Why Does My Ethernet Cable Say No Internet? (Easy Fix!)

Why does my Ethernet cable say no internet? If you have trouble getting online, we got you!

“Ethernet cable says ‘No Internet’ can be due to physical connection issues, misconfigured network settings, or problems with network equipment or the internet service provider.

To fix the problem, check the cable’s physical connection, ensure proper network settings, and troubleshoot the network equipment or contact your ISP if necessary.”

Alright, let’s get started! 

Complete Fixes for Why Does My Ethernet Cable Say No Internet

Depending on the cause of the problem, there are different solutions you need to try to fix the Ethernet cable. Follow these carefully for a more efficient troubleshooting experience.

#1: Check your Cable Connections

If you’re experiencing connection issues, check your Ethernet cable first. Ensure it’s securely plugged into your device and router, not bent or damaged.

Here’s how to properly check your connections so you’ll know exactly what next step you need to take:

1. Ensure the Ethernet cable is securely plugged into the port on both ends.
2. Plug the cable into the LAN or Ethernet port, not the WAN or Internet port.
3. Inspect the full length of your cables.
4. If the cable is loose, unplug it and plug it back into the port until it clicks.
5. If the cable is damaged, replace it with a new one.

Note: If you have a spare cable that works, replace your malfunctioning cable to know if you need to get a new one or if there’s something wrong with your hardware. 

#2: Refresh Connections by Power Cycling Your Modem and Router

Power cycling your modem and router will often resolve temporary issues with your connections.

Doing these steps will flush out network bugs and glitches that suddenly cause your Ethernet cable to stop working.

Follow these steps to perform a power cycle:

1. Unplug your modem’s power cable from the outlet.
2. Unplug your router from its source.
3. Wait for at least 2 minutes.
4. Plug the power cable of your modem to the wall outlet.
5. Wait for it to fully power up and connect.
6. Plug in your router.
7. Wait for it to boot up and connect to the internet.
8. Connect your Ethernet cable to check.

You’ll know that your modem and router are connected to the internet correctly since their Internet indicator LED lights are blinking green. The issue is usually with your provider if they blink red or orange.

#3: Enable the Network Adapter on Your Device

There are instances when the network adapter on your computer is disabled.

It can be due to an accident or a software update, but it will prevent any connections to your device when it’s not turned on.

You must check and enable its settings to get your connection back via your Ethernet cable.

Here’s how you do it on a Windows computer:

1. Press Win + X or open the Settings menu.
2. Go to the System menu.
3. Select Device Manager.
4. Locate the Network adapters category and expand it.
5. Choose your Ethernet adapter from the list.
6. Right-click on your adapter.
7. Click on Enable Device.

Follow these steps for Mac users:

1. Click on the Apple menu.
2. Go to System Preferences.
3. Select the Network option, then choose your Ethernet connection.
4. Click Turn Ethernet On.

Note: If your adapter is already activated, disable it first, wait at least 30 seconds, then re-enable it.

After activating your network adapter, you need to plug in your Ethernet cable again and check if you are getting internet access. If not, proceed to the next step below.

#4: Set Your Network and IP Settings to Automatic

Why does it say no internet when I plug my Ethernet cable in, even after enabling my adapter?

At this point, you want to look at your network and IP settings and ensure they’re configured correctly. The quickest way to resolve this would be to set it to automatic.

Here’s how you do it:

For Windows users:

1. Go to your computer’s Settings, then go to Network and Internet.
2. Select the Ethernet option on the left pane.
3. Click on Change adapter options.
4. Right-click on your Ethernet connection, then select Properties.
5. Double-click on TCP/IPv4.
6. Select the Obtain an IP address automatically radio button.
7. Choose the Obtain DNS server address automatically option.
8. Click OK to save your changes.

For Mac users:

1. Go to the Apple menu, then choose System Preferences.
2. Select the Network option.
3. Choose your Ethernet connection on the left pane.
4. Click on Advanced, then the TCP/IP tab.
5. Select the Configure IPv4 pop-up menu, then choose DHCP.
6. Click on OK, then Apply.

#5: Release and Renew Your IP Address

Sometimes, your IP address conflicts with another device in your network. Whenever this happens, you won’t be able to connect to your network, even via an Ethernet cable.

To fix this, you need to release your current IP address and request a new one.

Here’s how to do this and reconnect to the internet:

For Windows users:

1. Go to your computer’s Settings menu.
2. Select System, then Advanced System Settings.
3. Choose Command Prompt (Admin).
4. Type these commands, then press Enter. Do it in this order:
   1. ipconfig /release
   2. ipconfig /renew
   3. ipconfig /flushdns

For Mac users:

1. Go to the Apple menu, then System Preferences.
2. Select Network and choose your Ethernet connection.
3. Click on Advanced, then the TCP/IP tab.
4. Select Renew DHCP Lease.

Tip: After performing these steps, we recommend rebooting your computer to ensure these new settings take effect.

Unplug your Ethernet cable from your computer, then plug it back in again. You should check if you have internet access. If not, proceed to the next solution below.

#6: Temporarily Disable Your Security Software

Sometimes, the cause of your loss of internet connection is that your antivirus software is blocking access.

This happens whenever they detect a potential threat or are not configured correctly.

The way to fix this is to temporarily disable it while allowing your computer to connect to the internet.

Here’s how to disable your antivirus software:

For Windows machines:

1. Open your computer’s Settings, then go to Network and Internet.
2. Select Status from the left pane.
3. Click on Firewall and Network Protection.
4. Choose your network profile as Private Network.
5. Toggle the Microsoft Defender Firewall to Off.

For Mac:

1. Click on the Apple menu, then select System Preferences.
2. Choose Security and Privacy.
3. Select the Firewall tab.
4. Click on the Lock icon.
5. Enter your Mac account password.
6. Select Turn Off Firewall to disable it.

After switching your firewall and antivirus software off, unplug your Ethernet cable and plug it back in to check if it connects to the internet.

Note: Once you get internet on your device, enable your firewall and antivirus software to protect your computer.

#7: Reset Your Computer’s Network Settings

If none of the solutions has worked out for you so far, you want to look at resetting your computer’s network settings.

Corrupted or misconfigured network settings and files can cause this error. Removing these will allow your computer to connect to the internet again.

Windows:

1. Go to your computer’s Settings, then Network and Internet.
2. Select Status from the left pane.
3. Click on the Network Reset option.
4. Choose Reset Now.

Your computer will start the reset process, then restart after completion.

Mac:

1. Click on the WiFi icon in the menu bar, then turn it Off.
2. Go to the Finder icon and select Go, then Go to Folder.
3. Type /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/, then click Go.
4. Choose these files and copy them to your desktop:
   1. com.apple.network.identification.plist
   2. com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist
   3. com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
   4. preferences.plist
   5. networkInterfaces.plist
5. Delete the original files in the SystemConfiguration folder.
6. Restart your computer to force the restart of your network settings.

#8: Use a Third-Party DNS Service

Finally, if none of these solutions worked so far, there’s something wrong with your ISP’s default DNS service.

You want to use a trusted, third-party service like Google or Cloudflare. Here’s how to change your DNS service on your computer.

Windows:

1. Go to your computer’s Settings, then Network and Internet.
2. Select Ethernet on the left pane.
3. Click on Change Adapter Options.
4. Right-click on your Ethernet connection, then Properties.
5. Double-click on TCP/IPv4, then select Use the following DNS server addresses.
6. Enter the DNS addresses you want to use.

Mac:

1. Click on the Apple menu, then System Preferences.
2. Select Network, then your Ethernet connection.
3. Go to Advanced, then click the DNS tab.
4. Select the Add button and enter the DNS addresses you want to use.

If you want to use Google DNS, type 8.8.8.8 as the primary address, then 8.8.4.4 as the secondary. If you want to set Cloudflare’s DNS, enter 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1.

Quick Recap

If you’re still asking why my Ethernet cable says no internet, you need to check your network configuration for errors. You want to power cycle your modem and router to refresh the connection or reset your device’s network settings.

For more network troubleshooting solutions, visit our blog!

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