Disable and Re-Enable Ethernet Adapter on Windows 10

Windows 10 End of Life

Windows 10 has reached the end of support on October 14, 2025. At this point technical assistance, feature updates and security updates is no longer provided. If you have devices running Windows 10, we recommend upgrading them to Windows 11, a more modern, secure, and highly efficient computing experience.

Question

How do I disable and re-enable an Ethernet adapter in Windows 10?

Answer

To Disable the Ethernet Adapter

1. Open Control Panel
   1. Press Windows Key + R Key on the keyboard, type control, and hit Enter
2. Go to Network Settings
   1. Navigate to: Network and Internet -> Network Sharing Center
   2. Click Change adapter settings on the left sidebar
3. Find your Ethernet Adapter
   1. Look for something like "Ethernet" or "Local Area Connection"
4. Right-click the above connection
   1. Select Disable
   2. The icon will turn gray, indicating that it's turned off.

To Enable the Ethernet Adapter

1. Return to the same window
   1. If you closed it, repeat steps 1-3 above.
2. Enable it
   1. Right-click the grayed-out connection Select Enable
   2.  It should reconnect automatically if everything is configured correctly.

If you are still experiencing issues getting your device connected to the ethernet, please contact the Support Desk in Morrill Hall room 131 or call at 605-688-6776. 

Monday - Thursday:
Walk-Ins: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Calls: 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Friday:
Calls & Walk-Ins: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.