Preliminary Checks

If the troubleshooter doesn’t identify any problems, you should perform some basic checks manually. First, verify that airplane mode is disabled—click on the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar and check that Flight (otherwise called Airplane) Mode isn’t enabled. If it’s already off, restart your computer to fix any temporary operating system issues affecting the Ethernet connection.

Next, ensure your Ethernet cable is correctly plugged in. Also, confirm that the cable is connected to the correct port on your router. You can also try unplugging and re-plugging the Ethernet cable at both ends (router and PC) to see if it makes a difference. Also, if you have a VPN connection enabled on your device, turn it off.

Check if the Internet Is Working

Connect your device to the internet using Wi-Fi to see if it’s functioning correctly. Even using another device, like a cellphone, on the same network is usually enough to determine where the problem is. If you encounter issues connecting to Wi-Fi, it indicates an issue with your internet connection. So, ensure that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) isn’t experiencing any outages and that your router is powered on. If neither of those are your issue, there are a variety of internet troubleshooting steps you should try.

If you can successfully connect to the internet via Wi-Fi, your internet connection is active, and the problem likely lies with your device’s Ethernet connection.