Ethernet Connected But No Internet on Windows

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Ethernet Connected But No Internet on Windows

Your PC is plugged into the router with a cable, Windows shows the Ethernet icon, yet nothing loads. You may see No internet access, Unidentified network, or a small globe icon on the taskbar. A wired connection has fewer moving parts than Wi-Fi, so this is usually quick to track down if you check things in the right order.

These steps work on Windows 11 and Windows 10. The Windows steps follow Microsoft's own Ethernet troubleshooting guidance.

First: Is It Only This PC?

Check a phone or another device on the same router.

Nothing has internet - the router or your internet provider is the problem, not the PC. Follow router connected but no internet instead.
Other devices work - the problem is between this PC and the router. Carry on below.

If the PC also has Wi-Fi, connect it to Wi-Fi for a minute. If Wi-Fi works and Ethernet does not, the fault is in the cable, the router port, the PC's port or the Ethernet driver.

Fix 1: Check the Cable and Port

Unplug the Ethernet cable at both ends and plug it back in until the clip clicks.
Look at the lights next to the PC's Ethernet port and the router port. No light at all usually means no link: a bad cable, port or driver.
Try a different cable, and a different numbered LAN port on the router.
If you use a USB or USB-C Ethernet adapter or a dock, plug it directly into the laptop (not through a hub) and try another USB port.

Fix 2: Restart the Router, Then the PC

Unplug the router and the modem (if separate), wait at least 30 seconds, plug the modem in first and wait for its lights to settle, then plug in the router. When the router has started, restart the PC.

Fix 3: Run the Network Troubleshooter

Windows 11: open the Get Help app and run the Network and Internet troubleshooter.
Windows 10: open Settings > Network & Internet > Status and select Network troubleshooter.

It can re-enable a disabled adapter and fix basic address problems on its own.

Fix 4: Read What ipconfig Says

Open Command Prompt (search for cmd) and run:

ipconfig

Find the Ethernet adapter section and look at IPv4 Address:

Starts with 169.254 - Windows could not get an address from the router. Go to Fix 5.
A normal address such as 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x, and a Default Gateway - the PC is on the network. Test the connection itself:

ping 8.8.8.8

If you get replies but websites still do not open, the internet works and name lookup (DNS) is failing - see DNS server not responding. If the ping times out, carry on with Fix 5.

Fix 5: Reset TCP/IP and Renew the Address

Microsoft's recommended network commands reset Windows' network stack and ask the router for a fresh address. They do not delete your files.

Search for cmd, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
Run these one at a time, in this order:

netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns

Restart the PC and test again.

If ipconfig /renew stays stuck or ends with an error, the PC is not getting an address from the router: go back to Fix 1 and Fix 2 and try another cable and port.

Fix 6: Check for a Manual IP Setting

A manual (static) address from an old network, or one typed in by mistake, can leave the cable "connected" with no internet.

Open Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet and select your connection.
Next to IP assignment, check that it says Automatic (DHCP). If it says Manual, select Edit, choose Automatic (DHCP) and Save.
Do the same for DNS server assignment unless you set a DNS server on purpose.

Only keep a manual address if your network administrator gave you one.

Fix 7: Turn Off VPN and Proxy for a Test

A VPN that failed to connect, or an old proxy setting, can block all traffic on an otherwise working cable.

Disconnect or quit any VPN app.
Open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy and, under Manual proxy setup, make sure Use a proxy server is off unless your workplace requires it.

If the internet comes back, reconfigure or update the VPN or security software rather than leaving it off.

Fix 8: Reinstall the Ethernet Driver

Search for Device Manager and open it.
Expand Network adapters, right-click your Ethernet adapter (often named Realtek, Intel or Killer) and choose Uninstall device.
Tick Attempt to remove the driver for this device and select Uninstall.
Restart the PC. Windows reinstalls the adapter and its driver on its own.

If the adapter is missing from the list or shows a warning, get the latest Ethernet (LAN) driver from your PC or motherboard maker's support page - download it on another device and copy it over with a USB stick. Avoid "driver updater" tools.

Fix 9: Network Reset (Last Resort)

Network reset removes and reinstalls all network adapters and sets networking back to defaults. Afterwards you will need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords, and VPN or virtual-switch software may need reinstalling, so write those details down first.

Windows 11: Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset > Reset now.
Windows 10: Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset > Reset now.

The PC restarts to finish the reset.

Still Not Fixed?

If Ethernet still has no internet after a network reset, while other devices on the same router work, test the PC's port with a different known-good cable and router, or try a USB Ethernet adapter. If the adapter works, the built-in port or its hardware is faulty. If the connection works but keeps dropping or is slow, see internet slow on a PC but fine on other devices. For the same problem over wireless, see Wi-Fi connected but no internet.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why does my Ethernet say connected but there is no internet?

The cable link between the PC and the router works, but the PC cannot reach the internet through it. Common causes are a router or provider problem, a PC that did not get a valid address from the router, a DNS problem, a wrong manual IP setting, or a VPN or proxy that is blocking traffic.

What does a 169.254 address on Ethernet mean?

Windows gives itself an address starting with 169.254 when it cannot get one from the router. Restart the router, try another cable or router port, then run ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew in Command Prompt.

Does netsh winsock reset delete any files?

No. It resets Windows network settings to their defaults and needs a restart. It does not touch your files, but some VPN or security software may need to be reinstalled or reconfigured afterwards.

Wi-Fi works but Ethernet does not. What is wrong?

Then the internet connection is fine and the problem is in the wired path: the cable, the router port, the PC's Ethernet port or its driver. Swap the cable and port first, then reinstall the Ethernet adapter driver in Device Manager.