When Windows 11 says Ethernet is connected but there is no internet, the cable has usually reached the local network but one step beyond it is failing. Check the link lights and another device first, then inspect the IP address, router, and DNS path. This order tells you whether to replace a cable, fix the adapter, restart the router, or contact the ISP.
If WiFi on the same PC also fails, use our WiFi connected but no internet guide to compare the whole device with the wired branch below.
What “connected” actually tells you
| What Windows shows | First comparison | Likely area |
|---|---|---|
| Ethernet cable connected, no internet | Check another device on the same router port | Router, ISP, or IP lease |
| No Ethernet option or no link light | Try another cable and port | Cable, port, adapter, or driver |
| Only websites fail but local devices work | Check gateway and DNS details | DNS, proxy, VPN, or upstream service |
| Internet works on WiFi but not Ethernet | Compare the wired adapter settings | Ethernet adapter, cable, or router port |
1. Check the cable, link lights, and router port
Push the Ethernet plugs fully into the PC and router. Look for a link light on the computer’s port, USB adapter, or router port. Try a known-good cable and a different LAN port on the router. Do not use the router’s Internet or WAN port for a computer unless your setup specifically requires it.
If another computer works from the same cable and port, keep the router and ISP out of the first troubleshooting branch. If nothing gets a link on that port, restart the router normally and check whether the port has been disabled or assigned to a separate network.
2. Run Windows 11’s network troubleshooter
Microsoft recommends starting a Windows 11 Ethernet investigation with the automated Network and Internet troubleshooter in the Get Help app. Let it finish and note whether it reports a missing adapter, an IP configuration problem, or a gateway issue. The result is a clue, not proof that every setting has been repaired.
Also open Settings, Network & internet, Ethernet and confirm that the adapter is enabled. A work VPN, virtual machine, or security product can add adapters and routes that change which connection Windows uses.
3. Check the IP address and default gateway
Open the Ethernet connection details. A normal local connection should show an IPv4 address, a default gateway, and DNS servers. An address beginning with 169.254, or a blank gateway, means Windows did not receive a normal address from the router.
Restart the router and reconnect the cable before entering manual values. If you are comfortable with Command Prompt, ipconfig displays the adapter address and gateway. Compare the Ethernet section with a device that works on the same network. Do not copy a static IP from a forum without knowing your router’s address range.
4. Separate DNS from the wired connection
If Windows has a valid IP and gateway but domain names do not open, test a second browser and check whether a VPN, proxy, or security filter is active. A temporary automatic DNS setting can show whether a custom resolver is the problem. Keep any work or school security profile unchanged unless its administrator tells you to modify it.
If a direct address works but ordinary website names do not, the link to the router may be healthy while DNS is not. Record the result and compare another device before switching to a public resolver.
5. Update or reinstall the exact Ethernet driver
Open Device Manager and expand Network adapters. Look for a warning icon, a disabled Ethernet adapter, or a driver name that appeared after a Windows update. Download a driver only from the computer, motherboard, or adapter manufacturer’s support page for the exact model and Windows version. Avoid generic driver sites and do not uninstall the only working network path without a copy of the driver.
If the adapter disappears after a restart, check the hardware switch, USB connection, BIOS or UEFI setting, and the adapter manufacturer’s documentation. A missing adapter is different from an adapter that has no internet route.
6. Check router mode, isolation, and parental controls
Some routers assign different rules to guest or isolated ports. Confirm that the Ethernet cable is in the main LAN and that the device is not blocked by an access-control list, schedule, or parental-control profile. If the PC is behind a second router or switch, test it directly at the main router to remove one device from the chain.
7. Reset network settings only at the end
Windows Network reset removes and reinstalls network adapters and returns their settings to defaults. Microsoft notes that you may need to reinstall VPN clients or configure virtual switches afterward. Save those details first, and use reset only after the cable, port, adapter, IP, DNS, and router comparisons have been completed.
When to contact the ISP
Contact the ISP when multiple devices lose internet from the router, the modem cannot obtain service, or Ethernet and WiFi fail together. Tell support whether the router has a local link, whether it assigns an IP and gateway, and whether another device works. Those observations are more useful than saying only “Ethernet is connected.”
Quick checklist
- Try a known-good cable and router LAN port.
- Compare another device on the same connection.
- Run the Windows 11 Network and Internet troubleshooter.
- Check the Ethernet IP address, gateway, and DNS.
- Pause VPN or proxy only for a controlled test.
- Check the exact adapter driver and Device Manager status.
- Test directly at the main router.
- Use Network reset only after recording VPN and virtual-switch settings.
