FIX: Ethernet adapter is not showing in Device Manager

by Tashreef Shareef

Windows & Software Expert

February 21, 2020

Affiliate Disclosure

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Device Manager lists all the important hardware components for diagnostic purpose. However, some users have reported that the Ethernet adapter is not showing in Device Manager and they’re unable to access the Internet.

If you can’t see the Ethernet adapter, it probably means that it’s disabled. If you haven’t disabled the adapter manually, it can happen due to a power surge which can cause the network component to be disabled.

In this article, we discuss how to fix the Ethernet adapter if is not showing in Device Manager on Windows 10 PCs.

What to do if the Ethernet adapter is not showing in Device Manager?

1. Enable onboard LAN in BIOS

1. Shutdown your computer.
2. Press the power button to restart. As the computer restarts, the screen will show which key to press to enter the Setup Menu.
3. For Lenovo computers it is F1/F2.
4. If necessary, restart the computer and press the key to enter BIOS. Use the arrow keys to navigate.
5. Locate Integrated Peripherals, Onboard Drives, OnChip PCI Devices or Advanced tab. Highlight and hit enter to access the menu.
6. Locate Integrated LAN, Onboard Ethernet etc. and make sure it set to Enabled.
7. Press F10 to save the changes. Press Y if asked to confirm.

Accessing BIOS seems too big of a task? Let us make things easier for you with the help of this amazing guide!

Restart your computer and check if you have the Ethernet adapter showing in the Device Manager. Still now showing? Try to enable it from the Adapter Settings, as shown below.

Enable ethernet adapter from Change Adapter Settings

1. Press Windows Key + R to open Run.
2. Type control and click OK.
3. In the Control Panel, go to Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
4. Click on Change Adapter Settings from the left pane.
5. Right-click on your ethernet adapter and select Enable.
6. This should enable the Ethernet adapter on your computer.

You can’t open Control Panel? Take a look at this step-by-step guide to find a solution.

2.  Remove and reinstall CMOS battery

Note: If you don’t know about the CMOS battery, it is better to seek professional help to do this task.

1. Shutdown your computer.
2. Remove the CMOS battery on the motherboard.
3. Leave your computer idle for a few hours.
4. Reinsert the battery.
5. Restart the computer and wait for the system to look for and recognize all the hardware components.
6. Make sure you change the boot sequence in BIOS, and it is set to hard drive /SSD which has your Windows installation.
7. Check if the Ethernet adapter is showing in the Device Manager and if you are able to access the Internet.

3. Clean the LAN card

1. If removing the CMOS battery did not resolve the issue, try removing the LAN card.
2. Clean the LAN card swiftly using a soft cloth.
3. Reinsert the card and reboot the computer.
4. Check if the Ethernet adapter is now showing in the Device Manager.

If the issue persists, even after following all the steps, the LAN card may be defective. You can either replace the card or get a USB ethernet adapter.

The Ethernet adapter can automatically get disabled due to power surge or other reasons. By following the steps in this article, you can fix it and get your computer online. Do let us know what fix helped you resolve the issue in the comments section below.

Also, remember to leave there any other questions or suggestions that you may have.

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