How to Check Ethernet Cable Connection and Network Status in Windows 11

Learn how to check Ethernet cable connections and network status in Windows 11, identify connection problems, and troubleshoot wired networks.

If your Windows 11 PC is connected to the internet through an Ethernet cable, checking the physical cable and network status is one of the fastest ways to find out why the connection is slow, unstable, or completely unavailable.

An Ethernet problem does not always mean that your internet service is down. The issue can come from a loose cable, a damaged Ethernet cable, the wrong router port, a disabled network adapter, an incorrect network configuration, a driver problem, or a connection that is negotiating at a lower speed than expected.

Windows 11 provides several ways to check your wired network connection. You can use the Settings app for a quick status check, Device Manager to inspect the Ethernet adapter, Command Prompt to check IP information, and PowerShell to view adapter status and link speed.

In this guide, you will learn how to check your Ethernet cable connection and network status step by step, identify common problems, and determine whether the problem is caused by your PC, cable, router, or internet connection.

What You Should Check First

Before changing Windows settings, start with the physical Ethernet connection. A wired network depends on several components working together:

• Your Windows 11 PC or laptop
• The Ethernet network adapter
• The Ethernet cable
• The Ethernet port on the PC
• The Ethernet port on the router or network switch
• Your router or modem
• Your internet service

If any part of this chain has a problem, Windows may show that the Ethernet connection is disconnected or connected without internet access.

Microsoft recommends checking that the Ethernet cable is securely connected to both the Windows PC and the correct Ethernet port on the router. If another cable is available, testing with a different cable can also help determine whether the original cable is defective.

1. Check the Ethernet Cable Physically

The first step is surprisingly simple: inspect the Ethernet cable.

Make sure one end of the cable is firmly connected to the Ethernet port on your PC and the other end is connected to an Ethernet LAN port on your router or network switch.

The connector should click securely into place. If the connector feels loose or falls out easily, the cable or connector may be damaged.

Also inspect the cable for:

• Visible cuts or cracks
• Severe bending or crushing
• Damaged RJ45 connectors
• Loose connector clips
• Signs of wear around the plugs

If possible, test the connection with another Ethernet cable. If the second cable works normally, the original cable is a strong candidate for the problem.

Also make sure you are using the correct port on your router. Ethernet cables for computers and other local devices should normally be connected to a LAN port rather than the router's Internet/WAN port.

2. Check Ethernet Status in Windows 11 Settings

Windows 11 provides a quick way to see whether your computer recognizes the wired connection.

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Select Network & internet.
3. Select Ethernet.
4. Check the connection status shown on the Ethernet page.

If the Ethernet connection is working normally, Windows should indicate that the device is connected to the network and, when internet access is available, connected to the internet.

If Windows reports a problem such as Action needed, No internet, or a disconnected Ethernet connection, select the Ethernet connection to view additional information.

The exact appearance of the Settings interface can change between Windows 11 versions and updates, but the main location remains under Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet.

3. Check Ethernet Network Details

From the Ethernet settings page, you can inspect additional information about the wired connection.

Depending on your Windows 11 version and network configuration, you may see information related to the connection, including IP configuration, network profile, and other adapter details.

This information is useful when diagnosing whether the problem is limited to internet access or whether the PC is failing to communicate with the local network.

For a more detailed guide to identifying your network adapter, see:

How to Check Network Adapter in Windows 11

4. Check the Ethernet Link Speed

Another important check is the current Ethernet link speed.

For example, a modern Gigabit Ethernet connection may negotiate at 1 Gbps, while an older or problematic connection may negotiate at 100 Mbps or lower.

A connection speed lower than expected does not automatically mean your internet service is slow. The limitation may be between your computer, Ethernet cable, router, or network switch.

You can learn more about checking the actual Ethernet link speed in this guide:

How to Check Ethernet Link Speed in Windows 11

You can also check the Speed and Duplex configuration if the connection consistently negotiates at an unexpected speed:

How to Check Speed and Duplex Settings in Windows 11

5. Check the Ethernet Adapter in Device Manager

If Windows does not appear to recognize the Ethernet connection, check whether the network adapter is working correctly.

1. Press Windows + X.
2. Select Device Manager.
3. Expand Network adapters.
4. Find your Ethernet network adapter.

Look for warning icons next to the adapter.

A yellow warning icon can indicate a driver or device problem. A disabled adapter may also prevent Windows from establishing an Ethernet connection.

Right-click the Ethernet adapter to see available options such as:

• Enable device
• Disable device
• Update driver
• Uninstall device
• Properties

Do not uninstall the adapter immediately. First determine whether the adapter is disabled or showing an error.

6. Check Ethernet Status with Command Prompt

Command Prompt provides a fast way to determine whether Windows has received an IP address from the network.

Open Command Prompt and run:

ipconfig

Look for the Ethernet adapter in the output.

A working Ethernet connection will normally show information such as:

• IPv4 Address
• Subnet Mask
• Default Gateway

If the Ethernet adapter does not have a normal IPv4 address, the PC may not be communicating correctly with the router or DHCP server.

For a more detailed configuration report, run:

ipconfig /all

This displays additional information about the Ethernet adapter, including its MAC address, DHCP status, DNS servers, and other network configuration details.

For a complete guide to checking IP information, see:

How to Check IP Address in Windows 11

7. Check the Default Gateway

The default gateway is normally the router or network device that your Windows PC uses to communicate with other networks and the internet.

In Command Prompt, run:

ipconfig

Find the Default Gateway entry under the Ethernet adapter.

For many home networks, the gateway may use a private IP address such as 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, although the actual address depends on your network configuration.

If there is no default gateway when one should be present, the problem may involve DHCP, network configuration, the router, or the Ethernet connection itself.

Read the detailed guide here:

How to Check Default Gateway in Windows 11

8. Test the Router with Ping

Once you know the default gateway, you can test communication between your PC and router.

For example, if your gateway is 192.168.1.1, run:

ping 192.168.1.1

Replace the example address with the actual default gateway shown by ipconfig.

If you receive replies, your PC is communicating with the router at the local network level.

If the ping fails, the problem may be related to the Ethernet cable, network adapter, router port, IP configuration, or another local network issue.

For more troubleshooting examples, see:

How to Ping an IP Address in Windows 11

9. Check Ethernet Adapter Status with PowerShell

PowerShell provides another convenient way to inspect network adapters.

Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run:

Get-NetAdapter

The command displays information about network adapters, including their names, status, and link speed.

To focus on physical adapters, you can use:

Get-NetAdapter -Name * -Physical

For a simpler view of adapter status and link speed, run:

Get-NetAdapter | Select-Object Name, Status, LinkSpeed

This can be particularly useful when Windows Settings does not provide enough information to quickly determine whether the Ethernet adapter is connected.

10. What Does Ethernet Status Mean?

Windows may display different statuses depending on the condition of your wired connection.

Status	What It Usually Means
Connected	The Ethernet adapter has an active network connection.
Disconnected	Windows does not currently detect an active Ethernet connection.
No internet	The PC is connected to the local network but cannot reach the internet.
Action needed	Windows has detected a network issue that may require attention.
Disabled	The network adapter has been disabled in Windows.

These descriptions are useful starting points, but they do not always identify the exact cause. For example, a No internet status can result from a router problem, DNS issue, ISP outage, or incorrect network configuration.

11. Ethernet Connected but No Internet

One of the most common situations is an Ethernet connection that appears to be working but does not provide internet access.

In this situation, check the problem from the inside out.

1. Check the Ethernet cable.
2. Check the router port.
3. Check the Ethernet status in Windows.
4. Run ipconfig.
5. Check the default gateway.
6. Ping the default gateway.
7. Test another device on the same router.
8. Check whether the internet service itself is working.

If other devices connected to the same router also cannot access the internet, the problem is less likely to be specific to your Windows 11 PC.

If other devices work normally but the Windows PC does not, focus on the Ethernet adapter, driver, IP configuration, DNS settings, or Windows network configuration.

12. Ethernet Connected but Speed Is Only 100 Mbps

If your internet plan or local network supports Gigabit Ethernet but Windows reports a 100 Mbps link, do not immediately assume that Windows is limiting your internet speed.

The physical Ethernet link can be limited by several components.

• Ethernet cable quality or damage
• Router or switch port capability
• PC network adapter capability
• Speed and Duplex configuration
• Faulty cable connectors
• Older networking equipment

Try another Ethernet cable and another LAN port on the router if available. Then check the negotiated Ethernet speed again.

If you need to investigate the negotiation settings, use the following guide:

How to Check Speed and Duplex Settings in Windows 11

13. Check Whether the Ethernet Adapter Is Disabled

A disabled network adapter can make an otherwise good Ethernet cable appear to be disconnected.

Open Device Manager > Network adapters and locate the Ethernet adapter.

If the device is disabled, Windows may provide an Enable device option when you right-click it.

After enabling the adapter, wait a few seconds and check the Ethernet status again in Settings.

14. Check the Ethernet Driver

A damaged, incompatible, or outdated network adapter driver can cause connection problems.

Device Manager can be used to inspect the adapter and its driver. If the problem started immediately after a Windows or driver update, the driver may deserve particular attention.

Windows Update may also provide driver updates through optional updates, depending on your hardware and system configuration.

If you are troubleshooting wireless networking instead of Ethernet, you can also use this related guide:

How to Check Wi-Fi Driver Version in Windows 11

15. Restart the Router and Test Again

If the cable and Windows configuration appear normal, restart the networking equipment.

For a typical home network, power off the router and modem if they are separate devices. Wait for a short period, then power them back on and allow them to finish starting up.

Once the router is ready, reconnect or recheck the Ethernet connection on the Windows 11 PC.

If the connection works after restarting the router but fails again later, the problem may require further investigation of the router, firmware, cable, network adapter, or ISP connection.

16. Run Windows Network Troubleshooting

Windows 11 includes network troubleshooting capabilities that can help diagnose common connection problems.

Microsoft recommends using the automated network and internet troubleshooter through the Get Help app for Windows 11 network problems.

If the automated troubleshooting does not solve the problem, continue with manual checks such as the Ethernet cable, adapter status, IP configuration, gateway, and router connection.

17. When Should You Reset Network Settings?

Network reset should generally not be your first troubleshooting step.

A network reset removes installed network adapters and their settings and then reinstalls the adapters after Windows restarts. This can help with persistent configuration problems, but it can also require you to reconfigure certain network-related settings or software.

Before using network reset, try the simpler troubleshooting steps in this guide.

If you have already tested the cable, router, adapter, IP configuration, and driver, you can continue with:

How to Reset Network Settings in Windows 11

Ethernet Troubleshooting Checklist

Use this checklist when your wired connection is not working correctly:

1. Make sure the Ethernet cable is firmly connected.
2. Check both Ethernet connectors for damage.
3. Try another Ethernet cable.
4. Try another LAN port on the router.
5. Check Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet.
6. Check the Ethernet adapter in Device Manager.
7. Run ipconfig.
8. Check the IPv4 address and default gateway.
9. Ping the default gateway.
10. Check the Ethernet link speed.
11. Check Speed and Duplex if the negotiated speed is unexpectedly low.
12. Check the network adapter driver.
13. Restart the router or modem.
14. Test another device on the same network.
15. Use network reset only after simpler solutions have been exhausted.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my Ethernet cable is working in Windows 11?

Open Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet and check the connection status. You can also inspect the Ethernet adapter with Device Manager and use ipconfig or PowerShell to verify network information.

Why does Windows 11 say Ethernet is connected but there is no internet?

The PC may be connected successfully to the router but unable to reach the internet. Check the default gateway, ping the router, test another device, and determine whether the problem is local or related to the internet service.

How can I check my Ethernet speed in Windows 11?

You can check the negotiated link speed through Windows network information or PowerShell. The Get-NetAdapter command can display the adapter's current link speed.

Why is my Ethernet connection only 100 Mbps?

Possible causes include the Ethernet cable, router or switch port, network adapter capability, or Speed and Duplex negotiation. Testing another cable and port is a useful first step.

Can a bad Ethernet cable cause slow internet?

Yes. A damaged or unsuitable cable can prevent the Ethernet connection from negotiating at the expected speed or can cause instability. Testing with a known-good cable can help isolate the problem.

Should I replace my Ethernet cable if Windows says Ethernet is disconnected?

Not immediately. First reseat both connectors, check the router port, inspect the cable, and test another cable if available. This helps determine whether the cable is actually the cause.

Conclusion

Checking an Ethernet connection in Windows 11 should start with the simplest possibilities: the cable, connectors, router port, and Windows connection status. From there, you can inspect the network adapter, IP configuration, default gateway, link speed, and driver.

The most useful troubleshooting approach is to determine exactly where the connection fails. If Windows does not detect the Ethernet link, investigate the cable, port, and adapter. If Windows detects the connection but has no internet access, check the IP address, default gateway, router, DNS, and internet service.

For slow wired connections, checking the negotiated Ethernet link speed and Speed and Duplex settings can reveal whether the connection is operating below its expected capability.

By working through these checks in order, you can usually determine whether an Ethernet problem originates from the physical connection, Windows 11, your network equipment, or the internet service itself.