When Ethernet shows connected but internet does not work, the problem is almost always in one of three places: the cable or port, your PC’s network settings, or the router and modem. Let’s check each.

Check the Physical Connection

  • Make sure the Ethernet cable clicks firmly into both the PC and the router.
  • Try a different Ethernet port on the router.
  • If you have a spare cable, swap it in — cables do fail, especially cheaper ones.
  • Check that the port lights on the router and PC are lit (usually green or amber).

Restart the Router and Modem

Unplug both, wait 30 seconds, plug the modem in first and wait 60 seconds, then plug the router in. This resolves a large percentage of wired “no internet” issues.

Release and Renew Your IP Address

Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:

ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew

If the /renew command fails or times out, your PC is not getting a valid IP from the router. This points to a DHCP issue on the router — try restarting it again, or log into the router admin page and confirm DHCP is enabled.

Check the Ethernet Adapter in Windows

  1. Press Win + X and choose Device Manager.
  2. Expand Network adapters and look for your Ethernet adapter.
  3. If there is a yellow warning icon, right-click and choose Update driver.
  4. If the adapter looks fine, right-click it and choose Disable device, wait 10 seconds, then Enable device.

Reset the Network Stack

In an administrator Command Prompt:

netsh int ip reset
netsh winsock reset
ipconfig /flushdns

Restart your computer after running all three.

Check If It Is Just Your PC

Connect another device to the same Ethernet cable or port. If that device gets internet, the problem is specific to your PC. If it also fails, the issue is the router or modem — contact your ISP or ask us for more help.