Fix Ethernet Controller driver
Ethernet Controller under Other devices is your wired network chip without a driver. Download the LAN driver for your model from your PC or motherboard maker on another device. Intel chips use Intel's Ethernet driver pack, Realtek chips use Realtek's PCIe family software.
Checked October 30, 2026 against the manufacturer's own pages.
Driver downloads
| Driver | Version | Released | Size | Windows | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Ethernet Adapter Complete Driver Pack | 31.3 | October 16, 2026 | 1.4 GB | Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, VMware | Download from intel.com |
| Realtek Ethernet (NDIS) auto installer | 10.80.50 | October 5, 2026 | 5 MB | Windows 10 and 11 | Download from realtek.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_10EC&DEV_8168 | RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller |
PCI\VEN_10EC&DEV_8125 | RTL8125 2.5GbE Controller |
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_15F3 | Ethernet Controller I225-V |
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_15B8 | Ethernet Connection (2) I219-V |
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_15FA | 500 Series Chipset Family GbE Controller (Consumer) |
PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_550A | Ethernet Connection (18) I219-LM |
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
Use another device to download
On a phone or second PC, find your PC or motherboard model on the maker's support page and download the LAN driver. Copy it over on a USB stick.
Check the chip in Hardware Ids
Open Ethernet Controller, Properties, Details, Hardware Ids. VEN_10EC is Realtek and VEN_8086 is Intel.
Install the maker's LAN driver
Run the installer from the PC or board maker and restart. This is the first choice because it matches your board.
Realtek chip: use Realtek's installer
If the maker has nothing for Windows 11, use the auto installer on Realtek's PCIe family page. Try the NDIS one first.
Intel chip: use Intel's pack
Extract Intel's driver pack, run the setup in the Winx64 folder as administrator, and restart.
Confirm a link
After restart, look for the adapter under Network adapters and check that the cable light is on.
What the entry means
Your PC has a wired network chip, and Windows has no driver for it. Until one is installed, the chip sits under Other devices as Ethernet Controller. You cannot fetch the fix over that same port, so the first job is to get a driver file from another device.
Two makers cover most PCs
Realtek chips fill many desktop boards and laptops. The table includes the RTL8111 family and the 2.5 gigabit RTL8125. Intel chips are the I219 and I225 families, and the table shows chipset-generation labels from the public list. The maker code in the Hardware Id tells you which family you own. Realtek’s page offers separate NDIS and NetAdapterCx installers, and the NDIS one is the broad choice for Windows 10 and 11.
Why the PC maker comes first
Board and laptop makers pair LAN drivers with their firmware and power settings. Realtek itself points laptop owners to the laptop maker. Intel says Windows Update is not supported for its Ethernet driver changes, and its pack documentation asks you to run the setup from the extracted folder with administrator rights.
Avoid shortcuts
Use only drivers from the PC maker, Intel, Realtek or Microsoft. If the ID shows another maker, look it up in the PCI ID Repository and go to that maker.
Questions
Which is smaller, Intel's or Realtek's download?
Realtek's installers are small, listed at 3 to 5 MB. Intel's full pack is 1.4 GB because it holds many operating systems. Intel also offers a smaller Windows-only driver zip.
Does Windows Update support Intel Ethernet drivers?
Intel states that using Windows Update to upgrade or downgrade its Ethernet drivers is not supported. Take Intel drivers from Intel or your PC maker.
I have the Wi-Fi but not Ethernet.
That is common. Wi-Fi and wired chips are separate parts with separate drivers. Install each one.
Is it a cable fault?
No. A bad cable shows as an unplugged network, not a yellow entry. A yellow entry is about the driver.