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Windows 11 network diagnosis

Ethernet Is Not Working in Windows 11

Ethernet troubleshooting should start with the physical link. If neither the PC nor router detects the cable, IP commands and DNS changes cannot help. Prove the cable and port first, then move into Windows.

Reviewed September 13, 2026 · Safety-first troubleshooting · About 8–12 minutes

Read the symptom before changing settings

What you observeWhere to focus
No link lightsTest another known-good cable and router or switch port.
Unidentified networkCheck DHCP, IP assignment and network profile.
Ethernet works after adapter restartDriver or power-state instability is likely.
Wi-Fi works but Ethernet never appearsInspect the Ethernet adapter, dock and manufacturer driver.
ROHITH · DIAGNOSIS PATH

Separate “no physical link” from “link but no internet.” They are different failures.

Ethernet troubleshooting becomes much faster when you first look for the link itself. No link light or a Windows “cable unplugged” state points toward cable, port, adapter or hardware. A valid link with no internet points farther up the stack toward addressing, router, DNS or software.

No link light / cable unpluggedCross-test the cable and router/switch port before changing IP or DNS settings.
Link exists but no valid IPFocus on DHCP, router state and adapter configuration.
Ethernet fails but Wi-Fi worksThe internet connection is probably fine; isolate the wired adapter, cable, driver and port.

Decision rule: Do not troubleshoot DNS when Windows cannot see a physical Ethernet link. Start at the lowest failing layer and move upward.

IT connection · understand the networking layer

This FIX page uses a reusable Windows concept rather than treating the symptom in isolation. Open the matching IT explanation →

Prove the cable, port and adapter link

Reconnect both ends until they click. Check the Ethernet LEDs on the computer, USB adapter, dock, router or switch. Test a known-good cable and a different router port. A damaged cable can link at a lower speed or disconnect when moved.

If Ethernet runs through a USB-C dock, connect the dock directly, remove unnecessary USB devices and install the dock maker’s supported firmware and network driver. Test a direct onboard port when available.

1Check Windows network status

  1. Open Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet.
  2. If Ethernet is disabled under Advanced network settings, enable it.
  3. If Windows reports Unidentified network, continue to the IP check instead of changing DNS randomly.

2Compare with another connection

  1. Connect the PC temporarily through Wi-Fi.
  2. If Wi-Fi also fails, investigate the router or broader Windows network stack.
  3. If Wi-Fi works, focus on the cable, Ethernet adapter, dock and its driver.

Check addressing and refresh the connection

Run ipconfig in Terminal. A 169.254 address indicates that the Ethernet adapter did not obtain an address from DHCP. Restart the router or switch you control, then disable and re-enable the Ethernet adapter.

If the network requires a static IP, do not switch it to automatic without recording the assigned address, gateway and DNS details. Business networks may block unknown devices by policy.

1Run Microsoft’s standard network commands

  1. Open Terminal as administrator.
  2. Run netsh winsock reset, netsh int ip reset, ipconfig /release, ipconfig /renew, then ipconfig /flushdns.
  3. Restart Windows and test. Skip release/renew on a deliberately static configuration.

2Repair the correct Ethernet driver

  1. Open Device Manager > Network adapters.
  2. Update from the computer, dock or adapter manufacturer.
  3. If the problem began after a driver update, use Roll Back Driver when available.

Reinstall or reset only as the final Windows step

Before uninstalling the Ethernet adapter, download its manufacturer driver on another device and copy it locally. After uninstalling, restart; Windows often reinstalls the adapter automatically.

Network reset can help after upgrades or broken adapter configuration, but Microsoft recommends it as a last step. It removes network adapters and returns their settings to defaults.

Important: Do not uninstall a network adapter until you have a backup driver and another way to get online. Network reset may require VPN, Hyper-V or virtual-machine networking to be configured again.
ROHITH · COMMAND CHECK

Inspect the Windows action before you run it.

Tools explains the command, required permission, risk, expected output, and what it can change. You can then return to this troubleshooting step.

Inspect current IP configuration →

Verification gate — prove the fix before moving on

A troubleshooting step is useful only when it changes the original symptom. Use this checkpoint before trying another fix:

  • Confirm the adapter shows connected and receives a normal IP/gateway.
  • Test a local gateway/router address and then an external website.
  • Restart once and confirm the Ethernet connection returns without manual repair.
Stop and escalate when: Stop if the Ethernet port is physically damaged, the adapter repeatedly disappears, the router/switch port also fails with known-good devices, or a managed workplace network requires configuration you do not control.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Ethernet say Unidentified network in Windows 11?

Windows may not have received a valid IP address or gateway, the network may require authentication, or a static configuration may be wrong. Check ipconfig and the network’s requirements.

Can DNS cause the Ethernet cable to show disconnected?

No. DNS operates after a physical link and IP connection exist. A disconnected cable status points to the cable, port, dock, adapter or driver.

Should I uninstall the Ethernet driver?

Only after cable, port, adapter status and update or rollback checks fail—and only after saving the correct manufacturer driver locally.

Related Windows 11 network fixes

Wi-Fi connected but no internetVPN not connectingMobile hotspot not workingWindows 11 troubleshooting hub

Official references

These references were reviewed for the Windows behavior and recovery steps used in this guide.