How to fix an Ethernet cable that keeps disconnecting

There’s a good reason you use an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet. Beyond simply being faster, which is great for downloading, streaming, and gaming, Ethernet cables help you get around obstacles that obstruct Wi-Fi signals, like walls and floors.

However, if the cable keeps disconnecting, it can be a frustrating experience. Fortunately, you can use the solutions in this article to resolve the issue and keep your Ethernet-based connection as strong as possible.

Solution 1 – Try a different Ethernet cable

The strength of the connection obtained through Ethernet depends on the quality of the hardware used. That starts with your Ethernet cable, which is basically a cable with connectors on each end that connect your device to your modem. Any number of problems can affect that cable, from breaks in the plastic connectors that cause them to come loose when inserted into a port to cracks or breaks in the cable itself.

Before trying any other method to fix your disconnection problems, change the cable you are using with a new one. If the connection is reestablished, you know you had a hardware problem. And even if the problem persists, at least you have a new Ethernet cable, which can serve as a spare or be useful for connecting a different device to your modem.

Solution 2 – Check the Ethernet port of your device

Hardware issues related to your device can also cause problems. Ethernet ports can become loose, especially if you frequently disconnect and reconnect cables or if you have a habit of pulling cables out of the ports. This problem is so common that many Ethernet ports come with built-in LED lights, which will glow white or yellow when the connection is secure and will not light if there is a connection problem.

The obvious solution to this problem is to replace the Ethernet port. This is easy enough for PCs, which you can open to gain access to the internal parts of the device, but is often a bigger problem for laptops due to their self-contained nature.

If you can’t access the Ethernet port (or don’t want to void your warranty by opening your device), you can use a USB-based Ethernet port. These smart solutions plug into any free USB slot on your device and usually offer a plug-and-play port that you can use to reconnect your Ethernet cable.

Solution 3 – Prevent your PC from turning off your network adapter

If you have a Windows PC that is configured to turn off network adapters to save power, the device itself may be causing the disconnection issue.

Solve it by following these steps for Windows 10 PC:

1. Click the “Start” button and open “Device Manager” through the search bar.
   
2. Navigate to your network adapter, right-click and select “Properties.”
   
3. Select the “Power Management” tab.
   
4. Uncheck the box next to the text “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”
   
5. Click “OK” and test the connection to see if it reactivates.
   

Solution 4 – Update the drivers for your Ethernet adapters

Outdated drivers can cause problems with Ethernet connections because they are no longer maintained, meaning they are more likely to contain errors than newer drivers. You can update your drivers manually using the following method:

1. Type “Device Manager” in the Windows search bar and open the “Device Manager” app.
   
2. Scroll down to “Network Adapters” and click the arrow on the left side of the text.
   
3. Right-click the adapter you want to update and select “Automatically search for updated driver software.”
   
4. Click “Update Driver.”

Windows will search the web for new drivers (which means you must have an active Internet connection to use this method) and run an update if it finds any. If you can’t find a driver, try searching for one on the website of the manufacturer that made your network adapter.

Solution 5 – Restart your modem or router

An undetected problem with the Internet connection that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) provides to your modem will cause Ethernet disconnections. After all, you can’t connect to something that doesn’t exist.

If the problem lies with your router or modem, try the following:

1. Unplug the device from its power source and wait a couple of minutes.
   • This waiting period gives the device a chance to reboot, plus it serves as a power cycling opportunity that releases stored electricity from your modem or router.
2. Plug the modem back in, wait for it to reboot, and test your connection again.
   

If that doesn’t work, try contacting your ISP or using their service status check service (most have these on their websites) to see if there are any problems with Internet connectivity in your area. You can do little more than wait for the problem to be fixed, if it exists.

Solution 6 – Run Windows Network Troubleshooter

Windows has an automated troubleshooter that can help you find out the cause behind the Ethernet cable keeps disconnecting. It looks for any problems, automatically fixes them, and provides you with a log to show you the cause of the problem:

1. Check that your Ethernet cable is securely connected to your computer.
2. Type “Settings” in the Windows search bar and click the “Update & Security” option.
   
3. Select “Troubleshoot” from the left side menu.
   
4. Scroll down until you see the “Find and fix other problems” p and select “Network adapter.”
   
5. Click “Run the troubleshooter.”
   
6. Select “Ethernet” in the resulting dialog box and click “Next.”
   
7. Wait for the troubleshooter to run (this may take several minutes) and follow the advice it provides.
8. Click “Close” to exit the troubleshooter.
   

The troubleshooter should automatically fix any problems that are within its capabilities, such as updating drivers or fixing software problems. If you cannot fix the problem, you will receive a message that will probably tell you that your Ethernet cable is likely disconnected or broken.

Solution 7 – Try resetting the network

“Turn it off and on again” is the constant refrain of any IT technician when you bring them a problem. You can do this for your network (and therefore, your Ethernet connection) by following these steps for a Windows 10 computer:

1. Find the “Settings” app via the Windows “Start” button and open it.
   
2. Navigate to “Network and Internet” and click “Status.”
   
3. Select “Network Reset Link”.
   
4. Click the “Reset” button and select “Yes” when the confirmation box asks if you want to reset your network.
   

Resetting your network essentially wipes the slate clean of your network settings, meaning it erases any connections, usernames, or passwords you previously created. It will also delete any network login information, along with any information stored on paired hardware, such as your speakers.

As such, use this option only if you are willing to rebuild all of these connections.

Solve your Ethernet problems

If you’re lucky, solving the Ethernet cable disconnection issue will be as simple as replacing the cable or updating a driver or two to get your network adapter working properly. However, some solutions require an investment on your part (such as replacing an Ethernet port) or will force you to reset your network settings entirely. In the case of the latter solution, you need to reset your network connection, which means you need to know your username and password for your internet connection.