A Guide to Connecting an Ethernet Cable to Your Laptop With No Ethernet Port

Selecting the Right Ethernet Adapter

Things to consider while choosing an ethernet adapter:

1. Connection Speed
2. Adapter Connectivity
3. USB Hub or Docking Station
4. Adapter Compatibility
5. Size and Portability

Connection Speed

The most common type of ethernet adapter is a USB-to-ethernet adapter. These adapters come with a wide range of USB support up to USB 3.0 and Type C. A high-speed USB 3.1 Type C LAN adapter can support speeds of up to 2.5Gbps, but why spend money on features and speed you can’t use?. There are mainly two uses for high-speed connection:

• Office Use:For intranet connectivity and file sharing, which most organizations utilize. Higher bandwidth means improved efficiency and time-saving. With a 2.5Gbps connection, users can transfer a 10GB file within approx 32 seconds.

• Home Use:If your internet connection has a bandwidth of 50 Mb/s, a USB 2.0 ethernet adapter will deliver the same performance with its 100 Mb/s limit.

Adapter Connectivity

USB ethernet adapters come with multiple connectivity options. With manufacturers moving towards slim and portable designs, the number of USB ports available on a laptop is limited, and sparing a USB port for ethernet connectivity may be a cause of concern when you require connecting additional devices like keyboards, mice, external storage drives, or other peripherals to your laptop.

The most common USB 2.0 adapters are capable of a maximum of 100Mbps data transfer speed, while USB 3.0 Ethernet adapters usually offer speeds up to Gigabit Ethernet Limits, i.e., 1000Mbps. A thunderbolt ethernet adapter can achieve a speed of 10-Gigabit Ethernet Limits i.e. 10Gbps

If your connection bandwidth is below 450 Mb/s, it is advisable to connect the Ethernet adapter to a USB2.0 port and leave the high-speed USB3.0/Type-C for other devices. Users can connect the Ethernet adapter to a USB hub.

USB Hub or Docks with built-in Ethernet Adapters

USB Hubs with Built-in Ethernet Adapters

Manufacturers offer USB hubs and docks for users with enhanced connectivity needs. USB hubs increase the number of USB and other ports on your computer by connecting to a single USB port. They are available in USB 2.0, USB 3.0, Micro USB, and Type-C compatibility. Some USB hubs come with built-in ethernet adapters to cater to user needs.

USB Docking Stations

A USB Dock, on the other hand, is an externally powered device with multiple ports (USB, HDMI, Ethernet, SD Card, M2 NVMe) to increase a laptop's connectivity. USB docks also connect to a single USB port. Some USB docks also provide multiple ethernet ports and can be helpful if numerous ethernet connections are required.

Dos and Don'ts of USB Hub/Docks

USB hubs and docks are versatile tools that allow users to enhance their connectivity. However, they connect to a single USB port. A USB 3.2 Gen 2 offers a bandwidth of up to 20 Gbps, which all devices connected to the USB hub or dock will share. It may lead to degraded ethernet performance during the peak load of the devices connected.

USB hubs and docks perform well for almost all daily tasks, such as streaming, surfing, social networking, video conferencing, office meetings, and sharing. If your ethernet is under 1000 Mbps, then a USB hub or dock will work like a standalone ethernet adapter.

Users can opt for a standalone ethernet adapter to transfer high volumes of data, such as in data center applications. Applications with speed requirements corresponding to 10 Gbps may face a degraded operation with a USB hub ethernet adapter.

Adapter Compatibility

Most ethernet adapters are plug-and-play, as the drivers are already pre-installed with the operating system. Newer OS versions, like Windows, Macintosh, and Linux, offer plug-and-play compatibility with almost all available products.

As a backup, most ethernet adapter manufacturers also provide the required drivers with the device package.

OS like ChromeOS, Raspberry Pi OS, Android, and iOS may require specific ethernet adapters that are compatible with them.

Ethernet adapters are compatible with Android 6, Marshmallow, or higher only. Connecting ethernet adapters to Android requires switching off the cellular and wifi connections (Airplane Mode). Remember that some apps won’t work with ethernet adapters and need a cellular or wifi connection to function.

Size and Portability

For modern users, portability and compactness are essential. Ethernet adapters are available in various sizes, shapes, and form factors.

Dongle Style Adapters

These adapters resemble a USB memory stick, which is excellent for small-space applications and portability.

Cabled Adapters

Cabled adapters come with a cord with a USB port on one side and a small boxed adapter with an RJ45 port on the other. They are suitable for mobility and convenience but don’t offer the same compactness as dongle-style adapters.

Multifunction Adapters

Multifunction adapters usually have USB-C port connectivity, and offer added HDMI and USB connectivity. They are suitable for saving USB ports on a laptop or mobile device and for ethernet connectivity.

Establishing a Wired Connection

Choosing the Suitable Ethernet cable

Choosing the cable that is suitable for your needs will save money and time. Standard Ethernet cables are Cat5, Cat6, and Cat8.

Cat5

Cat 5 cables are the cheapest and support a bandwidth of 100Mbps. They are a good choice if your connection is below this threshold and you don't intend to upgrade soon. Cat 5 corresponds to the limit of USB 2.0 adapters.

Cat6

Cat6 offers speeds up to 1Gbps, while the advanced Cat6a gives speeds up to 10Gbps.

Cat8

Cat8 is more expensive and offers a bandwidth of 25~40 Gbps. However, due to added shielding, Cat8 cables are pretty thick, making them difficult to install in tight spaces.

Connecting the adapter to the Ethernet cable

Connecting an ethernet cable to the adapter is straightforward and doesn’t require shutting down the devices involved. An ethernet cable has two male RJ45 ends, which go into a female RJ45 port. The top of the connector has a latch that goes into the port and makes a clicking sound when correctly inserted. Once both ends are connected, orange and yellow lights on the female ports glow/blink, showing the connection is complete.

 

Configuring Network Settings

Confirming the network connection

LED Indication on Port

Most devices have orange and yellow LEDs that light up when connected. If your laptop or device has these, check that the LEDs are glowing.

Windows OS

Windows 10 and 11 have a network icon in the shape of a globe. When you hover the cursor above that icon, it will show the connection status. The status can also be verified by typing “View Network Connection” in search, which will open a window with all network adapters and show their connection status.

MacOS

The menu bar has an ethernet network icon “<...>” which becomes bold when connected to ethernet. Additionally, from the Apple menu, go to “System Preferences” → “Network,” and there will be a green dot next to the active ethernet connection.

Networking setup for Windows and macOS

DHCP Enabled

If DHCP is enabled, the network sets up automatically as the user plugs in the ethernet cable, and no further setup is required. However, if DHCP is not enabled, the network must be manually set up by following the following steps.

Windows

Go to “Control Panel” → “Network and Internet” → “Network and Sharing Center” → “Change Adapter Settings” a window will open showing all the network adapters.

Right-click on the ethernet adapter and open “Properties.” In the properties window, double-click “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).”

In the popup window, select “Use the following IP addresses” and enter the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server address. Click OK to save and exit.

MacOS

From the Apple menu, go to “System Preferences” → “Network,” and from the list of connections on the left, select “Ethernet.”

From the “Configure IPv4” dropdown menu, select Manually and enter the IP address, subnet mask, router gateway, and DNS server address. Click Apply to save, and then exit the menu.

Troubleshooting and Optimization

Cable Connection Issue

Symptoms: LEDs don’t glow when the cable connects with the port.

Possible Solutions:

1. Check that the cable firmly fits inside the port.
2. Check for damage on the male connector.
3. Try connecting the cable to another device to check the connector's healthiness.
4. Try switching to another port on the router.

Driver Issue

Symptoms: The adapter is not recognized or doesn’t show up on available Network devices.

Possible Solutions:

1. Check that the driver is the same version that was declared compatible by the manufacturer with your version of OS.
2. Try updating the driver to the latest available by the manufacturer.
3. Uninstall the driver, restart the system and reinstall the driver.

Cable Damage

Symptoms: The cable frequently connects and disconnects when moving, and there are visible cuts, bend marks, and damage to the cable.

Possible Solutions:

1. Replace the cable with a known working cable and see if it resolves the problem.
2. Remove the damaged part of the cable and reattach the connector.

Bandwidth Limitations

Symptoms: Slow data transfer on intermittent connectivity, especially during peak hours

Possible Solutions:

1. Consider upgrading your network equipment.
2. Contact ISP for further troubleshooting.
3. Upgrade your subscription with your ISP.

Configuration Issues

Symptoms: Incorrect IP address, subnet mask, and DNS gateway settings.

Possible Solutions:

1. Use DHCP for automatic network settings
2. Double-check your settings with the one provided by the ISP.
3. If multiple devices have the same IP address, release the IP address from all devices except one.

 

Conclusion

Modern compact laptops don’t offer an ethernet port, but it is a must for some. USB ethernet adapters allow users to connect to an Ethernet network without the hassle of buying another device with an ethernet port. Modern ethernet adapters offer speeds up to 10Gbps with 10 Gigabit Ethernet and Cat8 cable support. USB ethernet adapter provides easy connectivity with USB 2.0/3.0/Type-C and Thunderbolt support. Be it large data transfer, 4K streaming, or low latency gaming, USB ethernet adapters offer the stability and reliability of ethernet connection to modern sleek and slim devices with its wide range of connectivity and platform support.

 

People Also Ask

What kind of Ethernet cable do I need to connect my laptop to my router?

Users can utilize any ethernet cable from Cat3 to Cat8 with an RJ45 connection to the laptop with an ethernet router. Cat 6 cables support Gigabit Ethernet and are sufficient to fulfill the daily needs of the common user.

Why do new laptops not have Ethernet ports?

Modern laptops are built for compactness and portability, allowing for less space for ports and connectivity solutions. Most modern laptops come with USB-C ports, enabling users to connect various devices. They can utilize Thunderbolt 4 or USB 4 protocol to tunnel DP, PCIe, Ethernet, etc through a single USB port. If a user needs expansion of ports, they can opt for a 15-in-1 docking station.

Should I turn off WiFi when using Ethernet?

Turning the WiFi ON or OFF depends upon your requirements. Users can share the ethernet connection via WiFi and mobile devices. WiFi and Ethernet use separate hardware and do not interfere with one another’s operation.

I don’t know much about Ethernet and Bandwidth. Which adapter should I buy for the best performance?

Go for any ethernet adapter that offers Gigabit Ethernet 1000Mbps support or higher. Gigabit Ethernet is sufficient to cover the everyday needs of a common user. Specialized applications, such as data centers, that require high-speed connectivity require more upgraded hardware.

Can I connect multiple ethernet connections to a single USB port?

Yes, products that allow multiple ethernet connections to a single USB port are available. However, the USB interface's maximum speed limits the bandwidth available on each ethernet port. A USB-C port with USB 4 or Thunderbolt 4 can provide 40Gbps data transmission speed. Make sure your laptop or PC has a high-speed USB-A or USB-C port.

Can I use my laptop as a Wi-Fi router with Ethernet Adapter?

You can use your laptop as a Wi-Fi router with an ethernet adapter. Just plug your adapter and ethernet cable into your laptop or ethernet adapter. To turn on Wi-Fi Hotspot sharing, right-click on the Windows Start Icon in the taskbar, then click Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile hotspot.

Can I use a USB Ethernet adapter for gaming applications?

Modern USB ethernet adapters support up to 10Gb ethernet, allowing for seamless gameplay and low latencies. Due to higher stability and low signal loss, the gaming experience on an ethernet connection is generally superior to a WiFi connection. Also, ethernet is less expensive to set up than a gaming WiFi router.

Can I share my Wi-Fi via a USB Ethernet Adapter?

Yes, USB ethernet adapters can share Wi-Fi connections. However, you will need to configure the adapter for Network sharing and allow connection sharing on the Wi-Fi adapter.

Go to the Network and Sharing Center → "Change adapter settings." Right-click on the Wi-Fi adapter → "Properties." → Click the "Sharing" tab and check the box "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection."