Laptops nowadays are thinner than the height of an Ethernet port. Therefore, there’s no space to have an Ethernet port. Not having an Ethernet port also makes the design look cleaner without the extra added ports. In most cases, there’s no need to have an Ethernet port on a laptop since many people use Wi-Fi. However there are options to add an ethernet port.
Ethernet is a technology that has been around for a long time. It is mainly used in business and office settings because it provides a stable and fast connection. Wi-Fi is newer and faster, but it doesn’t have the same range or reliability as Ethernet. That’s why some people still prefer to use Ethernet, even though it’s not as common as it used to be.
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The Need for an Ethernet Port
There are a few reasons why you might need an Ethernet port on your laptop. Maybe you’re working from home and your Wi-Fi is too slow or unreliable. Or maybe you’re traveling and want to connect to the internet in your hotel room. Whatever the reason, there are ways to add an Ethernet port to your laptop.
How to Add an Ethernet Port
There are a few different ways to add an Ethernet port to your laptop. You can use a dongle, a USB-C to Ethernet adapter, a Thunderbolt 3 to Ethernet adapter, or a wireless Ethernet adapter. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Option 1: Use a USB Dongle (most if not all Windows Laptops)
A dongle is the easiest way to add an Ethernet port to your windows laptop. All you need is a USB-A port and an Ethernet cable. These dongles will work with almost all windows laptops. The biggest downside of using a dongle is that it takes up one of your USB ports.
Here’s a great USB-A Dongle.
Cable Matters Plug & Play USB to Ethernet Adapter (Ethernet to USB...
- Ethernet USB adapter connects a computer or Raspberry Pi 3 to a router, modem, or network switch for a Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) network connection; Connect the USB Ethernet adapter to your laptop without an Ethernet port
- Ethernet USB adapter connects a computer or Raspberry Pi 3 to a router, modem, or network switch for a Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) network connection; Connect the USB Ethernet adapter to your laptop without an Ethernet port
- Cost-effective USB network adapter for many computer applications that only require a 100 Mbps Ethernet connection; Use this convenient USB Lan adapter to replace a failed USB NIC or Ethernet port on an older computer
- Portable RJ45 to USB dongle weighs less than 1 ounce with a 6-inch cable tail to connect to your computer; Wired LAN USB adapter is more secure than most Wi-Fi connections
- Feature-filled USB to network adapter supports Preboot Execution Environment (PXE), Wake-on-Lan (WoL), Full-Duplex (FDX) and Half-Duplex (HDX) Ethernet, Crossover Detection, Backpressure Routing, Auto-Correction (Auto MDIX); Supports IPv4/IPv6 protocols in 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX networks; Supports MAC address pass-through (MAC clone) with the Cable Matters EZ-Dock utility software (Windows)
- Driver-free Simple installation USB to RJ45 adapter for most computers; Diagnostic LEDs on this Ethernet USB adapter verify the power, connection and data transfer status; OS compatible Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP, MacOS 10.8 and up, Chrome OS and Linux for kernels up to 4.15; USB to RJ45 adapter is NOT compatible with Windows RT, or Android
Anker USB C to Ethernet Adapter, PowerExpand USB C to Gigabit Ethernet...
- The Anker Advantage: Join the 55 million+ powered by our leading technology.
- Instant Internet: Connect to the internet instantly from virtually any USB-C device, and enjoy stable connection speeds of up to 1 Gbps.
- The Anker Advantage: Join the 55 million+ powered by our leading technology.
- Instant Internet: Connect to the internet instantly from virtually any USB-C device, and enjoy stable connection speeds of up to 1 Gbps.
- Lightweight and Compact: The space-saving and portable design measures just over half an inch thick and weighs about the same as a AA battery.
- Premium Build: Features a sleek aluminum exterior and braided-nylon cable to complement the design of high-end devices.
- What You Get: PowerExpand USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter, welcome guide, 18-month worry-free warranty, and friendly customer service.
Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter
- The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter lets you connect Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 devices — external hard drives and Thunderbolt displays, for example — to any of the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports on your MacBook Pro.
- The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 adapter lets you connect Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 devices — external hard drives and Thunderbolt displays, for example — to any of the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports on your MacBook Pro.
- As a bidirectional adapter, it can also connect new Thunderbolt 3 devices to a mac with a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port.
- In addition, it can be used to connect Thunderbolt-enabled displays — such as the Apple Thunderbolt Display and LG Thunderbolt 2 displays — to any of the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports on your MacBook Pro. However, using this adapter with an Apple Thunderbolt Display requires a power source, because th
- Note: This adapter does not support DisplayPort displays like the Apple LED Cinema Display or third-party DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort displays.
- Compatible with iPad mini, iPad Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro and Mac mini with thunderbolt ports
Option 2: Use a USB-C to Ethernet Adapter (Windows + Macbooks)
If your laptop has a USB-C port, you can use a USB-C to Ethernet adapter. These adapters are small and don’t take up much space. They also usually come with a built-in ethernet cable, so you don’t have to worry about carrying one around with you. The downside of using a USB-C adapter is that it won’t work with older laptops that don’t have a USB-C port. But they will work for most newer laptops and any Macbook, Macbook Pro or Macbook Air since 2018. Even newer IPads are supports.
Here a great choice by Anker:
Cable Matters Plug & Play USB to Ethernet Adapter (Ethernet to USB...
- Ethernet USB adapter connects a computer or Raspberry Pi 3 to a router, modem, or network switch for a Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) network connection; Connect the USB Ethernet adapter to your laptop without an Ethernet port
- Ethernet USB adapter connects a computer or Raspberry Pi 3 to a router, modem, or network switch for a Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) network connection; Connect the USB Ethernet adapter to your laptop without an Ethernet port
- Cost-effective USB network adapter for many computer applications that only require a 100 Mbps Ethernet connection; Use this convenient USB Lan adapter to replace a failed USB NIC or Ethernet port on an older computer
- Portable RJ45 to USB dongle weighs less than 1 ounce with a 6-inch cable tail to connect to your computer; Wired LAN USB adapter is more secure than most Wi-Fi connections
- Feature-filled USB to network adapter supports Preboot Execution Environment (PXE), Wake-on-Lan (WoL), Full-Duplex (FDX) and Half-Duplex (HDX) Ethernet, Crossover Detection, Backpressure Routing, Auto-Correction (Auto MDIX); Supports IPv4/IPv6 protocols in 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX networks; Supports MAC address pass-through (MAC clone) with the Cable Matters EZ-Dock utility software (Windows)
- Driver-free Simple installation USB to RJ45 adapter for most computers; Diagnostic LEDs on this Ethernet USB adapter verify the power, connection and data transfer status; OS compatible Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP, MacOS 10.8 and up, Chrome OS and Linux for kernels up to 4.15; USB to RJ45 adapter is NOT compatible with Windows RT, or Android
Option 3: Use a Thunderbolt 3 to Ethernet Adapter
Thunderbolt 3 is the latest and greatest standard for connecting peripherals to your laptop. If your laptop has a Thunderbolt 3 port, you can use a Thunderbolt 3 to Ethernet adapter. These adapters are fast and efficient. They also usually come with a built-in ethernet cable. The downside of using a Thunderbolt 3 adapter is that they’re more expensive than other options. And like the USB-C adapters, they won’t work with older laptops that don’t have a Thunderbolt 3 port.
Here’s a top choice made by Apple:
Anker USB C to Ethernet Adapter, PowerExpand USB C to Gigabit Ethernet...
- The Anker Advantage: Join the 55 million+ powered by our leading technology.
- Instant Internet: Connect to the internet instantly from virtually any USB-C device, and enjoy stable connection speeds of up to 1 Gbps.
- The Anker Advantage: Join the 55 million+ powered by our leading technology.
- Instant Internet: Connect to the internet instantly from virtually any USB-C device, and enjoy stable connection speeds of up to 1 Gbps.
- Lightweight and Compact: The space-saving and portable design measures just over half an inch thick and weighs about the same as a AA battery.
- Premium Build: Features a sleek aluminum exterior and braided-nylon cable to complement the design of high-end devices.
- What You Get: PowerExpand USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter, welcome guide, 18-month worry-free warranty, and friendly customer service.
Conclusion
If you need an Ethernet connection on your laptop, there are several different ways to add one. You can use a dongle, a USB-C to Ethernet adapter, a Thunderbolt 3 to Ethernet adapter, or a wireless Ethernet adapter. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. Choose the option that best suits your needs and budget.
