Home networking · Ethernet

Ethernet is connected but there is no internet

A link light shows electrical connection, not a valid IP route. Compare cable/port, DHCP address, router LAN status and another wired device.

Direct answer

A link light shows electrical connection, not a valid IP route. Compare cable/port, DHCP address, router LAN status and another wired device.

What this covers

  • The observed symptom matches this record
  • Customer-accessible settings, connections and external components
  • Diagnosis before reset, deletion or component replacement

What it does not cover

  • ×A model-specific error code with a different documented meaning
  • ×Internal electrical, battery-cell, gas, refrigeration or sealed-component repair
  • ×A guarantee that every model exposes the same control label
Try in this order0 of 4 completed
  1. Capture the exact symptom

    Reversible

    Check the device IP and gateway; a 169.254 address usually means it did not receive DHCP.

  2. Run the smallest isolation test

    Reversible

    Try a known-good cable and LAN port, bypass switches/powerline adapters and renew automatic networking.

  3. Correct only the proven cause

    Reversible

    Replace the failed segment or correct VLAN/static-IP settings; leave ISP WAN troubleshooting to all-device failures.

  4. Verify before changing anything else

    Reversible

    Transfer locally and load internet sites for ten minutes on the repaired path.

Evidence ledger

Sources behind this answer

Visible sources support the visible claims. Home Product Support records the publisher, the fact used and the review date; community reports can suggest an issue but do not become a published fact on their own.

Exact questions

Common follow-ups

What should I check before resetting anything?+

Check the device IP and gateway; a 169.254 address usually means it did not receive DHCP.

What is the safest isolation test?+

Try a known-good cable and LAN port, bypass switches/powerline adapters and renew automatic networking.

When should I stop troubleshooting?+

Stop using damaged, wet or overheated cables, switches or powerline adapters.

Change recordAug. 17, 2026 — Published as an independently scoped question with a distinct isolation test, verification and safety boundary; source boundary: TP-Link Support.
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