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If you’ve been experiencing issues with the Ethernet port not working on your motherboard, you’re not alone.
When your motherboard port is not working, first check the condition of the Ethernet cable. If the cable is not the problem, install the motherboard drivers. Also, check if your LAN is enabled in the BIOS settings. Check for port pins and lift them. If none of this works, buy a USB Ethernet adapter.
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Can an Ethernet Port Go Bad?
An Ethernet port is an opening on a computer in which you can plug an Ethernet cable. It connects wired network hardware to an Ethernet LAN. Its location is usually on the back or side of your device.
For example, a router has multiple ports for multiple wired devices on a network. Laptops have a built-in Ethernet port, unlike a MacBook which does not have one. Instead, it has a USB Ethernet adapter.
Every popular broadband router has at least one Ethernet port. Broadband modems, which can be connected to the Internet and other network-connected devices, connect to a router with a WAN port.
Wireless routers are also equipped with a WAN port and four additional Ethernet ports.
An Ethernet port is similar to a phone cable, but a little wider than the phone jack. Because of the shape, it is impossible to connect the Ethernet cable to the phone port properly.
It makes the cables easier to connect. It is less likely you will connect it to the wrong port.
If you have Ethernet in your home, you surely know it is an excellent investment with many benefits. You have probably once encountered problems with Ethernet cables, such as damages and degradation.
When you come across these issues, you solve them easily by buying a new cable. However, sometimes the problem is not in your Ethernet cable but the port.
Yes Ethernet ports can go bad, it can happen for many reasons we will touch upon later. Ports, especially switch ports at the panel, are static-sensitive electronics and likely to fail.
Just as ports can go bad, ethernet cables can also go bad. If you’re interested, we have an article about that here.
If you have problems with the internet connection on your computer, the Ethernet port is probably the first place you should look because sometimes it is the source of problems.
A faulty Ethernet port often leads to errors such as “Network cable unplugged.” You may see such error messages, especially if you have recently moved your computer or laptop, which can easily move a cable from the Ethernet port or, in rare cases, remove the Ethernet card from its place on the motherboard.
We will talk about this more in the next sections.
Why is Your Ethernet Port Not Working?
There are various reasons your Ethernet port does not work while your internet is good. Sometimes the thing is in the cable because they break and damage.
The connectors on the motherboard often break down, and the major reason is the stress on the cable that applies force to the port.
Soldered connections hold the LAN port, like other motherboard connectors to the circuit board. External cable stress can weaken or break these solder points, resulting in connection failures that are intermittent or complete.
Depending on whether you use a laptop or desktop, you can do some things to fix the broken port.
Mostly, your Ethernet port is not working because of device drivers, or more specifically, installing the wrong version of device drivers.
The non-compatibility of hardware components is the second most common cause of such an issue. Considering your LAN card and motherboard, it is possible that they are incompatible, which is why it is not working.
The problem may also be because of a defective LAN Ethernet card or Gigabyte itself. A lightning strike can also damage your port.
When you put your finger underneath the Ethernet cord and lift it slightly, sometimes you would notice it established the connection, which indicates that pins in the Ethernet port are faulty and bent and do not establish connection well.
If you want to be sure port pins are the problem, take a look at them. There should be eight pins. If some of them are not elevated as others, it means it is the cause of intermittent connectivity problems.
If you want to check whether your port is active, you can do the following:
- Connect a blue network cable from the wall port to the network port on your computer.
- Turn on your computer.
If you have a Windows computer, do the following:
- Make your way to the back of your computer.
- Look for a solid orange or green light next to the blue network cable. If your network port is active, it will light up.
On an Apple computer, do this:
- Select Apple from the drop-down menu.
- Select System Preferences from the drop-down menu.
- Select Network. There should be a green indicator on the Ethernet connection that says Connected.
This is the easiest way to check whether there is something wrong with your port. If there is an issue, you can work on it and try some solutions we will mention in the following part.
How Do You Fix a Dead Ethernet Port?
If you encounter port issues, do not worry. Before you waste money on a new motherboard port, check to see the drivers’ installation.
You should have them installed properly. Use another LAN cable that is working to check if there are proper drivers on your computer.
Then, perform ping tests using your router’s IP address and websites such as Google. If the problem persists, turn off all firewalls and security software (it might block your port). You can check it in the Device Manager.
You can also follow these steps:
- Make sure the Ethernet port is dust and lint-free.
- Check whether Ethernet cables are in good working order. You could try the cable on a different computer or with another set of cables.
- Verify that the switch/router port is operational. Try a different port.
- Check to see if your BIOS has enabled LAN.
- Unplug your computer and turn it off for a few minutes. Then, after plugging in and turning on your computer, go to SmartLAN in BIOS.
- Clear CMOS and reconfigure BIOS
As I mentioned before, pins may be the reason for the broken port. To fix it, use small tools to lift the pins. When you do that, plug in your Ethernet cable. The green indicator shows that the connection is back and there is an activity in the port.
You can also change your Ethernet port, but to be honest, it would be a waste of money. However, there are some cheap solutions to your problem.
You can buy a cheap USB to Ethernet adapter that will turn an unused USB port into Ethernet.
There is no need for installation and setup required to use this adapter. The only thing you need to do is plug it and use it.
If your laptop is not old and has at least one 3.0. USB port, try to find one of the USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet adapters on Amazon. They are easy to use and you can go back to work right away.
Some adapters even include extra USB 3.0 ports for connecting additional USB devices to your laptop. This would be the best solution.
Conclusion
Like Ethernet cables, ports can also break down and die. Fortunately, there is a solution. Therefore, I hope you will follow some of my tips and repair the port without spending money on a replacement.
You can always buy USB Ethernet adapters that cost little. We also recommend that you be careful how you plug in the cable, as the use of force can damage your port.