How to Update Ethernet Driver in 4 Easy Steps!

how to update ethernet driver

How to update Ethernet driver and it is important? Among the various devices that use Ethernet, a majority of them are typically updated regularly to ensure they work with the latest software and hardware.
This is because Ethernet drivers are essential for interfacing these devices with Windows. Without an updated Ethernet driver, your computer may not be able to communicate with your networked devices.

There are many reasons to update your Ethernet driver. Here are just a few:
-Your computer might be running on an older operating system that doesn’t support the latest drivers.
-You might be experiencing issues with your network connection.
-You might want to take advantage of new technologies that have been released since your last driver was installed.
-Your computer might be running on a newer operating system that supports updated drivers.

In this article, we will explore the reasons why you may want to update your Ethernet driver and how to do so.

How to identify your Ethernet driver version

If you are having trouble connecting to your Ethernet network, or if you are experiencing odd behavior with your computer when connected to the network, it may be helpful to check your Ethernet driver version. There are a few different ways to identify your driver version, and each one will provide you with different information.

The easiest way to determine the version of your driver is to open the Device Manager, click on network adapter to expand and select your network card > Right-click the network adapter > Click on properties and Click the Driver tab to see the driver version. The version number will be listed next to the name in the “Driver Version” column.

Also, how to find it using command prompt. Click the “Start” button, type “cmd” into the search box, and press Enter > Type ipconfig /all and press Enter > Look for the line that says, “Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:”. Look for the driver version number listed next to that line.

Download the latest Ethernet driver

If you’re experiencing problems with your computer’s Ethernet connection, you may want to download the latest driver. The latest version can often fix connectivity issues, and they’re usually available within a few days of a new release. Checking for updated drivers is a good way to keep your computer in good working order.

There are a variety of ways to download the latest Ethernet driver, depending on your computer’s operating system. If you’re using a Windows operating system, you can go to the manufacturer’s website and download the driver or can do it directly in your windows or device manager.

If you’re using a Mac OS X operating system, you can go to the Apple website and download the driver. If you’re using a Linux operating system, you can go to the Linux website and download the driver.

Here are four ways on how to update Ethernet driver:

Step 1: Use Windows Update

Windows Update is a tool that Microsoft offers to keep your computer up to date with the latest security patches and updates from Microsoft.

The Windows Update utility can be found by clicking on the Start button and search for Windows Update > Click on it to open. When you first start the Windows Update utility, it will try to find and install any available updates. You can also use the Windows Update utility to check for updates and download and install them automatically.

Update Ethernet Driver

Step 2: Ethernet Driver Update from Device Manager

If you are using Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista or XP and have an Ethernet device attached to your computer, you can also update the driver from the Device Manager. This will ensure that your computer can communicate with the device properly.

To do so: Open Device Manager by pressing the Windows key + X and clicking Device Manager in the popup window and under Network Adapters, right-click your Ethernet adapter and click Properties. On the General tab, click the Driver tab > then update driver and follow the instructions to complete.

How to Update Ethernet Driver

Step 3: Check for updates on the manufacturer’s website

Manufacturer websites are a great way to stay up to date on the latest products from your favorite brands. By checking for updates regularly, you can be sure that you’re getting the most recent information on what’s new and what’s changed.

There are a few methods that you can use to check for updates on the manufacturer’s website. The most common way to check for updates is to go to the website, click on the “Support” tab, and then select “Check for Updates.”

Another way to check for updates is to go to the manufacturer’s website, enter your model number in the search bar, and then select “Check for Updates.

Step 4: Download the driver from third-party

Driver Easy is a free app that automatically helps you detect, download and update device drivers that are needed. If there are any missing or out-of-date drivers on your computer, Driver Easy will list them for you to download and install.

The app also includes a driver checker which can help identify any issues with your drivers. Driver Easy is easy to use and can be installed in minutes, so you can keep your computer running smoothly and safely.

Install the new Ethernet driver

Before installing the new Ethernet driver, make sure that the computer has the latest software updates installed. The new driver may not work with older versions of Windows. Also, be sure to back up your computer files before installing the driver and check for any compatibility issues before proceeding.

How to update Ethernet driver Manually
The first thing you need to do is locate the appropriate driver for your operating system and download the driver package for your operating system from manufacturer website. Next, you will need to extract the driver file from the archive. After extracting the driver, you will need to place it in a specific location on your computer.

Open Device Manager. Right-click Start and click Device Manager or search from the start menu. Right-click the network connection you want to update and choose Update Driver. It will show up with a yellow exclamation and have a generic name such as Ethernet Controller, if there is no driver installed for that device. Select browse my computer for driver software (locate and install driver manually).

Click browse and locate where you extracted the software to and make sure that “Include subfolders” box is checked so that it will scan the entire driver set. Continue and after installation is done, it will show in the network adapters section.

How to Update Ethernet Driver

Check to make sure the installation was successful

If you have just installed a new software or hardware installation, the first thing you should do is check to make sure it was successful. There are a few simple steps you can take to verify that everything went according to plan.

First, you can use the Windows Device Manager to verify that the new Ethernet driver has been installed properly. The Device Manager provides a list of all hardware devices installed on the computer as well as their associated drivers.

Troubleshooting tips if your update doesn’t work

First, be sure that the driver file is properly downloaded and installed. Second, check to see if the driver is properly registered with your computer’s operating system. Third, make sure that your computer has the correct drivers installed for the network card. Fourth, verify that you have the correct permissions required to install the driver.

Also remove any old drivers for the network card from your computer and try reinstalling the driver from the manufacturer’s website.

FAQ’s

How do I know if my Ethernet driver is out of date?

If your computer is having trouble connecting to the internet, one of the first things you might do is try updating your Ethernet driver. However, if you’re not sure if your driver is outdated, there are a few ways to tell.

If you are using an operating system that comes per-installed on your computer, check for a driver update from the manufacturer and if you are using a third-party software or driver, check for a driver update online.

How do I uninstall an Ethernet driver?

If you want to uninstall an Ethernet driver, there are a few different ways to go about it. The most straightforward way is to use the Windows Device Manager. Right-click on the network adapter you want to uninstall, and then select “Uninstall.”
Another option is to use the Windows control panel to uninstall by following this path Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features and select the driver and remove it.

In conclusion on how to update Ethernet driver. Updating your Ethernet driver is a fairly simple process. However, it is important to make sure that you are downloading the correct driver for your specific operating system and Ethernet card. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to successfully update your Ethernet driver in a matter of minutes.

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Exkay

Enjoys covering various related topics and with years of experience sharing content around social media, Fintech and computers.