Why Is My Ethernet Not Working But WIFI Is?(5 Easy Fixes) 

Ethernet is a basic need for many people today since it’s a secure and convenient means of communication among co-workers or friends within a restricted geographical area. If yours isn’t working, but the WIFI is, you can disable WIFI to fix it. If it doesn’t, troubleshoot for the underlying problems. 

So, why is my Ethernet not working, but WIFI is? The most probable reasons are viruses, missing or corrupted drivers, disabled connections, faulty network cables, incorrect connection details, and hardware and operating system (OS) issues. 

Your Ethernet may not be working due to some or all the above reasons. You can fix each of them without much difficulty by following tried-and-tested steps. Let’s see more on this below. Check out the list of the most reliable Ethernet cables on Amazon now!

Reasons Why Ethernet is Not Working But WIFI Is 

As already mentioned, several reasons can cause this problem. We look into the reasons in detail below. 

Viruses

Viruses can block any network connection on your machine. If you have installed antivirus, it could be ineffective, or a virus might have tricked it into blocking the network. 

Faulty or Missing Ethernet Drivers

For Ethernet to work, you must have installed up-to-date and compatible drivers. If you uninstalled them, WIFI can work but not the Ethernet. Sometimes, viruses can corrupt these drivers, making them inefficient. 

Disabled Connection

If the network is disabled, you can’t use it. Navigate to “Local Area Connection” and see whether the network is connected. If it says “Not Connected,” that’s the reason for the error.  You can fix it and continue troubleshooting, if necessary (More on how to fix it in the next section). 

Malfunctioned Cables

Faulty cables can cause this. Check under “Network Connections” to see the connection status. If it says “Network cable unplugged,” your network card can’t identify if you’ve connected a cable. Ensure the cable is correctly connected to the router, modem, or switch on one side and the Ethernet port on the other. You can try a different port. If it works, the cable has malfunctioned. 

Wrong Connection Details

 You can be required to input your connection details manually. If you don’t have the correct ones, your Ethernet won’t function. 

Operating System and Hardware Issues

If you’ve followed the above steps and nothing seems to work, your operating system might be the problem. You can boot from a different OS.  If that works, the problem probably lies in the OS. If it doesn’t, then your hardware is probably the problem. 

How to Fix Ethernet is not Working But WIFI Is Issue 

You can fix all the above causes of Ethernet is not working but WIFI issue with ease. Discover what you need to do to address each of them below. 

1. Remove Viruses

Viruses should never have access to your computer due to their destructive nature.  Install an efficient antivirus with advanced protection features if you haven’t done so already. 

After doing that, use it to scan the computer and follow the instructions to delete the viruses. 

2. Download and Install Ethernet Drivers Automatically

If you uninstalled the drivers, allow your machine to reinstall them automatically. You can use an automatic tool like DriverFix to hasten the process if you are using a Microsoft Windows computer.

This protects you against the risk of selecting the wrong drivers from the extensive online database. These drivers can act like viruses and cause a series of malfunctions. 

3. Ensure Ethernet Connection is Enabled

To enable the Ethernet connection, you can follow this: 

  1. Right-click on the start and move on to “Local Area Connection.”
  2. Check whether it says “Not Connected.” If so, proceed to the next step.
  3. Right-click on it and select “Enable.”
  4. Give it a few seconds to see if the network works.
  5. Check the Ethernet Cable and Ports

If you determined that the cable is faulty during the troubleshooting stage, replace it. You might have discovered whether the ports are working or not by swapping cables. You can repair the ports or use a functional one in the meantime. 

4. Provide the Correct Connection Details

 Enter the details of your connection. To do so, follow this: 

  1. Right-click on Ethernet connection and go to “Properties.” 
  2. Double-click on the “Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4)”
  3. Enter your connection details

Note that you find “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).” It’s an advanced version of the common one we’ve provided above. Both of them work well. 

5. Contact Professionals

We’ve seen above that you can tell whether you’re experiencing OS or hardware issues. Sometimes, what you think is an OS issue can be a network-related issue.

However, installing a new OS might solve it once and for all. It’s vital to get the latest version of your OS, as most of them come with all the core drivers. If you can’t install a new OS, you can learn more online for free or seek the help of an expert. 

What if you suspect hardware issues? The same applies here. If you’re not an expert computer repair technician, seek professional guidance. 

When I Plug my Ethernet Cable in Nothing Happens, What to Do? 

When you plug your Ethernet cable in and nothing happens, it could be due to one or more of the reasons mentioned above. For example, your Ethernet cable or the ports on your computer could have malfunctioned.  Or viruses could have infected your machine. 

Others are your drivers have malfunctioned, the network is disabled, or your connection details are incorrect. It could be that your machine has developed hardware issues, your virtual private network (VPN) needs to be uninstalled or disabled, and the likes. 

What should you do? Use a reliable antivirus to remove the viruses, install the latest Ethernet drivers, and enable your connection. If that doesn’t work, verify whether you’ve provided the correct connection details, turn off your antivirus, and visit a computer technician. Before doing that, you reset your Ethernet, as a matter of last resort, if you can. 

How Do I Reset My Ethernet? 

To reset your Ethernet, do the following: 

  1. Navigate to“Settings.”
  2. Select “Network & Internet” and proceed to “Status.”
  3. Locate Network reset and click on “Reset now.”
  4. Click on “Yes.”

Remember that once you click on “Yes,” your machine will automatically reinstall all your network adapters. Moreover, it will reset other essential components to factory settings. In other words, it will most likely remove other networking software like virtual switches.  So, you can reinstall them afterward, if required. Check out the list of the most reliable Ethernet cables on Amazon now!

Conclusion                                                                                                                           

Now you know all you should do when your Ethernet is not working, but WIFI is. Before you conclude that there’s a connection problem, turn off the WIFI. 

If your OS can access both of them, it’ll prioritize Ethernet. If that doesn’t happen, you can troubleshoot and fix the problem, as we have seen in this article.