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ProblemWired link present, Internet access absent

Ethernet connected but no Internet

Windows detects a connected Ethernet link, but Internet access fails. A physical link does not establish that the router has Internet access: separate cable, port, PC and network.

Try this first

1 quick checks · ~3 min

  1. Check the cable and LAN portInspect the Ethernet-specific physical path.

Diagnostic signals

ObservationWi-Fi works on the same network
With the same router, that contrast focuses attention on the Ethernet path; it does not identify a faulty cable or adapter by itself.

Step-by-step solutions

01

Check the cable and LAN port

  • Estimated time: 3 min
  • Easy
  • Low risk

Inspect the Ethernet-specific physical path.

  1. Check that the cable is secure at the PC and a router LAN port, not its Internet/WAN port.

  2. Try a known-working cable. Do not force damaged connectors.

Sources:
02

Compare another connection

  • Estimated time: 3 min
  • Easy

Separate a PC-specific failure from a shared one.

  1. Try Internet access from another device on that router. If possible, also compare Wi-Fi on the same PC.

  2. If all fail, check service status with the provider. If only Ethernet fails, record the cable-swap result.

Sources:
03

Run network diagnostics

  • Estimated time: 5 min
  • Easy
  • Low risk

Keep the result before changing adapters.

  1. Open Settings > Network & internet and inspect Ethernet status.

  2. On Windows 11, use Network and Internet diagnostics in Get Help; on Windows 10, use the network troubleshooter under Status.

Sources:
Next step

Still not working?

If the failure is limited to this adapter, give its maker the diagnostic result and model. Consult the administrator before resetting a managed network or removing VPN or IP settings.

Sources

Documentation behind this guide. Editorial recommendations are identified separately.

Source review: . A documentation review, not a physical hardware test.

Related problems

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Problem

Wi-Fi connected but no internet

Joining Wi-Fi does not guarantee internet access. Compare another device on the same network to separate a PC-specific problem from a local-network or provider-side issue.

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internet
Problem

Internet keeps disconnecting

Connectivity works, then drops again. Record which devices and connection types fail together; that pattern is more useful than repeatedly resetting the network.

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