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Ethernet adapter not working with big sur update?

Ethernet adapter not working with big sur update, tried the many solutions, but nothing works.

I am using macbook air 2017.

Adapter working fine before update, also working fine with another macbook air 2017 with Catalina.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.0

Posted on Nov 11, 2020 12:50 PM

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108 replies

Dec 4, 2020 2:21 AM in response to raji116

I had the same problem after macos 11 big sur update. After the update, the USB ports were working but not the ethernet port.


I found a simple solution using new drivers provided by UGREEN (Chinese company). My type-C adapter is BASEUS brand, but the new drivers worked, since most adapters use Axis or Realtek chip, the brand does not matter!


RTL8153/B, AX88179 and AX88772A series of chip network card drivers have corresponding MacOs 11.0 drivers upgrade, they can be directly updated with new drivers, like normal upgrade solution.


To identify you network card, make sure your adapter is plugged in, then:

  • choose Apple menu > About This Mac, then click System Report (more details: https://support.apple.com/guide/system-information/get-system-information-syspr35536/mac)
  • Look under USB (usually under USB 3.0) search for model name like: AX88179, AX88772A (for Axis) or RTL8153 (for Realtek). Sometimes it may only be just a number (product ID): 0x8153 (then 0x8153 = Realtek8153) - if not familiar with this part, please refer to screenshots examples below:




Next, download the latest drivers for Axis/Realtek provided by Ugreen (the company is making Thunderbolt-Ethernet type-C USB adapters for MacOS). Since the download page is in China and in Chinese, I uploaded the driver on Google Drive:


Drivers for Type-C Ethernet Chipset AX88179 for MacOS 10.9 to MacOS 11:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14zgRn3ByXK8mjueuws_Cb8MlIqzJ4aX-/view?usp=sharing


Drivers for Ethernet Chipset AX88772A for MacOS 10.05 to MacOS 11:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W2sfestajENincZYpQQ0QnjM_cD7z9Cn/view?usp=sharing


Drivers for Type-C Ethernet Chipset RTL8153/RTL8153B for MacOS 10.12 to MacOS 11:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b3VTsPl7sN4KxGErZZ5-t1UaRt5PJ0e-/view?usp=sharing


Original Chinese page with drivers for download:

https://www.lulian.cn/news/494-cn.html


FYI: you may find other updated download links on the English website, Type C products (support > download)

https://www.ugreen.com/pages/download


To upgrade the drivers, follow the steps below.

  1. Unplug the external USB/Typce-C ethernet device.
  2. Uninstall the outdated driver if you installed drivers previously (I did not uninstall anything).
  3. When booting press and hold the "Command+R" key until the Apple icon appears on the screen, and the computer enters the recovery mode (if you have not entered this mode, please restart it again). More about Recovery Mode here: https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-recovery-mode-3674052/
  4. Select "Utilities" (top menu) > "Terminal".
  5. In the terminal run the command "csrutil disable" (it will disable System Integrity Protection, it's probably possible to re-enable it later, I did not try, or when MacOS 11 has been properly updated).
  6. Restart the computer.
  7. Install the newly downloaded driver.
  8. In System Preferences -> Security and Privacy, you will be prompted to allow this driver installation, accept.
  9. Plug in your USB-Ethernet device again, and you should be able to access the Internet normally now.

I am not a IT expert but searched a solution for a long time and this is the best one I found for now.

Dec 19, 2020 3:41 AM in response to jradavenport

Try this, select and delete the interface in Network Preferences.

Next, add it back.

Select it and make sure that "Configure iPv4" is set to "Using DHCP".

If it does not connect within a few seconds, click the "Advanced..."

button.

On the right side there should be a button "Renew DHCP Lease"

and click that.


I have the same Belkin adapter and after the recent 11.1 update, I needed to go

through this process to get ethernet back up and running.

Nov 26, 2020 7:59 AM in response to raji116

The Belkin USB-C to Gigabit adapter that apple sells has continued to work great for me in Big Sur. Apple explicitly lists all USB-C Macbooks, USB-C iPad Pros and the new M1 Macs as compatible. I have both white and black versions of this adaptor and they are identical save the color.


Belkin USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter (Black)

https://amzn.to/3m8Nw8g


Belkin USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter (White, Apple Exclusive)

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HJKF2ZM/A/belkin-usb-c-to-gigabit-ethernet-adapter

Dec 4, 2020 3:09 PM in response to IvanTerrible

first of all my computer is fixed. interesting fact is my Big Sur build is 20B50 rather than 20B29 like everyone else. I got this by enabling ip range 17.0.0.0-17.0.0.8 and install from internet recovery.


If your firewall supports using hostnames, you may be able to use most Apple services above by allowing outbound connections to *.apple.com. If your firewall can only be configured with IP addresses, allow outbound connections to 17.0.0.0/8. The entire 17.0.0.0/8 address block is assigned to Apple.


Hope this helps.

Mar 4, 2021 1:55 PM in response to bishopcheen

I have a suggestion for bishopcheen. I had the same problem with thunderbolt to ethernet on my 2014 Mac book pro and I tried several ways to fix the problem. Reset the SMC, reset the PRAM, delete the p file and restarting the mac and nothing worked. Asumming its not a hardware problem ( you can check with these steps https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202731). I talked to apple support and we decided to to do a clean install Big Sur. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904 Make sure you have a back up and an internet connection upon before restarting in macOS recovery mode.

Nov 14, 2020 5:26 PM in response to raji116

Same issue, I though I was the only one until I find this support thread. I tried the below steps, and the problem persist.


  1. Clean installed Big Sur 20B29 from external USB
  2. Ethernet not working, WiFi work, was working just fine with the latest Big Sur public beta.
  3. Boot camp windows 10 Ethernet problem persists
  4. Performed diagnostic, 
  5. Reset SMC NVRAM
  6. Clean install again
  7. Created fresh test user
  8. Ethernet IPV6 to Link only
  9. Changed RJ45
  10. Disabled DHCP from router to this MAC address
  11. Power cycled router
  12. Clean install Catalina 19H15 from external USB
  13. Ethernet not working, WiFi work
  14. DFU Mode, Restore, Revive end up with internet boot error code 3004F
  15. DFU Mode Update “Apple Controller Devices Do Not Support This Action”
  16. Router allowing 17.0.0.0/8
  17. Able to install Big Sur using internet recovery, and problem persist.


Nov 18, 2020 1:32 PM in response to EBWhy

I was using a "Mobi Lock" USB type A ethernet adapter from Amazon (plugged into a Mokin USB-C dongle) with my 16" MacBook Pro which immediately stopped working following the update to Big Sur.


I purchased an Anker USB-C adapter from Best Buy (also available on Amazon) which I can confirm has been working without issue since November 15. Simple plug and play; I did not change any settings or attempt any other troubleshooting.


Nov 13, 2020 5:12 AM in response to raji116

Hi guys!


I have also problems on my iMac PRO (2017) running big sur ...with the ethernet connects. I can report that this issue comes with one of the beta releases >= beta 7 ... I hoped that in the full release that issue was fixed but won't.


I could reproduce that the issue comes up more often if iTunes is running. If iTunes is not running it also could happen but not so often. WLAN is currently more stable then cable over ethernet...


Hope apple can fix this ASAP.


Cheers

Nov 14, 2020 12:27 PM in response to raji116

My Plugable USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter was no longer recognized after upgrading to Big Sur. I went to the Plugable website and found the following...


Note for macOS users: ASIX-based Ethernet adapters like the USB3-E1000, USBC-E1000, and USB2-E1000 are no longer officially supported on macOS by Plugable, but drivers may be available for your specific version of macOS. For more details, please visit: https://plugable.com/2020/11/13/asix-ethernet-adapters-unsupported-in-macos-11-big-sur/

Ethernet adapter not working with big sur update?

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