I have a mid-2014 MacBook Pro running Big Sur 11.7.10 and am trying to connect it to a router for wired internet access. I have the ethernet cable plugged into the Thunderbolt 2 port via an ethernet-to-Thunderbolt adapter. However, the MacBook does not see the connect at all, and none of the advice I see online matches what I see:
How can I get this working?
MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.7
The interface you seek is listed in the list as USB 10....000 LAN
If you really want to use that to connect to the internet, you will need to make it the TOPMOST interface (and it will also need to be a working interface as well)
Use the Gear Icon below the list and choose "set Service Order' and drag Ethernet to the TOP of the list. When it is not also working, your second on the list will be used instead.
having traces of VPN software installed makes this setup and use MUCH more difficult.
VPN software you install yourself does not add protection in the slightest (and in most cases makes your Mac MORE vulnerable). Unless you are inside a repressive country where internet access is censored, you would do well to remove all that VPN stuff completely.
Many times I have found the Thunderbolt ports become dirty if they have not been used. Try connecting & disconnecting the Thunderbolt 2 adapter multiple times to see if it is able to clean the contacts on the laptop's Thunderbolt 2 port. It can easily take a minute or two before you may see macOS react to having the adapter connected to the Thunderbolt port especially for a network adapter.
It looks like you are connected by wifi. Try turnning off wifi or move the Ethernet connection to the top of the list of networks. Your computer can not connect to two network interfaces at the same time.
Connecting mid-2014 MacBook Pro to router via ethernet
