What to do if WiFi works but Ethernet does not work in Windows 10?
Is your computer not connecting to an ethernet connection even though it is connected to WiFi? This is a common problem for Windows 10 users in many cases, users may find that their Wi-Fi works but not Windows 10 Ethernet and they cannot figure out why or how to fix this problem. When your computer has an ethernet not detected issue, it can cause various issues such as no internet and other connection issues. There are various ways to fix the Ethernet not working issue in Windows 10, such as running the Windows Network troubleshooter or changing the MAC settings. In this guide, we will discuss the causes and methods to resolve Ethernet connection problems on your Windows 10 computer.
How to Fix Wi-Fi Works But Not Ethernet in Windows 10
Keep reading to learn in detail about the solutions to fix Ethernet not working in Windows 10.
Reasons Why Ethernet Not Working in Windows 10
Ethernet is not working on your computer for various reasons; some of the more common causes of this problem are mentioned here.
- A common cause of this error is that the router is not properly connected to your computer.
- Outdated or corrupted network adapter drivers are also common causes of this error.
- Power issues on the computer's motherboard can also cause Ethernet connectivity issues.
- Incorrect MAC address settings on your computer are also related to this issue.
- This problem is also caused by incorrect DNS and TCP/IP settings.
- Various system issues can also cause this problem.
- Basic problems with network settings can also cause Ethernet connection problems.
In this guide, we will look at how to fix Wi-Fi but not Ethernet in Windows 10 issue.
Method 1: Restart your router
One of the first things you can do to fix your Ethernet connection but no internet issues on Windows 10 is to check if your WiFi router is properly connected. Normally Ethernet does not work. The Windows 10 error is caused by an incorrect connection to the router. So make sure you have connected your router correctly to avoid the issue of Ethernet not being detected. Follow the given steps to reboot the router.
1. Press the power button on the back of the router to turn off the device.
2. Now unplug the router/modem power cable and wait for the power to drain completely.
3. Then reconnect the power cable and turn it on after one minute.
Image by Lorenzo Cafaro from Pixabay
4. Wait until the network connection is restored and try logging in again.
Check for faulty or incorrectly connected wires that are causing Ethernet not to work in Windows 10. If you find faulty cables, replace them with new cables.
Method 2: Run the Network Troubleshooter
Windows computers are equipped with various troubleshooting tools, such as the Network Troubleshooter. If your system is having network connectivity issues and no ethernet connection, you can run the network troubleshooter to resolve the issue. A troubleshooter will find the cause of the problem and fix it. Follow our article to fix network connection issues in Windows 10.
Method 3: Update network drivers
Ethernet often fails and doesn't work properly on Windows 10 due to a faulty network adapter driver. This problem can also occur due to an outdated driver on your computer. If the computer drivers in Windows 10 are outdated or corrupted, you may experience various problems with Windows and the computer may malfunction. Windows usually updates drivers automatically; however, if the problem persists, you can manually update the drivers on your computer. You can check out the guide How to update network adapter drivers in Windows 10 for ways to update the network adapter driver on your Windows 10 computer.
Method 4: Reinstall network drivers
If updating your network adapter drivers doesn't fix your Wi-Fi but not Ethernet issue in Windows 10, you can try uninstalling and then reinstalling your network adapter driver to resolve your Ethernet not detected issue. Reinstalling the driver will remove any errors or corrupted driver issues and install the new driver so you can fix the ethernet connection but not the internet issue in Windows 10. To learn about ways to reinstall the driver on your computer, you can check out the How To Uninstall and reinstall drivers in Windows 10.
Method 5: Offload Residual Power
If your computer is faulty and the USB ports are not working properly, you can try the process to offload the residual power from the computer motherboard to fix the Ethernet not working issue in Windows 10. This is an old way of troubleshooting a computer that can also be use to solve ethernet connection problems on your Windows 10 computer. This process removes all static charge from the computer's capacitors, which drains all the computer's power. You can follow these simple steps to safely offload residual power on your computer.
1. Turn off your computer.
2. Remove all devices connected to your computer's ports.
3. Now be sure to unplug the power cable.
Photo by Clint Patterson on Unsplash
4. Also remove the battery from the computer.
5. Now hold down the computer's power button for about 30 seconds and release it to discharge static electricity from the computer.
6. Finally, turn on the computer.
Method 6: Change MAC Address
If your ethernet gets the wrong physical address for your computer, you may run into ethernet not detected problems. To fix Wi-Fi but not Ethernet issue on Windows 10, you can try changing the MAC address on your computer to fix Ethernet connection issue but no Internet issues on Windows 10. Read our guide on how to how to change MAC address.
If this method doesn't fix the Ethernet not working issue in Windows 10, try the next method.
Method 7: Change DNS and TCP/IP settings
DNS and TCP/IP are important settings for establishing a wired or wireless connection on your computer. However, if changes have been made to any of the settings, various connection problems may occur. If you are having problems connecting to Ethernet, you can try to fix it by changing your DNS and TCP/IP settings. You will need to reset your DNS settings in order to complete this method; You can check out How to Change DNS Settings in Windows 10 guide to safely reset DNS settings on your computer.
After you have changed the DNS settings, follow the steps below to change the TCP/IP settings.
1. Press the Windows key, type "Command Prompt" and click "Open".
2. Here, execute the following commands one by one and press the Enter key after each command.
ipconfig /Flushdnsnbtstat –R netsh Int Ip Reset netsh Winsock Reset netsh Winsock Reset Catalog netsh Int Ipv4 Reset Reset.Log
3. Exit the command prompt and restart your computer .
Method 8: Reset network settings
If nothing works, you might consider using a network reset to fix the problem. However, resetting the network is an extreme step and will reset all network settings. As a result, use a network reset only when absolutely necessary to fix the WiFi but not the Windows 10 Ethernet issue. Read our guide on how to reset network settings in Windows 10.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Why can't I connect to Ethernet?
Answer This problem can have various causes, such as a connection problem with the router or faulty cables.
Q2. What is Ethernet?
Answer An Ethernet connection allows you to connect multiple computers to the same local area network. Ethernet allows users to exchange information on a local area network without requiring two computers to transmit data at the same time.
Q3. How to fix Ethernet connection problems in Windows 10?
Answer There are several ways to resolve Ethernet connectivity issues, such as running the network troubleshooter, updating your network adapter drivers, or changing your DNS and TCP/IP settings.
Q4. What Causes Ethernet Not Connecting to Windows 10 Issues?
Answer There can be several reasons for this problem, such as poor connection, outdated drivers, and problems with network settings.
Q5. Should I use a network reset to fix ethernet connectivity issues?
Answer Network reset changes all network settings; this method can be effective. However, it is recommended that you only use this method when any other method fails.
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We hope you found this guide useful and that you were able to resolve the WiFi but not Ethernet issue in Windows 10 on your computer. Let us know which method worked for you. If you have any suggestions or questions, please let us know in the comments section.