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Are you seeing the dreaded “No Internet Access” message despite your PC showing an Ethernet connection? Sometimes, getting an internet connection up and running isn’t that easy. Try these tips to get your Ethernet connection working on your Windows PC.
1. Rule Out Router Issues
Before you troubleshoot your PC, it’s a good idea to rule out any issues with your router. To check that, disconnect the Ethernet cable from your computer and connect it to another device if possible.
If you experience similar issues with other devices or encounter errors with a Wi-Fi connection, your router may be the culprit. In most cases, simplyrebooting your routershould fix the problem. If not, you may have toupdate the router firmwareor contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) for help.
2. Run the Network and Internet Troubleshooter
If your router is not having issues, you can try running the “Network and Internet” troubleshooter on Windows. This tool will scan your system for common internet-related issues and attempt to fix them.
To run the Network and Internet troubleshooter, follow these steps:
3. Restart or Update the Ethernet Driver
Disabling and re-enabling the Ethernet adapter is an effective way to fix any temporary glitches that may be causing the problem. Here’s how to do it:
If the problem persists, you can try updating the Ethernet driver using the Device Manager. This will fix issues caused by outdated or buggy drivers.
If the issue remains, the Ethernet driver may be corrupted. To fix it,uninstall the Ethernet driverand then restart your PC. Windows will automatically install the missing driver during the boot, and Ethernet should start working again.
4. Change the Network Profile and Turn Off Metered Connection
Changing the network profile on Windowsand turning off the metered connection option can also help with issues restricting internet access on your Ethernet connection.
To do this, open theSettingsapp and head toNetwork and Internet > Ethernet. Then, turn off theMetered connectiontoggle and change theNetwork profilefromPublictoPrivate.
After this, restart your PC, disconnect and reconnect the Ethernet cable properly, and check if that fixes the issue.
5. Change the DNS Server and Flush the DNS Cache
By default, Windows uses the DNS server provided by your ISP. Issues with the default DNS server can sometimes result in a slow or no internet connection. You can try switching to a more reliable DNS server, such as Cloudflare or Google DNS, to fix this.
Tochange the DNS server, typencpa.cplin the search box and hitEnter. In the Network Connections window, right-click on your Ethernet adapter and selectProperties. Then, double-clickInternet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), select theUse the following DNS server addressesoption, and enter DNS addresses in the relevant fields.
For instance, if you want to use Google DNS, enter 8.8.8.8 as the primary DNS server and 8.8.4.4 as the secondary DNS server.
After changing the default servers, ensure youflush your DNS cacheto remove old and bad entries. Windows should now be able to connect to the internet without any issues.
6. Reset the Network Settings
If none of the above fixes work and you still see the “No Internet Access” error, consider resetting the network settings. Doing so will restore all the network settings on your PC to their defaults, resolving any issues you’re experiencing.
Toreset the network settings on Windows, open theSettingsapp and head toNetwork & internet > Advanced network settings > Network resetand clickReset now.
While Ethernet connections are usually more reliable than Wi-Fi, they can still experience issues from time to time. Hopefully, the tips we listed above helped fix the issue you were facing, and you managed to get your internet connection up and running again.
