Sửa lỗi plug an ethernet cable into this computer năm 2024

How do you fix a network cable is not properly plugged in or may be broken in Windows 10? It is a common issue and can be fixed. Now, read this post from MiniTool and you can know what the error is and how to easily get rid of it.

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A Network Cable Is Not Properly Plugged in or May Be Broken Windows 10

In Windows 10, there are many troubleshooters that can be used to detect and some issues, for example, Internet connection, playing sound, blue screen, Bluetooth, etc.

But sometimes when you use the Internet Connections Troubleshooter to diagnose some Internet issues, you may get the error message: “Problems found: A network cable is not properly plugged in or may be broken”.

Don’t worry and this issue can be fixed. In the following part, we will show you some methods to get rid of the Internet problem.

Solutions to Ethernet Cable May Be Broken or Not Plugged in

Clean Your Ethernet Port

If there is dirt or lint in the Ethernet port, it may block the network connection, causing the error message. So, you can clean the port to see if it can fix the issue.

Just unplug your network cable from the port and then use a piece of dry and clean cloth to wipe the Ethernet port. Then, connect the cable to the port and see if you won’t receive “a network cable is not properly plugged in or may be broken”.

Power Cycle Your Computer

You can power cycle your computer to refresh the network connection to fix the network cable error.

For a laptop user:

Step 1: Unplug the charger of your laptop, turn it off, and remove the battery.

Step 2: Keep the power button pressed for at least 30 seconds and wait 10 minutes.

Step 3: Put the battery back, charge the laptop, and turn it on.

Step 4: Check if the Ethernet cable not plugged in or may be broken error disappears.

For a desktop user:

Step 1: Power off your desktop and unplug all the power cables.

Step 2: Long press the power button for at least 30 seconds and also wait 10 minutes.

Step 3: Re-plug the power button, boot the PC, and see if the issue is fixed.

Run Windows Network Adapter Troubleshooter

Sometimes the network adapter can be the reason for the error message. So, you can try the Network Adapter Troubleshooter to detect and fix the issue.

Step 1: Click Start > Settings > Update & Security.

Step 2: Go to the Troubleshoot tab, locate Network Adapter, and click Run the troubleshooter.

Step 3: Follow the guide on the screen to finish the process.

Sửa lỗi plug an ethernet cable into this computer năm 2024

Update Network Adapter Driver

If there is a corrupted network adapter driver or it is out of date, the error “a network cable is not properly plugged in or may be broken” may occur. To fix this issue, you should update the network adapter driver.

Step 1: In Windows 10, press Win + X and choose Device Manager from the menu.

Step 2: Expand Network adapters, right-click your adapter, and choose Update driver.

Step 3: Let Windows search automatically search for updated driver software and then follow the on-screen instructions to finish the update.

Sửa lỗi plug an ethernet cable into this computer năm 2024

Also, you can choose to download the latest version of the network adapter driver from the manufacturer’s website and then install it on your computer.

Replace a Network Cable

If all of the methods mentioned above don’t work, the network cable is likely to be broken and you need to purchase and replace a cable to get rid of the error.

Bottom Line

Are you encountering the error “a network cable is not properly plugged in or may be broken” when troubleshooting the Internet connection issues? Take it easy and you should easily get rid of the error after trying these solutions.

About The Author

Sửa lỗi plug an ethernet cable into this computer năm 2024

Position: Columnist

Vera is an editor of the MiniTool Team since 2016 who has more than 7 years’ writing experiences in the field of technical articles. Her articles mainly focus on disk & partition management, PC data recovery, video conversion, as well as PC backup & restore, helping users to solve some errors and issues when using their computers. In her spare times, she likes shopping, playing games and reading some articles.

When your computer can't connect to the network, you may see an error message that reads "A network cable is unplugged" and see a red "X" on the taskbar or in Windows Explorer. This message may appear only once every few days or once every few minutes, depending on the nature of the problem, and it can occur even when you're on Wi-Fi.

Causes for Network Cable Unplugged Error

Errors regarding unplugged network cables have several potential causes. Typically, the message appears on a computer when an installed Ethernet network adapter attempts unsuccessfully to make a local network connection.

Reasons for failure might include malfunctioning network adapters, bad Ethernet cables, or misbehaving network device drivers.

Some people who have upgraded from older versions of Windows to Windows 10 have also reported this issue.

How to Fix the Unplugged Network Cables Error

Try the following procedures, in order, to stop these error messages from appearing, and then reconnect to the network:

Lifewire

  1. Restart the computer by fully powering down, waiting a few seconds, and then turning the computer back on. If you're on a laptop, take the extra step of removing the battery, if possible, and walking away for 10 minutes. Just unplug the laptop from power and remove the battery. Reattach the battery, plug the laptop back in, and start Windows again when you get back.
  2. Turn off the Ethernet network connection if you're not using it. This step applies, for example, when you're running a Wi-Fi network with computers that include built-in Ethernet adapters. Double-click the small A network cable, is unplugged error window, and choose the Disable option to turn off the adapter.
  3. Check both ends of the Ethernet cable to ensure that they are not loose. One end connects to your computer, and the other connects to the primary network device, probably a router. If this procedure doesn't help, try testing for a faulty cable. Instead of buying a new one outright, plug the same cable into a different computer or temporarily swap out the Ethernet cable for a known good one.
  4. Update the network adapter driver software to a newer version if available. If it's already running the latest version, consider uninstalling and reinstalling the driver or rolling it back to a previous version. It might seem impossible to check the internet for outdated network drivers when the network can't reach the internet—however, some free driver updater tools such as Driver Talent for Network Card and DriverIdentifier help.
  5. Use Device Manager or Network and Sharing Center (through Control Panel) to change the Ethernet adapter's Duplex settings to use a Half Duplex or Full Duplex option instead of the default Auto selection. This change works around the technical limitations of the adapter by changing the speed and timing at which it operates. Some people report more success with the Half Duplex option, but this setting lowers the maximum total data rate that the device supports. Go to the device's properties and find the Speed & Duplex setting within the Advanced tab to adjust it.
  6. The Ethernet adapter is a removable USB dongle, PCMCIA, or PCI Ethernet card on some older computers. Remove and reinsert the adapter hardware to verify that it's connected properly. If that doesn't help, try replacing the adapter, if possible.
  7. Troubleshoot other network connections. If none of the above procedures fix the "A network cable is unplugged" error, it's possible that the device on the other end of the Ethernet connection, such as a broadband router, is malfunctioning. Troubleshoot these devices as needed.

FAQ

  • Wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, have replaced computer networking cables in many offices and homes. Wireless technologies are also desirable in cases where the cable has to run outside, in conditions that might likely damage it.

There are several steps to troubleshooting a home network router problem. Some things you'll look for include mismatched Wi-Fi security settings, loose or disconnected cables, and defective or outdated hardware.