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7 Ways to Fix Media Disconnected Errors on Windows
Disabling the network sharing feature should fix this quickly
5 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
Sometimes you need to check all the information about your network adapter to fix some issues. Unfortunately, some users get a media disconnected error when they run theipconfig /all commandon Windows 10 or 11.
While this issue can be annoying, it is a problem that is easy to solve. If you are also dealing with the media disconnected error, the solutions in this guide will help you fix it quickly.
What does media disconnected mean?
The media disconnected error occurs when there is an issue with your network adapter. Below are some of the potential causes of this error:
How do I fix the media disconnected error on Windows?
Before proceeding to the sophisticated fixes in this section, below are some troubleshooting steps to try:
If these do not work, you can now proceed to the solutions below:
1. Reset Winsock & IP Stack
The first thing to do to fix the media disconnected error on Windows 11, 10, and even the old Windows 7 is to reset Winsock and IP Stack. This should clear the potential factors that might be causing the issue.
2. Update network adapter driver
Sometimes, the quickest fix to the media disconnected error on your ethernet on Windows 10 is to update your network adapter driver. You can do this using the Windows driver updater following the steps above.
To make things easier and faster, we recommend using a dedicated tool, such as Outbyte Driver Updater, to get the job done.
This superb software automatically scans for outdated, broken, and missing drivers and fixes them with just a few clicks of the mouse.
Outbyte Driver Updater
3. Run the Network Adapter troubleshooter
In some cases, the media disconnected error might be due to minor glitches with some network processes. The best way to clear this is to use the built-in troubleshooter.
4. Enable network adapter
The easiest fix can sometimes be the most effective. You might have been facing the media disconnected error because your network is somehow disabled.
Enabling it should help solve the problem in this case.
5. Uninstall network drivers
If updating your network adapter driver does not eliminate the media disconnected error, you might need to uninstall the adapters altogether.
After restarting your PC, the adapter drivers will be replaced by the default ones, which should solve the problem.
6. Disable network sharing
Some users have found this frustrating issue to be down to the network sharing features of Windows. Hence, you can disable the feature temporarily and check if you are still getting the error message.
7. Perform a system restore
If push comes to shove and every solution you try fails to solve the media disconnected issue, you need to perform a system restore to a point when everything is working well.
This should undo the intentional or accidental changes made to your PC that might be causing the issue.
With this, we can conclude this article on the media disconnected issue on Windows 10 & 11. Hopefully, you can fix the issue before exhausting the solutions on our list.
Similarly, if yourethernet keeps disconnecting randomly, check our guide to fix it for good and restore normalcy on your PC.
Feel free to let us know the solution that helped you fix the issue in the comments below.
More about the topics:Fix network issues
Ola-Hassan Bolaji
Windows Hardware Expert
A Computer Engineering graduate, he has spent most of his life reading and writing about computers.
He finds joy in simplifying complex topics into simple solutions for PC users. The quality of his work and providing step-wise tested and proven solutions to PC issues are all that matter to him.
Away from computers, he is either reading or watching football!
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Ola-Hassan Bolaji
Windows Hardware Expert
He’s a Computer Engineering graduate who has spent most of his life reading and writing about computers & operating systems.
