Can't get Ethernet setup with USB adaptor

The fact that the Ethernet Adapter does not work for Internet Recovery Mode is telling and means that the adapter is not (or no longer) compatible with your laptop assuming a good Internet connection. It is possible the system firmware update installed by Monterey has made this Ethernet adapter incompatible assuming it worked fine before the OS upgrade. I do have a couple of third party Ethernet adapters that I'll have to test before and after upgrading a Mac to Monterey.

Unfortunately I think most of the USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapters use the Realtek chipset. I know (and Apple has confirmed it) that the third party USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapters will not work for some situations, so I have to resort to using a hobbled together option by using the Apple USB-C to Thunderbolt Adapter combined with an Apple Thunderbolt 2 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter. It is not ideal, but at least I know it works for everything which is really important when troubleshooting client computers.

FYI, it is extremely dangerous leaving SIP disabled. A few years ago a simple Google Chrome update caused any Macs with SIP disabled to no longer boot. Imagine if someone intended harm.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/09/no-it-wasnt-a-virus-it-was-chrome-that-stopped-macs-from-booting/

re: "Expert advice needed ASAP! Can't get Ethernet.." - Apple Community (a 'live' reply)

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253544306?answerId=256639692022#256639692022

..Also reply appears as Valid one; when old parts fail, you do not just shut-off 'first line' defense..

New adapters & cables of quality should resolve the underlying issue you face. Without

the possibility of self-sabotage. Resume using "System Integrity Protection" by all means!

Since the adapter does not require any drivers, then try booting into Safe Mode to see if anything changes.

You may also want to create a new user account, log out the main user and log into the new user account to see what happens.

What version of macOS are you running?

See if you can boot the Apple Diagnostics or Internet Recovery Mode while using the USB to Ethernet Adapter. This bypasses any macOS issues. Needless to say don't enter your WiFi credentials. If the USB to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter is working, then the laptop should automatically boot to the respected item assuming your have good Internet access.

FYI, just because the adapter works with Windows and another Mac, it does not necessarily mean the adapter is compatible with this Mac especially if the versions of macOS are different. Also a newer Mac's hardware (or older Mac's) may not be compatible. I've seen examples of this over the years and heard stories as well including watching a YouTube video of a respected technician show how an adapter worked perfectly fine on Windows, but would actually crash on of his Macs (I think it may have worked on an older Mac).

You don't mention the exact model of your Mac or version of macOS used. If this is an older Mac, then I suggest using the Apple Thunderbolt 2 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter as it will be much faster than USB. As for the newer USB-C Macs, I thought I saw something about some odd compatibility issues with them and USB-C Macs, but I really am not sure.

Yoshihide K. wrote:

Just to confirm, is the Internet Recovery Mode compatible with any external 3rd party USB-to-Ethernet adaptors?

I just tried the Internet Recovery Mode with SIP disabled, where the adaptor did work when booted, but still get the spinning globe.

A fully compatible adapter should work for Internet Recovery Mode assuming a good Internet connection. I believe I recall seeing a post somewhere which mentioned that the Ethernet adapters with the Realtek chipset had issues and unfortunately I believe most of the common USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapters use the Realtek chipset.

My post wasn't clear on the exact machine I'm using, but it's an old MacBook (Retina 2015), thus Monterey is not compatible and Big Sur is as high as it could get. Though your comment that "It is possible the system firmware update installed by Monterey has made this Ethernet adapter incompatible" is interesting considering the fact that the adaptors stopped working about a month ago, which is in conjunction to the release of the Big Sur 11.6.2 (20G314) update in the middle of December.

On the other hand, the same Ethernet Adaptors work flawlessly without any configuration when connected to my Mac mini (2018 with Monterey)

It is possible that the Big Sur update also included a system firmware update which would be the same as that released with Monterey. Plus the system firmware update for your MacBook could be a bit different than the one for the other models (even if it is the same one as included with Monterey).

Also because this is the old MacBook with USB 3.0 (In a single port Type-C), your advice to use a Thunderbolt adaptor and a Thunderbolt to Ethernet adaptor is not applicable. I have one of those that I use on my main Mac mini, but the "Apple USB-C to Thunderbolt Adapter" isn't actually a USB Type-C to Thunderbolt 2 adaptor, but a Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adaptor, thus will not upgrade MacBook's USB Type-C to Thunderbolt through this adaptor.

The adapters I linked in my previous post will work as I use them all the time. Thunderbolt 3 uses a USB-C connector (the Apple page actually mentions it).

You can always provide Apple with product feedback here (Apple won't respond):

https://www.apple.com/feedback/

Or you can contact Apple corporate about the issues and the lack of an Apple USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter for full compatibility when obviously Apple is not properly supporting the only third party options available (Apple may respond):

https://www.apple.com/contact/