Issues with Ethernet Disconnecting

My ethernet keeps disconnecting. Simply put, it will, at random times/intervals disconnect. I haven't been able to find the cause/source of this. As the disconnects will persist until I physically unplug and replug the cable from the wall outlet. Otherwise, the Windows 11's network connecting says "Ethernet cable isn't plugged in".

This problem started to happen around January of this year. I only noticed it happening after a set of Windows updating my PC every day for five days straight. However, I could not find any information on if the updates changed how my computer handles ethernet and, unfortunately, didn't have a proper way to revert the changes. I have spent months trying to troubleshoot this issue and I am slamming my head against the wall at this point. The fixes I have attempted thus far:

1. Edit the power saver settings for Windows
2. Updated BIOS
3. Edit the advanced settings of the device's driver (Realtek Gaming 2.5 GbE Family Controller)
4. Changed the Automatic IP assignment to Manual and gave my computer a static IP Address
5. Checked both the computer and the wall outlet connections
6. Replaced the ethernet cable
7. Disabled the onboard ethernet card in lieu of a TP-Link 2.5GB PCIe Network Card (With the Realtek PCIe 2.5GbE Family Controller driver that it made me install)
8. Checked the router ports for faulty wiring
9. Checked the modem ports for faulty wiring
10. Switched around the cables of the network (every other member of my family says their internet doesn't drop (yet, I haven't been able to test it myself, since these problems happen randomly))
11 (In Progress) Factory reset modem and updated firmware upon complete wipe.

I'm legitimately at a loss and am unsure what I'm supposed to do next. The problem isn't horribly life-changing, but it does get annoying to be midproject, midgame, or midconversation with people only to have my ethernet connection drop and say there is no cable connected.

Is it a software issue? Is it a hardware issue? Is there a possibility multiple device drivers are somehow installed on my computer and causing the weird disconnects?

I could really use some assistance in figuring this out as the issue has gone far beyond my expertise and limited knowledge of computers, and every time I think I've figured out why it's causing a problem, it shows itself again and I don't know why. What else may I provide for assistance?

Thank you for taking your time to read this.

The problem should be with the modem or router, not Windows....

Did you run the Network Troubleshooter ?

suatcini54 said:

Did you run the Network Troubleshooter ?

Fix Ethernet connection problems in Windows | Microsoft Support

Learn about different things you can try to fix Ethernet network connection problems in Windows

support.microsoft.com

Click to expand...

I have tried running the network diagnostics tests, but it can't pick up on any issues when my internet is normally plugged in, and it doesn't allow a diagnostic test when it says "the ethernet cable isn't plugged in". So the diagnostics has been severely ineffective.

Dannydet said:

The problem should be with the modem or router, not Windows....

Click to expand...

Is there a possibility that doing a factory reset of the modem would fix the issue?

pikminpedia said:

As the disconnects will persist until I physically unplug and replug the cable from the wall outlet.

Click to expand...

As you’re using a wall outlet, I take it that your house is networked throughout? If this is the case, do you use a Network Switch that the Modem/Router distributes the internet though??

If so, unplug it from the wall for a minute and plug it back in. Even if it’s a non managed switch (Plug & Play), it can still need a reset by cutting power to it. I have had this happen twice in the last 10 years.

Otherwise, as mentioned, a factory reset of both the Modem/Router, in fact, do all 3. Try the switch first.


A switch like or similar to this:

pikminpedia said:

Is there a possibility that doing a factory reset of the modem would fix the issue?

Click to expand...

Can you get into your modem ? It should have an IP address, something like 192.168.1.1. Check your modem/router manual to see what IP address it uses. By the way, did you set a strong password for your modem/router ?

I too had Ethernet connection issues, slightly different from yours but I could only resolve by a reboot of the router.
Tried everything, finally resolved it>>> replaced the router.
Borrow a router and try....

antspants said:

As you’re using a wall outlet, I take it that your house is networked throughout? If this is the case, do you use a Network Switch that the Modem/Router distributes the internet though??

If so, unplug it from the wall for a minute and plug it back in. Even if it’s a non managed switch (Plug & Play), it can still need a reset by cutting power to it. I have had this happen twice in the last 10 years.

Otherwise, as mentioned, a factory reset of both the Modem/Router, in fact, do all 3. Try the switch first.


A switch like or similar to this:


View attachment 133411

Click to expand...

I suppose I never thought about disconnecting the network switch. I'll give this a try.

suatcini54 said:

Can you get into your modem ? It should have an IP address, something like 192.168.1.1. Check your modem/router manual to see what IP address it uses. By the way, did you set a strong password for your modem/router ?

Click to expand...

I did a factory reset on it and was able to access it. Based off the date of the last firmware update, I doubt the modem was actually, properly up-to-date until I did the reset. I do hope this may fix it.

ChucklesNZ said:

I too had Ethernet connection issues, slightly different from yours but I could only resolve by a reboot of the router.
Tried everything, finally resolved it>>> replaced the router.
Borrow a router and try....

Click to expand...

That was something I thought was a possibility. That would be the ultimate "last resort" for me, since it'd be the most costly outside of a new modem/new motherboard.

I think the smart thing to do would of been to try these things one at a time and reboot. If it happens again, it could give you an idea of what to do next time. That’s of course is if there is a next time. Let us know how you go.

The problem was likely solved. Just short of two days ago I encountered the same issue. I hit the reset on the router and everything came back. So far there hasn't been a problem. I run about six switches in the house in addition to my main. The price of opting out of WiFi.

I don't know whether the problem of internet connectivity is due to IP conflict or not. But every device connecting to internet at a location, home for example, should be assigned a static IP address outside of DHCP pool range. At my home TVs, desktop PC, router, etc. are given static IP addresses outside of DHCP pool.

Another option is using MAC-IP reservation table of modem/router. If a device is registered at the IP reservation table using its MAC address, no other device can be assigned that IP address. Therefore, no conflict arises.

Hope this helps.

make sure it is not the browser giving issues,, try using Chrome if it is edge. I got the same issues with an ASUS motherboard. Never found out why but did find out my new Nvidia 5070 ti gets throttled back by the horrible drivers, causes computer to act like a network issue. Chrome does not throttle back for some reason. My issues does not happen while gaming. Just browsing. BTW, does it come back after a few seconds, or disconnecting and reconnecting ethernet?

antspants said:

I think the smart thing to do would of been to try these things one at a time and reboot. If it happens again, it could give you an idea of what to do next time. That’s of course is if there is a next time. Let us know how you go.

Click to expand...

That's the process I've been going through, yeah. I haven't disconnected the switch yet and am still testing out the modem reset. If the issue persists, the switch disconnect is the next step I'll take.

The processes listed in my original post above are the steps I took between these weird disconnects. It's very hard to do this in a timely manner since some days, there isn't an issue, and it can be fine for almost a week, but then, one day, it will just disconnect willy-nilly.

That's why it's taken me several months, because I keep going another step up the ladder each time the previous fails.

Scannerman said:

The problem was likely solved. Just short of two days ago I encountered the same issue. I hit the reset on the router and everything came back. So far there hasn't been a problem. I run about six switches in the house in addition to my main. The price of opting out of WiFi.

Click to expand...

Yeah, the modem reset is hopefully promising. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

suatcini54 said:

I don't know whether the problem of internet connectivity is due to IP conflict or not. But every device connecting to internet at a location, home for example, should be assigned a static IP address outside of DHCP pool range. At my home TVs, desktop PC, router, etc. are given static IP addresses outside of DHCP pool.

Another option is using MAC-IP reservation table of modem/router. If a device is registered at the IP reservation table using its MAC address, no other device can be assigned that IP address. Therefore, no conflict arises.

Hope this helps.

Click to expand...

I was theorizing it could be an IP conflict where the router and/or modem are trying to give out the same IP to different devices. Though, admittedly, I didn't know the range for the DHCP. Is it different from modem to modem?

retiredat44 said:

make sure it is not the browser giving issues,, try using Chrome if it is edge. I got the same issues with an ASUS motherboard. Never found out why but did find out my new Nvidia 5070 ti gets throttled back by the horrible drivers, causes computer to act like a network issue. Chrome does not throttle back for some reason. My issues does not happen while gaming. Just browsing. BTW, does it come back after a few seconds, or disconnecting and reconnecting ethernet?

Click to expand...

I'm currently using Opera. I haven't seen any network issues noted on Opera yet, but I'll look around if my problem persists.

I have many computers (3 PC, 1 laptop, 2 phones..) on my router... the only computer that does with the edge browser with the 5070 ti video card. I live with it, it seemed to get better the drivers before this last video driver. (2 of the PC's are almost identical components, except the other pc with win11 has a different video card). The other pc is linux. 3 of the computers are lan, ethernet. 1 PC is wireless. Phones wireless. Have Been working with computers, since the 1980's and a degree in electronics, and many years in engineering and tech work). Then Business work, before very early retirement. Disabled Vet. Networking has always been a pia, but plug and play got better with time. I forgot, I have many wireless cameras outside , some on my network, and some on their own hub.