The right Intel Ethernet driver
On a PC with built-in Intel Ethernet, take the driver from the PC or motherboard maker first, because Intel says it leaves built-in connections to them. For add-in cards and 2.5 Gigabit chips, Intel's Network Adapter Driver for Windows 11 or Windows 10 package (version 31.3) is the official download.
Checked October 30, 2026 against the manufacturer's own pages.
Driver downloads
| Driver | Version | Released | Size | Windows | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Network Adapter Driver for Windows 11 (Wired_driver_31.3_x64.zip) | 31.3 | October 16, 2026 | 38.8 MB | Windows 11 | Download from intel.com |
| Intel Network Adapter Driver for Windows 10 (Wired_driver_31.3_x64.zip) | 31.3 | October 16, 2026 | 38.8 MB | Windows 10 | Download from intel.com |
| Intel Ethernet Adapter Complete Driver Pack (Release_31.3.zip) | 31.3 | October 16, 2026 | 1.4 GB | Windows, Linux, FreeBSD and VMware | Download from intel.com |
Values copied from the manufacturer's page on October 30, 2026. The file always downloads from the manufacturer, never from this site.
Hardware IDs on this page
| Hardware ID | Device name |
|---|---|
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_15F3 | Ethernet Controller I225-V |
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_125C | Ethernet Controller I226-V |
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_15BC | Ethernet Connection (7) I219-V |
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1539 | I211 Gigabit Network Connection |
Match the first line of Hardware Ids in Device Manager (Properties, Details) against this list. Names come from the public PCI ID Repository.
The short version
What to install and where it comes from. Every link goes to the manufacturer or Microsoft, never to a copy.
Official files only, nothing bundled
Step by step
Read the adapter name
Open Device Manager and expand Network adapters. An Intel entry reads like Intel(R) Ethernet Connection I219-V or Intel(R) Ethernet Controller I225-V. Write the model down.
Ask Windows Update first
Open Settings, Windows Update, Check for updates, then Advanced options and Optional updates. Microsoft says Windows Update is the best way to get driver updates.
Check the PC or motherboard maker
Search your model or serial number on the maker's support site and open the LAN or Ethernet section. A laptop or board with built-in Intel Ethernet usually has a tested version there.
Pick Intel's package for your Windows
Open Intel's Network Adapter Driver page for your Windows version. Read the supported product list first, since a chip missing from the list needs the maker's driver or the Complete Driver Pack.
Extract, run, restart
Unzip Wired_driver_31.3_x64.zip, run the setup file as an administrator and restart. Then test a large transfer over the cable.
What the three Intel downloads are
Intel splits its Windows Ethernet software into a few files. The Network Adapter Driver for Windows 11 and the one for Windows 10 are small, about 38.8 MB each, and carry the same file name, Wired_driver_31.3_x64.zip. The Complete Driver Pack is a 1.4 GB file with drivers for several operating systems. For a normal home PC the small file for your Windows version is the right choice, when your chip is on its list.
Built-in Ethernet is a special case
Most people with Intel Ethernet did not buy a card. The chip came on the motherboard or inside a laptop. Intel states on its Windows pages that support for built-in network connections comes from the system or board maker, and that the maker may have changed the driver. This is why the maker’s page comes before Intel’s. If the cable connection works, there is no need to change anything.
Chip families you will meet
The 1 Gigabit I219 lives inside the chipset on many boards and laptops. The I225 and I226 are 2.5 Gigabit controllers. The I210 and I211 are older 1 Gigabit chips. Intel’s Windows 11 page lists I225, I226 and I219 among its supported products, while the Windows 10 page lists the I225 but not the I219. Read the list for your Windows before you download.
Questions
Should I use the Complete Driver Pack?
Only if the smaller Windows package does not list your chip. The pack is about 1.4 GB and carries files for Windows, Linux, FreeBSD and VMware, and Intel says not every adapter works with every operating system version in it.
Why does the Windows 10 page not list my I219?
Intel's Windows 10 page lists the I225 but not the I219, and says built-in connections are supported by the system or board maker. Use your maker's driver for an I219.
Can I update the driver with Windows Update after installing Intel's file?
Intel's install guide says using Windows Update to upgrade or downgrade its Ethernet drivers is not supported. Pick one source for the driver and stay with it.
Which Intel chip names are common on desktops?
Desktop boards often carry an I219-V for 1 Gigabit or an I225-V or I226-V for 2.5 Gigabit. Each has its own page on this site.