Eero Wired Connection Not Working? Here's Your Step-by-Step Fix!

You just got your shiny new Eero Pro 6 mesh WiFi system. You set it up eagerly, excited to finally have reliable and fast WiFi coverage throughout your home. But then you notice your wired devices like your Smart TV, game console, or desktop computer that are connected to your Eero with Ethernet cables are suddenly not working or offline. Frustrating, right? Don’t worry – I’ve got you covered.

Having dealt with this exact issue after upgrading my Eeros to version 6.0.0, I know firsthand how annoying it can be when devices wired to your Eero lose connectivity. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through some common reasons why your Eero wired connection may not be working, and provide step-by-step troubleshooting tips to get you back online quickly.

Why Use a Wired Connection in the First Place?

Before we dive into troubleshooting your wired connection issues, let’s first go over some of the key benefits of using a wired Ethernet connection:

Reliability – Wired connections are less prone to interference and provide more consistent, stable connectivity compared to wireless. No worrying about weak signal strength or drops in speed.
Speed – Wired connections allow you to maximize your internet speeds, especially for gigabit networks. No bandwidth sharing like with WiFi.
Security – Wired connections are more secure since they don’t broadcast wireless signals that can be intercepted.
Latency – Lag and buffering are reduced with wired connections for activities like online gaming that require quick reflexes and low latency.

So if you can, it’s generally preferable to use wired connections for stationary devices like desktop PCs, smart TVs, and game consoles. But what do you do when that wired connection stops working on your Eero? Let’s find out.

Common Reasons for Eero Wired Connection Issues

There are a few common culprits for why your wired connection to your Eero may not be working properly:

Faulty Ethernet Cables

The first thing to check is whether you’re using a high quality Ethernet cable that can support the speeds of your network.

Inspect for damage – Make sure the cable hasn’t been pinched, bent sharply, or cut. Any physical cable damage can interfere with connectivity.
Verify cable type – For gigabit networks, use Cat 5e, Cat 6, or Cat 7 cables. Cat 5 and lower may not support max speeds.
Check cable length – Ethernet cables longer than 100m can potentially cause issues.
Test with different cables – Try swapping out suspect cables for brand new ones to isolate the problem.

Outdated Firmware

Eero devices automatically update overnight when not in use. However, if your Eero hasn’t updated to the latest firmware, it may not work properly with wired connections.

You can manually check for and install updates:

Open the Eero app and tap on the menu icon.
Select Network Settings > Network Software.
If an update is available, tap “Update Now”.
Wait for devices to finish updating and rebooting.

Network Configuration Problems

Adding switches, hubs, or too many connections to your Eero network can also impact wired connectivity if not set up properly:

Connect switch to Eero – Connect your switch directly to your Eero, not your internet modem.
Use unmanaged switches – Managed switches can conflict with Eero’s settings.
Avoid daisy chaining – Daisy chaining switches can degrade performance.

Defective Hardware

In rare cases, the Eero hardware itself may be malfunctioning and responsible for connectivity issues:

LED status – Check for any red or blinking LEDs indicating connectivity problems.
Reset Eero – Factory reset your Eero if you suspect a software glitch.
Replace Eero – If other Eeros work fine, you may need to replace the faulty unit.

Okay, now that we’ve covered some of the usual suspects, let’s go through the step-by-step process for troubleshooting and fixing your wired connection.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing Your Eero Wired Connection

Follow these steps in order to methodically isolate and resolve what’s causing your wired connection to malfunction:

1. Check Physical Connections

Make sure all Ethernet cables are securely plugged into the correct ports on your Eero, switch, and devices:

Unplug all cables from devices and inspect ends for damage.
Check port connections for dust/debris and clean if needed.
Firmly reinsert cables into appropriate ports. Listen for “click”.
Verify devices are powered on and ports are blinking or solid.

This simple step alone can fix wiring issues in many cases!

2. Power Cycle the Eero

If connections check out, power cycle the Eero that your device is wired to:

Unplug the Eero power cable from electrical outlet.
Leave unplugged for 1 full minute.
Plug power back in and wait for Eero to fully reboot.

Cycling the power can clear up temporary software glitches.

3. Update Eero Firmware

Check if your Eero needs a software update:

Open Eero app and tap the menu icon.
Go to Settings > Network Software.
If update available, tap “Update Now”.
Wait for completion (can take 5-10 minutes).

Updating to latest firmware fixes compatibility issues.

4. Simplify Network Setup

If you have multiple switches, hubs, or WiFi extenders connected to your Eero, try simplifying your setup:

Disconnect additional switches and hubs and see if issue persists.
Connect wired devices directly to Eero if possible.
Move WiFi extenders farther away from Eero gateway.

Too many connected devices can overload Eero network.

5. Replace Ethernet Cables

If you haven’t already, swap out Ethernet cables between Eero and your device with brand new Cat 5e/Cat 6 cables.

6. Factory Reset Eero

If you’ve tried all other steps, reset your Eero:

Locate small reset button on back/bottom of Eero.
Press and hold for 5-10 seconds until light blinks red.
Set up Eero from scratch after reset completes.

Resetting can fix software/configuration issues.

7. Contact Eero Support

If you still can’t get a stable wired connection after trying these steps, reach out to Eero customer support:

Live chat: https://eero.com/chat
Support site: https://support.eero.com
Email: [email protected]

Eero’s team can provide advanced troubleshooting help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about Eero’s wired connectivity:

Can I connect multiple Eeros via Ethernet?

Yes, you can daisy chain multiple Eeros together through Ethernet ports to create a wired backhaul or mesh network. Just make sure not to connect more than 2-3 Eeros together in a chain.

Do all Eeros have Ethernet ports?

The Eero Pro and Eero Pro 6 models have two Ethernet ports each. However, the smaller Eero Beacon is wireless only without a wired port.

What happens if I connect my switch to the modem instead of Eero?

Always connect switches and hubs to your Eero gateway’s Ethernet ports, not directly to your modem. Connecting to the modem can cause NAT/DHCP issues.

How can I tell if my Ethernet cable is Cat 5, Cat 5e, Cat 6?

Look for a label on the cable jacket or near the connectors indicating the category. Cat 5 cables are typically solid color while Cat 5e/6 have colored pairs.

Conclusion

With this comprehensive guide, you should now have a better understanding of what causes Eero wired connectivity problems and a systematic process for resolving them. The good news is in most cases it’s an easy fix like a loose cable or firmware update.

To summarize, focus first on the physical connections, then power cycle Eero, update software, simplify network, replace cables, and factory reset Eero as needed. Feel free to bookmark this page for reference.

I hope you can get your wired devices back online quickly! Let me know in the comments if this guide helped you or if you have any other tips for troubleshooting Eero’s wired connections.

Eero Wired Connection Not Working? Here’s Your Step-by-Step Fix!

Why Use a Wired Connection in the First Place?