Windows 11 Ethernet Keeps Switching Between Identifying and No Internet Access

September 2, 2026 2 answers
Asked by MellowPine47
My wired Ethernet connection suddenly stopped working in Windows 11. The network icon keeps cycling between "Identifying" and "No internet access," so I can't get online through the Ethernet cable. I installed the cables myself in my apartment, and they worked normally for about two months before this started happening. I've already looked through several basic troubleshooting guides but haven't found a solution. What should I check first?

Answers

BrightCedar29
Because you installed the wiring yourself, test the connection with a short cable directly from the computer to the router or switch. If that works, the in-wall cable, wall jack, or one of the terminations is probably faulty. If it still fails, the issue is more likely related to the computer, router port, or Windows network settings.

MellowPine47: I installed the cables myself, and they had been working reliably for about two months. Iโ€™ll test them with a different cable and bypass the wall wiring to narrow it down.

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CopperTrail8
Start by testing the simplest hardware possibilities. Try a different known-good Ethernet cable, then test a different Ethernet port on both ends of the connectionโ€”your computer and the router or network switch. Also confirm what the cable is plugged into, since the problem could be with the router, switch, wall jack, or the cable run itself.
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