How to reset Ethernet network adapter on Windows 11

• To reset the Ethernet adapter on Windows 11, open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset and click “Reset now.”
• This reinstalls the adapter driver, resets Winsock, and restores default networking settings to fix most wired connectivity issues.
• After the reset, you may need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords or reconfigure VPN software.

On Windows 11, you may occasionally lose internet or local network access and see errors like “Limited access” or “Unidentified Network.” One quick way to fix the most common wired connection issues is by resetting the Ethernet adapter. In this guide, I’ll outline the steps to perform the reset to restore connectivity.

Regardless of the reason, Windows 11 includes a built-in reset option that can resolve driver issues and many Ethernet-related problems, including connection drops and slow data transfers.

Related

How to fix any Wi-Fi problems easily on Windows 11

How to fix Network Discovery on Windows 11

However, network issues aren’t always caused by the operating system or driver. The problem might come from your router, switch, cable, or even a hardware fault in the adapter. For example, if your connection speed suddenly drops from 1Gbps to 100Mbps, try reseating the Ethernet cable, testing a different port on the router or switch, or swapping the cable before assuming the adapter is at fault.

In this guide, I’ll teach you how to reset the network adapters when a wired connection isn’t working on Windows 11.

Reset Ethernet network adapter on Windows 11

To fix Ethernet network adapter problems on Windows 11 with the reset option, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings on Windows 11.

2. Click on Network & internet.

3. Click the Advanced network settings page.

   

4. Click the Network Reset setting under the “More settings” section.

   

5. Click the Reset now button to fix the Ethernet (wired) problems on Windows 11.

   

6. Click Yes to confirm.

7. Click the Close button.

8. Restart your computer.

Once you complete the steps, you should be able to access the network and the internet as normal.

If you’re still dealing with issues, you may have to search and confirm if the problem isn’t related to a recent system or driver update. You may also have to troubleshoot your network by checking your router, switch, and cables. 

When using the reset option for an Ethernet adapter, Windows 11 will reset the settings to the factory default configuration, including the Windows Sockets (Winsock), which means you don’t have to run the netsh winsock reset command, and the network adapter driver will be reinstalled.

You may also need to reinstall or reconfigure other networking software (such as a VPN client software) if applicable.