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If a wired connection on Windows 11 keeps dropping, run the built-in Network and Internet troubleshooter first, then check the cable and router port, restart the modem and router, and try the same network on a second computer. That last test decides where to look next: if only this PC drops, focus on its Ethernet adapter and driver; if several devices drop, the fault is more likely in the router, modem, or your internet service. Network reset is the last resort, not the first move.
Microsoft’s support article Fix Ethernet connection problems in Windows applies to both Windows 10 and Windows 11, and the steps below follow its sequence.
Find out which side is failing
Before changing any settings, answer two questions: does only this PC lose its connection while other devices on the same network stay online, and does the drop still happen after a cable or restart? The answers point to different parts of the chain.
| What you observe | What it usually points to | Where to go next |
|---|---|---|
| Only this PC drops; another computer on the same network stays connected | This PC: its Ethernet adapter, driver, or Windows network state | Steps 5 to 7 below |
| Several devices drop at the same time | The router, modem, the cable between them, or the internet service | Steps 2 and 3, then contact your provider if the problem persists |
| Swapping in a known-good cable stops the drops | The original cable or its connector | Replace that cable |
| Drops began right after a Windows or network driver update | The updated driver or a setting it changed | Step 6, using a driver backup |
| The troubleshooter or Ethernet status reports an error | The specific fault named in the report | Follow the action it recommends before anything else |
These checks narrow the fault rather than prove a single cause. A problem can involve more than one item in the table.
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The fix sequence
1. Run the Network and Internet troubleshooter
Open the Get Help app from the Start menu, then run the automated Network and Internet troubleshooter. Microsoft names this as the starting point in Windows 11. Write down any action it reports or any error code it shows, because that detail is useful if you later contact your provider or search for the error.
2. Check the cable and the router port
- Make sure both ends of the Ethernet cable are firmly seated: one in the PC’s Ethernet port, the other in the router.
- The router end must go into a LAN Ethernet port, not the port labeled Internet or WAN. A cable in the WAN port connects the router to the modem, not the PC to the network, and a cable in the wrong port can look like a random drop.
- If you have a second, known-good cable, swap it in and use the PC for a while. If the drops stop, the original cable is the likely fault.
A higher-rated cable is not a fix on its own. Use a swap as the test, and buy only if the swap shows the existing cable is at fault.
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3. Restart the modem and router in order
- Unplug the power from both the modem and the router.
- Wait about 30 seconds.
- Reconnect the modem first and let it fully settle.
- Reconnect the router and wait until it finishes starting before testing the PC.
If your modem and router are a single combined device, restart that one unit instead. Restarting the network equipment briefly disconnects everyone else on the network, so warn other users first.
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4. Test the same network from another computer
Plug a second computer into the same Ethernet network, or use one that is already connected to the same router port. If it connects and stays connected, the original PC is the more likely source, so move on to steps 5 to 7.
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If neither computer connects, the cause is more likely the router, the modem, the internet service, or a shared cable. Microsoft lists the router, the ISP, or the adapter as possible causes in that situation. Recheck the cable at the router end and, if the modem still shows no service after a clean restart, contact your internet provider.
5. Check Ethernet status and reset the network stack
Open Settings, go to Network & internet, and check the status of the Ethernet connection for an error. If the problem continues after the physical checks, open Command Prompt as administrator and run these commands in order:
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netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdnsThese commands clear and rebuild network settings without removing the adapter itself. Run them only after the physical checks, not as a substitute for them.
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This step needs your PC’s manufacturer and model number, and the name of the Ethernet adapter as shown in Device Manager. Before you remove anything, download the Ethernet or LAN driver for that exact model from the manufacturer’s support site and save it to a location you can reach without a network connection.
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- Open Device Manager, expand Network adapters, right-click the Ethernet adapter, and choose Uninstall device.
- Restart the PC. Windows may reinstall the adapter automatically.
- If the adapter does not return, install the saved manufacturer driver, then restart again.
This is the step to prioritize if the drops started after a Windows or driver update. Do not uninstall the adapter without a backup driver, because a PC with no working Ethernet driver may have no wired connection until one is installed.
7. Use Network reset only as a last resort
Network reset is the final step, because it changes more than the drivers. To run it, go to Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset, then select Reset now.
Quick Recap
- It removes installed network adapters and their settings. After the restart, adapters are reinstalled with default settings.
- VPN software may need to be installed or configured again.
- Hyper-V virtual switches may need to be set up again.
- Known network profiles can change to Public, which affects device discoverability and file or printer sharing on a home network.
Accessories and settings that do not settle it alone
- Ethernet cable: Use a known-good cable or borrow one to test. Buy a new cable only if the swap points to the original.
- USB-to-Ethernet adapter: This is useful for a PC with no built-in Ethernet port, or as an alternate connection during testing. Compatibility depends on the computer, and it is not a guaranteed fix for an existing Ethernet drop.
- Wi-Fi power-saving settings: Microsoft’s Wi-Fi guidance tells you to stop Windows from turning off a Wi-Fi adapter to save power. That advice applies to Wi-Fi. Do not apply it to an Ethernet adapter as a verified fix, since Microsoft’s Ethernet guidance does not cover it.
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