How to Fix Ethernet Not Connecting: Step-by-Step Guide to Wired Network Issues

Although a wire connection is usually faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi, it can cause great annoyance if your Ethernet is not connecting. There are various ways to troubleshoot and resolve problems whether your computer isn’t identifying the connection or your internet is totally down.

This article will walk you through LAN troubleshooting and assist to fixing cable problems possibly generating the problem.

Common Reasons Why Your Ethernet Is Not Connecting

Before jumping into solutions, let’s understand what might be causing your Ethernet not connecting issue:

• Loose or damaged cables: Connections may fail from a broken Ethernet cable.
• Incorrect network settings: Connectivity may be denied by mis configured IP or DNS settings.
• Router or modem problems: Disruption could result from an obsolete firmware or damaged port.
• Driver issues: Wired connection failures might result from either missing or outdated network drivers.
• ISP problems: Your internet supplier may be having network faults.

Now, let’s go through step-by-step troubleshooting to fix your wired connection.

Step 1: Check Your Ethernet Cable

The first thing to check is whether your cable issues are causing the problem:

• Make sure the Ethernet cable is securely plugged into both your computer and the router/modem.
• Try using a different cable to rule out any physical damage.
• Check for visible signs of wear, such as bent or frayed cables.

If changing the cable doesn’t fix the issue, move on to the next step.

Step 2: Restart Your Router, Modem, and Computer

Restarting your network devices can refresh your wired connection:

1. Turn off your router and modem.
2. Unplug them for thirty seconds or so.
3. Restart your pc.
4. Turn on the modem and router after plug-in them again.

This can clear temporary glitches affecting your LAN troubleshooting process.

Step 3: Try a Different Ethernet Port

Your router or computer might have a faulty Ethernet port. To check:

• On your router or switch, plug the Ethernet cable into an other port.
• See whether another gadget works by trying connecting it with the same cable.

If one port isn’t working, your router may have a hardware issue.

Step 4: Update or Reinstall Network Drivers

If your Ethernet is not connecting, outdated drivers could be the culprit. To update them:

For Windows Users:

1. Open Device Manager (Press Win X, then select Device Manager).
2. Expand Network Adapters and find your Ethernet adapter.
3. Right-click and choose Update driver.
4. Select Search automatically for drivers and install any updates.

For Mac Users:

• Go to System Preferences > Network.
• Select your Ethernet connection and click Advanced.
• If needed, remove and re-add the Ethernet configuration.

Step 5: Check IP and DNS Settings

Misconfigured network settings can cause wired connection problems. To fix them:

For Windows:

1. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet.
2. Click Change adapter options.
3. Right-click on your Ethernet connection and choose Properties.
4. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
5. Ensure Obtain an IP address automatically is selected.

For Mac:

1. Go to System Preferences > Network.
2. Select Ethernet and check if it’s set to DHCP.

This helps reset your LAN troubleshooting settings.

Step 6: Check for ISP Issues

If your wired connection is still not working, your internet provider might be facing disruptions.

• See the outage reports on your ISP’s website or on social media.
• Ask your ISP whether there is a service problem.
• See whether a network-wide issue exists by trying connecting another device using the same Ethernet wire.

Step 7: Reset Your Network Settings

If nothing else works, resetting your network settings may fix Ethernet not connecting issues.

For Windows:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.

Type the following commands, pressing Enter after each:
pgsql
CopyEdit
netsh winsock reset

netsh int ip reset

ipconfig /release

ipconfig /renew

ipconfig /flushdns

1. Restart your computer.

For Mac:

• Go to System Preferences > Network > Ethernet.
• Click Advanced, then Renew DHCP Lease.

This will refresh your network configurations.

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