After reinstalling Windows 11 Home, my wired Ethernet connection works for a few minutes after restarting, then drops and Windows switches to Wi‑Fi. Sometimes the Wi‑Fi connection also stops working. I tried using another Ethernet cable, uninstalling and reinstalling the network driver, reinstalling Windows with the Windows Update repair option, and running several Command Prompt network resets. I also downloaded the drivers for my ASUS ROG Strix B550-I Gaming motherboard, but the download did not appear to launch an installer. The system is running Windows 11 version 25H2, OS build 26200.8973. What could be causing the Ethernet connection to drop, and how should I install or configure the correct driver?
2 Answers
That motherboard uses the Intel I225 2.5Gb Ethernet controller, which is known to drop its connection after running for a few minutes. In Device Manager, open the Ethernet adapter’s properties and check the Advanced tab. Disable Energy Efficient Ethernet, then change Speed & Duplex from Auto Negotiation to 1.0 Gbps Full Duplex. The speed setting is often the one that makes the connection stable. The ASUS driver download may not include a normal installer; extract it and use Update Driver in Device Manager, pointing Windows to the folder containing the .inf files.
As a quick diagnostic step, disable the Wi‑Fi adapter in Device Manager or in the motherboard settings, then restart. If Ethernet remains connected afterward, there may be an adapter or driver conflict. If both connections disappear, check whether the Ethernet adapter is disabled and re-enable it in Device Manager.
Disabling Wi‑Fi only caused the globe icon to appear, but I eventually discovered that Ethernet itself had been disabled in Device Manager. Enabling it fixed the immediate problem.
I also found that the adapter had been disabled in Device Manager. Enabling it brought the connection back. I changed the recommended settings too, and it’s helpful to know the ASUS download has to be installed by selecting the extracted driver folder rather than launching an installer.