as you restart your computer. That’s it! After the restart Ethernet connection will possibly work on Windows 11.

6. Run the Network Troubleshooter

Maybe your Ethernet connection is all fine, but you have internet problems, which is why Windows 11 is not detecting the Ethernet connection. You can easily rule out network-related issues just by running the Network troubleshooter in Windows. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Click the Windows 11 Start button and select Settings.

2. On Settings, click on the System tab on the left side.

3. On the right side, click the Troubleshoot button.

4. Next, click on the Other trouble-shooters option.

5. On the other trouble-shooters screen, click the Run button beside the Network Adapter.

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process. Once the troubleshooting completes, restart your Windows 11 computer.

7. Make Changes to the Ethernet Adapter’s Power Management Settings

Windows 11 has the ability to turn off the connected devices which aren’t active for a while. This feature is supposed to save battery life and reduce the power consumption.

You need to make changes to the Ethernet Adapter’s power management settings to fix this issue.

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the RUN dialog box. Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter.

2. Expand the Network adapter tree, right click on your Ethernet card and select Properties.

3. Switch to Power Management and uncheck the ‘Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power’ option.

4. Once done, click OK.

8. Disable the Proxy Server Settings 

If Windows 11 is already set to use proxy service instead of LAN, the Ethernet connection won’t work. Hence, you must ensure the Proxy settings are disabled to enable the Ethernet connection again. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Press the Windows Key + R button on your keyboard. This will open the RUN dialog box.

2. On the RUN dialog box, type inetcpl.cpl and press the Enter button.

3. On the Internet Properties, switch to the Connections tabs and click the LAN settings button at the bottom.

4. Ensure that the use of a proxy server for your LAN option is unchecked in the LAN settings. Once done, click the Ok button and close the Internet Properties app.

After making the changes, restart your Windows 11 computer and check whether the issue has been fixed.

9. Perform Network Reset

If nothing worked for you, the ultimate option is to perform a network reset. This will replace all user-made settings with the default ones.

This will also reinstall all your network adapters, possibly fixing the ‘Ethernet not working in Windows 11’ issue. Here’s how to perform a network reset.

1. Click the Windows 11 Start button and select Settings.

2. On Settings, switch to the Network & internet button on the left side.

3. Next, on the right side, click on Advanced Network Settings.

4. On the Advanced Network Settings, click on Network Reset.

4. On the next screen, click the ‘Reset Now‘ button to reset all your Network adapters.

After the reset, make sure to reboot your computer. This will possibly resolve Ethernet not working in Windows 11 problem.

Also read: Windows 11 ISO Free Download Full Version

These are the few best ways to fix the Ethernet not working issue in Windows 11. If you need more help resolving Ethernet issues on Windows 11, let us know in the comments below. Also, if the article helped you, share it with your friends.