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Plugable USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
$16.95 USD
SKU: USB3-E1000Amazon Rating : (4805 Reviews)
Features
- Faster than WiFi—With this USB ethernet adapter upgrade to wired Gigabit speeds via USB. This fast USB 3.0 Gigabit solution powered by the ASIX AX88179 chipset provides more performance and stability than most Wi-Fi networks
- Easy Installation—Automatic driver installation via Windows Update on Windows 11, 10, 8.x, 7, and XP (with existing internet connection). Functionality built into the Linux kernel from 3.9 onward (compile required for 2.6 to 3.8)
- Features—Ethernet USB Adapter offers practical speeds over 700Mbps on USB 3.0 and Gigabit network. IPv4/IPv6 checksum offload engine, crossover detection and auto-correction, TCP large send offload, and IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet. Max 4K jumbo frames
- Compatibility—Not supported on macOS. Not recommended for Lenovo Yoga 2/3 due to issues with their USB 3.0 controller. Compatible with docked Nintendo Switch, or handheld mode with compliant USB-C to USB 3.0 solution
- 2-Year Coverage, Lifetime Support—Every Plugable product, including this USB to ethernet adapter, is covered against defects for 2 years and comes with lifetime support. If you ever have questions, contact our North American-based team - even before purchase
This product is TAA compliant
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Plugable USB 3.0 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
The Plugable USB 3.0 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter (USB3-E1000) is an easy way to gain wired gigabit network speeds over USB 3.0 for faster HD video streaming, gaming, web browsing, network access, and more. It's also the perfect travel companion for any laptop or tablet due to its small size and USB bus powered design. Some common uses include:
- Adding wired gigabit network support to Windows, Ultrabooks, or notebooks without an Ethernet connection
- Replacing or upgrading network adapters for your computer
- USB network adapters can improve speeds compared to older 10/100 adapters, and most wireless networks
- Adding additional network interfaces, and transferring files peer-to-peer over Ethernet
Please note, this adapter is NOT a solution for connecting USB devices like printers, hard drives, etc to a network. This adapter cannot be used to share Ethernet, WiFi, or data between multiple devices. This adapter cannot be used for Preboot Execution Environment (PXE). This adapter is NOT supported on macOS. Please see our Compatibility section for info on supported adapters for macOS.
Chipset
Inside the USB3-E1000 is an ASIX AX88179 chipset for fast 10/100/1000Mbit network speeds and maximum compatibility with almost all USB 3.0, 2.0, and 1.1 hosts.
Compatibility
In the Box
**Update - July 28, 2021 - We're aware of an issue affecting the installation and operation of the drivers for this adapter on M1 Mac systems running Big Sur 11.5.1, and are investigating the issue and potential solutions. Please stay tuned to our blog post and our website for further details as we investigate this emerging issue.
Thank you!
Compatible with:
- Microsoft Windows—11, 10, 8.x, and 7
- Linux kernels—3.9 and above have built-in drivers
- ChromeOS—Support with up-to-date systems
- Nintendo Switch—Compatible with Switch in Docked Mode. (For the Switch Lite and handheld modes, try our USBC-E1000 Gigabit Adapter.) The built-in performance test on the Nintendo Switch provides inconsistent results due to its implementation, even with the built-in WiFi connection on the Switch. It is recommended to run the test several times to see the variance
Not Compatible with:
- ARM-based Windows RT and Windows Mobile
- Most Android devices, TiVo Series 2, Wii, or other non-PC platforms
- Not recommended for use with FreeBSD or pfSense
If you have macOS, we would suggest to use one of our other adapters listed below:
Performance:
- Plug into any compatible laptop or desktop currently limited to 10/100 Ethernet or no Ethernet at all, and benefit from faster transfers on your gigabit Ethernet network. (Also works on 10/100 Ethernet networks at their native speeds.)
- USB 3.0 systems support theoretical maximum transfer speeds up to 5Gbps and USB 2.0 supports up to 480Mbps.
- In practice, most machines will see up to a doubling of network speeds by moving from a 100Mbps Fast Ethernet to a 1000Mbps gigabit Ethernet via USB 2.0, and could see even more substantial gains on USB 3.0.
Plugable Gigabit Ethernet Comparison Chart
This comparison chart looks at Plugable's line of USB Gigabit Adapters across important categories to help you choose the one for your needs
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
USB Type |
USB 3.0 (Type A) |
USB-C |
USB-C |
USB 3.0 (Type-A) USB-C |
Network Speed |
1 Gigabit |
1 Gigabit |
1 Gigabit |
2.5 Gigabit (See product page for details) |
Thunderbolt 3 Compatibility |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
System Compatibility |
Compatible with Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS. (Driver download may be required) Not supported for macOS |
Compatible with Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS. (Driver download may be required) Not supported for macOS |
Compatible with modern versions of macOS, Windows, Linux and Chrome OS |
Compatible with modern versions of macOS, Windows, Linux and Chrome OS (Driver download may be required) |
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You can always contact support if you need help too!
Understanding and Troubleshooting Network Performance
Computer networking is a complex topic. In this article, we'll be taking a deep dive on the nuances of network performance for those who need some additional explanation while striving to be concise, and to educate users of various experience levels relating computer hardware and computer networking.
If you just need to know how to perform a network performance test/benchmark, jump down to configuring iPerf.
Core Network Concepts
LAN vs WAN
With regards to network performance, it is crucial to first separate whether an issue is with Wide Area Network (WAN) performance, or if the issue is with Local Area Network (LAN) performance.
Your LAN is essentially the network inside your home or business. Many homes use a combination modem/router device provided by their Internet Service Provider (ISP). In some cases, especially in businesses, you may have a separate modem and router, along with other equipment connecting to the router such as a network switch.
Your modem, and the connection it establishes to your ISP—whether through coaxial cable, fiber, phone lines, or long-range wireless—essentially marks the point between the WAN and the LAN. The connection your modem makes to your ISP is the WAN, and any devices you connect through your router behind that modem belong to the LAN.
Link Rate
Almost every type of connection your computer makes to any piece of hardware will have a link rate of some kind. The link rate establishes how fast data can possibly be transferred across any given connection, but it does not guarantee how fast the hardware on either end of the connection will actually transfer data.
The concept of link rates, and their related bottlenecks, is likely best conveyed by giving an example of what connections might be involved in transferring a file from one computer on your LAN to another.
- 800Mbps—The file source is a USB 3.0 thumb drive capable of 100MB/s (800Mbps) read/write.
- 480Mbps—The USB 3.0 thumb drive is plugged into a USB 2.0 port on the PC, which has a maximum throughput of 480Mbps
- 1000Mbps—PC1's Ethernet connection establishes 1Gbps (1000Mbps) link to the router via Ethernet
- 300Mbps—The router connects to a second PC (we'll refer to this as PC2) via Wi-Fi, and it has established a 300Mbps link to the Wi-Fi adapter on PC2
- 480Mbps—The Wi-Fi adapter on PC2 is connected via a USB 2.0 port. The link rate of the USB connection to PC2 is at 480Mbps
- 6000Mbps—PC2 is going to store the file on an internal hard drive with a link rate of 6Gbps
- 1600Mbps—File Destination: SATA hard drive capable of 200MB/s (1600Mbps) read/write.
Following this chain, we see that 300Mbps is the slowest link rate established. This means that, regardless of the link rates established elsewhere, the absolute maximum the data can possibly be transferred is 300Mbps.
if we were to change the Wi-Fi connection to a wired Ethernet connection capable of 1Gbps, our performance bottleneck would then become the USB 2.0 connection to the USB drive where the file is stored.
Ports and Interfaces
Interfaces
A network interface represents connections, whether wired or wireless, that are made to form a network between devices.
Ports
Some may refer to physical hardware connections as "ports". For the purposes of networking, ports are logical constructs that can also be referred to as "network ports". Each network interface has 65,535 of these logical ports. Each port on a network interface is a separate data connection.
Benchmarking Network Adapter Performance
To properly benchmark network adapter performance, we need to:
- Use a simple LAN configuration
- Eliminate bottlenecks, especially link rate bottlenecks
Websites like speedtest.net, fast.com, and other performance tools in your web browser are going to use your WAN connection, and are not appropriate for determining if a network adapter is working well.
Transferring files from one computer to another on your LAN is typically not the best way to benchmark a network adapter. File transfers are bottlenecked by a number of things, including performance limitations of the disk the data is on, and often times a lack of establishing parallel network connections to perform the task.
One of the most accurate ways to benchmark network performance on a LAN is by using iPerf . To more effectively benchmark network adapter performance, it is best to establish a point-to-point connection between two PCs, rather than connecting through a router or switch.
Configuring iPerf
To test a connection using iPerf, you'll need at least two network interfaces, and preferably two computers. You'll also need to know the IP (Internet Protocol) address assigned to each network interface . One network interface will function as an iPerf server, and the other network interface will function as an iPerf client. Lastly, you'll need to download the version of iPerf 3.x that's appropriate for your computer's operating system and extract/install it .
Windows
- Make sure the drivers for both network interfaces involved in the test are using up-to-date drivers. Drivers for Plugable products can be found here.
- Download and extract iPerf for Windows
- Open Command Prompt
- Press Windows Key + R or + R, then enter
cmdin the window that appears - Search the Start Menu for
Command Prompt, and open it
- Press Windows Key + R or + R, then enter
- Navigate Command Prompt to the directory the directory where iPerf is located
- The
cdcommand is for 'change directory'- If you have a folder named 'iperf' on your Windows desktop, you can reach it in command prompt with the command
cd %USERPROFILE%\Desktop\iperf
- If you have a folder named 'iperf' on your Windows desktop, you can reach it in command prompt with the command
- The
- Run iperf in server mode via Command Prompt
iperf3.exe -s
macOS
- Usually it is best to install iperf on macOS using brew in Terminal
- Make sure the drivers for both network interfaces involved in the test are using up-to-date drivers
- Open Terminal
- Run iPerf in server mode
iperf3 -s
Linux
- Usually it is best to install iperf using the package manager in your Linux distro. For example, in Ubuntu, use
apt: sudo apt install iperf3
- Make sure the drivers for both network interfaces involved in the test are using up-to-date Drivers
- Open Terminal
- Run iPerf in server mode
iperf3 -s
Next, you'll need to run iPerf in client mode, targeting the IP address of the server/interface where iPerf is running in server mode. Additionally, we'll run the test for 30 seconds using -t 30 and with four parallel connections using -P 4. Running 4 parallel connections is optimal for saturating a network link.
Windows
- Open Command Prompt
- Press Windows Key + R or + R, then enter
cmdin the window that appears - Search the Start Menu for
Command Prompt, and open it
- Press Windows Key + R or + R, then enter
- Navigate Command Prompt to the directory the directory where iPerf is located
- The
cdcommand is for 'change directory'- If you have a folder named 'iperf' on your Windows desktop, you can reach it in command prompt with the command
cd %USERPROFILE%\Desktop\iperf
- If you have a folder named 'iperf' on your Windows desktop, you can reach it in command prompt with the command
- The
- Run iperf in client mode via Command Prompt (replace 192.168.0.200 with the IP address of the server/interface where iPerf is running in server mode)
iperf3.exe -c 192.168.0.200 -t 30 -P 4
macOS / Linux
- Open Terminal
- Run iPerf in client mode (replace 192.168.0.200 with the IP address of the server/interface where iPerf is running in server mode)
iperf3 -c 192.168.0.200 -t 30 -P 4
iPerf should start performing a network performance test. If the test fails to start, make sure that iPerf is not being blocked by your PC's/Mac's firewall.
Why iPerf is Ideal for Benchmarking
Unlike a file transfer, iPerf runs in memory on the PC and generates data to send using the CPU directly. This alleviates potential bottlenecks generated by storage devices, and allows you to explicitly control how many parallel connections are being used to transfer data rather than being unsure if parallel network connections are being used by other means.
Conclusion
There's a lot more to networking that isn't covered in this article, but we hope this helps explain enough to get an accurate measure of your network performance.
If you need assistance with your Plugable product that features network connectivity, please contact us for further assistance.
Plugable USB Ethernet Adapter not Working after macOS Catalina 10.15 update? We can help!
**UPDATE 2: ASIX has provided a final release driver for use with macOS 10.15.3 (Catalina) only due to updated notarization requirements from Apple as of February 2, 2020. After thorough vetting and testing in coordination with ASIX, we have updated our download links to this 2.16.0 final release build from the previous 2.15.0 and 2.15.0-Beta 1 builds both on this blog post and our driver page for affected devices.
We are leaving the original post below as it is for posterity, and recommend using the final driver set below for our USB3-E1000, and USBC-E1000 adapters. Please feel free to reach out to us directly via our contact email below, or post in the comments section with any questions or concerns you may have.
(Please note, these drivers and instructions are intended only for our Plugable manufactured adapters. If your adapter is from another manufacturer, we would suggest to reach out to that company directly for support.)
**UPDATE 1: ASIX has provided a final release driver for use with macOS 10.15 (Catalina) only. After thorough vetting and testing in coordination with ASIX, we have updated our download links to this 2.15.0 final release build from the previous Beta 1 build both on this blog post and our driver page for affected devices.
USB3-E1000 & USBC-E1000 AX88179 macOS 10.15 Catalina Drivers v2.16.0 Final Release – 01/30/2020 For use with macOS 10.15 only and with support for February 2020 Apple Notarization Requirements. Click the button below to download the latest drivers.
**Original post from October 4, 2019
Background
The installation of macOS 10.15 Catalina will disable older drivers for some devices and devices which rely on these drivers will no longer function until a compatible driver is reinstalled. Most Plugable products are not affected by this, with the exception of our USB Ethernet adapters that use ASIX Gigabit Ethernet chips (models: USBC-E1000, USB3-E1000, USB2-E1000, and USB2-E100).
macOS 10.15 (Catalina), is nearly here, and with it come some new Application and driver requirements. For additional details about the new DriverKit model and the transition to 64-bit application requirements, check out our other Catalina blog posts here and here.
While these are positive changes for the Mac ecosystem, the new driver requirements in Catalina will take time to get used to for some driver developers. In the short term some products will have a less user-friendly installation process as driver developers adapt to these changes. The vast majority of Plugable products that work in previous versions of macOS will continue to do so without incident in Catalina. However, USB Ethernet adapters (from Plugable and others) that use ASIX chips can pose the following challenges:
- Drivers that worked for users in macOS 10.14 and earlier will no longer function after updating to macOS 10.15 Catalina until updated, compatible drivers are installed
- Attempting to reinstall an older driver version will trigger a message stating: “The installation failed. The installer encountered an error that caused the installation to fail. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance.”
- The updated macOS 10.15-compatible beta driver from ASIX has a persistent on-screen dialog box which makes the driver installation more challenging than usual
Because of challenges with the beta ASIX driver installation process in 10.15, we will no longer officially recommend our ASIX-based Gigabit Ethernet adapters on macOS Catalina until ASIX has developed an updated driver version with a less cumbersome installation process.
Note that these challenges all pertain to software; the hardware remains compatible. This includes the following USB to Ethernet adapters models: USB3-E1000, USBC-E1000, USB2-E1000, and USB2-E100. Apple is expected to release the final version of macOS Catalina, on or around Friday October 4, 2019.
Click the button below to download the drivers, and see the step-by-step instructions in the next section that document the driver installation and macOS Gatekeeper approval process for our USB3-E1000 and USBC-E1000 adapters, which both use the ASIX AX88179 chipset.
Installation Instructions
- After downloading, open the folder downloaded and run the AX88179_178A_v2.15.0_beta1.pkg file
- This window will open for the installation process. Please continue through the process as guided by the installer.
- During this process, you will be asked to input your account password to allow the installation to continue, please do so and click “Install Software” to continue.
- You’ll be prompted with this message below stating that the extension cannot be loaded. Please note, clicking OK, won’t actually start the driver installation. When you click OK, the message will pop up continually.
- Click and drag this error dialog box out of the way, while keeping it on your monitor for later access (do not close this dialog box). Now, please go to the Apple Menu (on the toolbar at the top of your screen) > System Preferences. When System Preferences opens, visit Security & Privacy > General tab. Here, we see the extension signature listed but cannot allow it to install yet. Please click on the lock at the bottom as we need to allow the process for Gatekeeper.
- You’ll be prompted for your password, please enter it to unlock the option to Allow the extension to install
- After unlocking the options with your password, click the button to “Allow” the installation of the extension
- Now you have permission to open the package for installation. Please click, OK on the System Extension notification you moved out of the way which will close the window this time, and allow the installation to begin
- Now, the installation has begun.
- Installation complete! Now that everything is finished, go ahead and click Restart
- You’ll be asked if you want to move the installer package into the trash. This is up to you, and won’t affect the installation process. Please note, once you pick an option your Mac will restart
After installation and restarting you may wish to turn off your WiFi temporarily while you check the connection. Go into System Preferences > Network, and you should see the wired adapter with a green, connected status! (Please note, your network information will show up here)
FAQ
I have this adapter, and it no longer works after the Catalina update. What are my options?
Installing an updated version of the ASIX drivers will restore functionality.
Are adapters from other brands affected by the Catalina update as well?
Yes, the latest macOS Catalina update will affect any adapters with ASIX chipsets as drivers are not included in macOS and require installation by all customers upgrading to Catalina
I have an adapter from another manufacturer and it won't work. Can I use your steps and drivers?
Sorry for the trouble! No, unfortunately not. The troubleshooting steps and drivers we have are only for the USB3-E1000, and USBC-E1000 adapters that we manufacture. We would suggest to reach out to the manufacturer of your adapter directly for support.
Will users who upgrade to Catalina with the older ASIX drivers installed get an error message?
Unfortunately, not, the drivers will silently fail to load and no error messages will be presented to any user of incompatible drivers.
What happens if I try to install older drives on Catalina now that I’ve updated?
The installation process will attempt to go through, but will ultimately fail with the following message: “The installation failed. The installer encountered an error that caused the installation to fail. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance. We do apologize for any inconvenience and are here to help.
If you have any additional questions, please let us know in the comments below, or reach out to us directly at support@plugable.com
Thank you
Installing Plugable USB-Ethernet Drivers in Windows 10
**This is a legacy article from 2015. Please see notes for important information on changes.
Update: A Windows 10 driver now exists for the USB2-E1000. However, it will not appear in the CD that comes with the adapter until the next lot of adapters is shipped. The updated driver can be downloaded from this link: Windows 10/8/8.1, 7, Vista, and XP drivers for USB2-E1000.
If you are not able to connect to the Internet without installing the driver, you can download it onto a flash drive on another computer and use that to install it.
In testing Plugable’s USB-Ethernet adapters with Windows 10, we were happy to discover they all work successfully when their drivers are properly installed. However, an installation problem could cause issues with the USB2-E1000.
Drivers are already built into Windows 10 for: the ASIX AX88772 chip in our:
- The ASIX AX88772 chip in our USB2-E100 and USB2-OTGE100 adapters
- The ASIX AX88179 chip in our USB3-E1000, USBC-E1000, and USB3-HUB3ME*.
*Note In 2017, our USB3-HUB3ME was redesigned to include a Realtek RTL8153 chipset and drivers. Windows 10 should automatically configure these drivers when you plug the adapter in.) When you insert these adapters into a USB port, the drivers should automatically install with no need for an internet connection.
However, the driver for the ASIX AX88178 chip in our USB2-E1000 is not pre-installed in Windows 10, and we have discovered a problem with the downloadable driver that keeps it from installing. If this happens, the adapter will show up in Device Manager as “AX88178” with a Code 28 error: “”Drivers for this device are not installed.”
There are several ways to work around this issue, depending on the scenario:
1. Upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1: If you have already installed the driver for the USB2-E1000 in Windows 7 or 8.1 and upgrade directly from that version to Windows 10, the currently installed driver will be available to Windows 10, and your adapter should work without any further effort. If you haven’t yet installed this driver, please install it before upgrading.
The easiest way is to establish an internet connection, either wirelessly or through another Ethernet port, then plug in the USB2-E1000. Windows Update should see it and automatically download the correct driver. You can also download and install the driver from our website or from the disk that came with your adapter.
2. Doing a clean install of Windows 10 or using the USB2-E1000 on a new Windows 10 computer: Since the previous Windows 7 or 8.1 driver will not be carried over to a clean install of Windows 10, it must be freshly installed. The only way to accomplish this is to have an internet connection available when you first plug in the USB2-E1000.
That will allow Windows Update to download and install the driver. If you are in a situation where this is not possible, we recommend delaying the update until an internet connection is available, or until this issue has been fixed. Currently, the driver on the Plugable and ASIX websites is not working with Windows 10.
If you’re a user of a Plugable USB-Ethernet adapter and are experiencing issues, we’re here to help! If support is needed, please run our PlugDebug tool found HERE to collect system logs, and send the resulting file to support@plugable.com along with a description of the behavior you’re experiencing and any additional details you feel are relevant.
ASIX DEXT Ethernet Driver in macOS 11.x, 12.x, 13.x, and 14.x (Sonoma)
Quick Links
Update – September 25, 2023 – We’ve tested and validated a new DriverKit DEXT v2.4.0 for the ASIX AX88179 chipset that we use in our wired USB3-E1000 and USBC-E1000 Ethernet adapters to restore functionality in macOS 14.x Sonoma.
Click the button below to download the drivers for macOS 14.x Sonoma. Then, scroll down to the Installation Instructions section for instructions to uninstall the current driver before installing the latest version.
Update – October 29, 2021 – We’ve tested and validated a new DriverKit DEXT v2.0.0 for the ASIX AX88179 chipset that we use in our wired USB3-E1000 and USBC-E1000 Ethernet adapters to restore functionality in macOS 12.x Monterey.
Click the button below to download the drivers for macOS 12.x Monterey. Then, scroll down to the Installation Instructions section for instructions to uninstall the current driver before installing the latest version.
**Update – October 27, 2021 – We're aware of an issue affecting the installation and use of the ASIX AX88179 drivers on macOS 12.x Monterey, and are working towards a resolution. This issue affects our USB3-E1000 and USBC-E1000 adapters. Please stay tuned to this article, and our main blog post as we investigate the issue.
**Update – August 18, 2021 – We’ve tested and validated a new DriverKit DEXT v1.3.0 (Beta 1) for the AX88179 chipset that we use in our USB3-E1000, and USBC-E1000 adapters to restore functionality to M1 Systems running macOS 11.5.1 and any users running the macOS 12 Monterey Beta.
Click the button below to download the drivers, and then scroll down to the new Update for M1 Systems, and macOS 11.5.1+ or macOS 12 Monterey section for instructions to uninstall the current driver before installing the latest version.
**Update - July 28, 2021 - We're aware of an issue affecting the installation and operation of these drivers on M1 Mac systems running Big Sur 11.5.1, and are investigating the issue and potential solutions. Please stay tuned to our blog post and our website for further details as we investigate this emerging issue.
Thank you!
**Original Article - May 28, 2021 - For the full background regarding the history of ASIX drivers for the Plugable USB3-E1000 and USBC-E1000, please visit our blog post for further details.
Click the button below to download the drivers.
Installation Instructions
Download the driver from the link above in the Driver section. This download should automatically go into your Downloads folder. Do not plug your Ethernet Adapter into your computer until prompted!
Follow these steps after you’ve downloaded the installation file. (Please note, that these screenshots show the previous v1.2.0 version of the drivers, but the steps will work with the new drivers)
- Go into your Downloads folder, open the .zip archive, the folder within, and then double click on the ASIX_USB_Device_Installer_v1.2.0.dmg disk image file.
- Next, double click and open the ASIX_USB_Device_Installer_v1.2.0.pkg package. You may see the following screen pop up stating that Apple can’t check the software package for malicious software. To be clear, these drivers are safe, validated, and code-signed by Apple. But, since the download hasn’t come directly from Apple’s servers, this message will display. Click OK to proceed.
- Next, click Open.
- Click Continue through the the next screens until prompted to install.
- Then, click Install to begin the installation.
- You will be prompted to put in your password. Enter your password into the box, and then click Install Software.
- After you enter your password, the installation will begin. Once it has finished, you’ll see this message to run ASIX_USB_DEVICE_APP in the launchpad after rebooting. Click OK to acknowledge this warning, and then click Restart to complete the installation.
-
OPTIONAL - After you click Restart, another window should ask if you would like to give the installer access to the Downloads folder. If you allow the installer to have access, you can automatically move the package file to the trash, or you can do it manually later if you'd like.
- After making your selection to keep the file or move it to the trash, your computer will Reboot. Next, we need to run the ASIX_USB_DEVICE_APP as we saw in step 7.
Post-Reboot Steps
- Open a Finder window, click on Applications and then double click on the ASIX_USB_DEVICE_APP item in your Applications folder
- A screen will pop up with details about activating the driver installation. These must be followed to completion for functionality! This includes not plugging your Ethernet adapter in until after step 4 in their instructions. Click Activate to continue.
- You’ll receive a message pop up stating that the System Extension is Blocked. Click Open Security Preferences. (Note: This will occur the first time you install the new ASIX DEXT driver. Subsequent installs or updates to the driver package should not require a repeat approval of the activation.)
- This will take you to the Security & Privacy preferences (Apple menu > System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Network > General). Look down to the bottom left of the window, and you’ll see a Gold Lock. Click the lock, which will open a prompt asking for your password.
- Enter your password in the box to open the lock, and click Unlock when you’re finished.
- Now, with the lock open, click Allow to allow the driver extension to proceed. Then, exit System Preferences and the ASIX Application, and Restart your computer.
- Once you have restarted your computer, please plug the Ethernet adapter with Ethernet cable into your computer, and let’s check for an active connection in the Network pane(Apple Menu > System Preferences > Network)
After checking your network status, you may still have the ASIX application running on your dock. You don’t need to keep the app open for network functionality, but you cannot delete the application at this time. This is a requirement for DEXT functionality.
Uninstallation Steps
- After downloading the installation file from above, go into your Downloads folder, open the .zip archive and then double click on the disk image file:
- ASIX_USB_Device_Installer_v1.3.0.dmg for macOS 11.x Big Sur
- ASIX_USB_Device_Installer_v2.0.0.dmg for macOS 12.x Monterey
- We need to uninstall the current driver set before installing the new one. Double click on the ASIX_USB_Device_Uninstaller_v1.0.0.pkg package and a screen for the Uninstaller will appear. Click Continue, to move to the next screen
- Click Install to move on (Some of these next screens say, "install", but don't worry, it will actually uninstall the driver!). A screen will pop up asking you for your password. Enter in your password, and then click Install Software to move on.
- Next, click Install Software and continue through the next screens until the installation is complete. Restart the computer after the installation has finished
- After restarting, open the .zip archive again, and double click on the ASIX_USB_Device_Installer_v1.3.0.dmg disk image file. Run the Installer this time, and follow the installation process through to the end.
Please note, the screenshots and steps in the Installation Instructions section reference the v1.2.0 of the drivers that we uninstalled earlier.
Known Issues
ASIX has been alerted to these issues and continues to investigate these behaviors while working towards a resolution. If you encounter any additional issues that you can reproduce, please let us know the steps to reproduce the problem and we will work with ASIX on investigating the behavior.
- DHCP Lease - There are a few issues that may come up after installation and require manually adding the adapter to the Network list, and or renewing the DHCP Lease.
- If the adapter shows up in the Network list but is disconnected
- If the adapter doesn't show up in the Network list
- These tasks are easy to do, and we have steps laid out in another article that you can see if you click here.
- M1 Sleep - We have observed inconsistencies in the adapter's functionality during Sleep / Power Nap in macOS 11 on Apple M1 hosts. This includes the network connection not being picked up during Sleep and the wired connection not restoring to the host after the system Wakes from Sleep. In most cases, simply reconnecting the Ethernet adapter to the host has solved the problem. However, in some instances, the computer required a restart.
We hope this was helpful! If you have additional questions, or encounter any issues installing the drivers or using the adapter, please reach out to us directly at support@plugable.com, and we'll be happy to help!
How to manually add a Plugable USB Ethernet adapter to macOS
Our Plugable USB Ethernet adapters are a great way to add wired Ethernet connectivity to your MacBook via USB! Once drivers are installed and the adapter is properly plugged in you should get a connection. But, sometimes there are exceptions, and you may need to manually add the adapter to your network devices to be able to use it. This is easy to do, so let's get started!
Manually add the adapter
- Plug the adapter into your mac, and go to the Network Pane by clicking on the Apple Menu >System Preferences > Network. Then, click the plus button in the bottom left corner of the screen which will open a box to add the new adapter.
- Click the dropdown menu to open a list of available interfaces (devices).
- The adapter should show up as USB 10/100/1000 LAN, but may also show up as USB Ethernet, or AX88179 if you're using our USB3-E1000 or USBC-E1000 adapters. Click on it to move on.
- Now, you should see it listed as both the Interface and Service Name. Click Create to move on.
- Now we see the adapter listed in the device listing on the left. Check to see if it shows up as Connected. But, it may show up as Not Connected. If this is the case, click the button for Advanced... down in the bottom right corner of the screen to open a new window with options.
Renew the DHCP Lease
The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) should automatically request and assign an IP address to the adapter when its plugged in, but this isn't always the case. Renewing the DHCP Lease will manually request an update to the IP address configuration to let you get online using the adapter.
- Open the Apple Menu > System Preferences > Network > Advanced...> TCP/IP. Then, click Renew DHCP Lease.
- A message will pop up stating that: "renewing the DHCP lease will cause any unsaved changes to be lost." Make sure you've saved any documents, safely close any open programs, and then click Apply.
- Now, you should see the adapter is connected! But, your mac is likely still defaulting to the Wi-Fi connection.
- We would suggest to turn off Wi-Fi while using the adapter for best results. Click Turn Wi-Fi Off, to turn it off.
- Now, the Wi-Fi connection should be off and the wired adapter should be on and connected. You can always turn the Wi-Fi back on when you need to switch back.
We hope this was helpful! Feel free to reach out to us directly at: support@plugable.com, if you have any questions or concerns.
My Plugable product with wired Ethernet is no longer working on macOS. What can I do?
Please Note
The below guide is an advanced troubleshooting step, and we do not recommend doing so unless you are comfortable manually altering files on your Apple product running macOS. You may not be able to perform the below troubleshooting step if you are unable to execute administrative credentials on your laptop. Please reach out to our support first if you do not wish to attempt the below instructions. You can do so at Plugable.com/Support
How to delete a specific Ethernet adapter from your Network devices on macOS
- Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner of your primary monitor, and select ‘System Preferences’
- Next select ‘Network’ in the ‘System Preferences' window.
- In the now visible list, please select the Plugable Ethernet, or Thunderbolt Ethernet device that may not be working as expected.
- Once selected click on the minus button in the bottom left of the network window.
- Click on Apply in the bottom right.
- Next click on the plus button in the bottom left of the network window, and add the previously removed device.
- Click on Apply in the bottom right.
- Test to see if this has resolved the unexpected behavior, and assure that your Ethernet is now working.
- If this does not resolve the problem, please proceed to the next section (As noted previously the next section is for advanced users only!)
Manually erase your macOS Network Settings to fully reset the Network configuration
(Advanced! Click to reveal)
- Open the ‘Finder’ app, then in the ‘Go’ menu at the top of your screen select ‘Computer’
- Click on ‘Macintosh HD’ then Library, Preferences, SystemConfiguration
- Copy the file named ‘NetworkInterfaces.plist’ to your desktop as a backup of your current configuration.
- Delete the original version of the ‘NetworkInterfaces.plist’ located in the SystemConfiguration directory.
- Restart your Mac
- Login to your Mac, and return to System Preferences → Network
- If the list is now empty, please re-add the Plugable or Thunderbolt network adapter by clicking on the plus button in the bottom left of the Network window. Once done click on 'Apply'.
- Test to see if this has resolved the unexpected network behavior
I am still unable to get my Ethernet connection working on my Mac
If this is the case please reach out to our support team. When you do please include a diagnostic log gathered using our PlugDebug tool (instructions are provided on the PlugDebug page). If you are not able to gather the PlugDebug diagnostics do not worry we are still here to help! Please reach out to our support team at support@plugable.com or Plugable.com/Support with a detailed description of your problem, and the model of Plugable product you are using.
How To - Set a Network to Private or Public in Windows 10 & 11
The Windows Firewall may block some networking features when the local network is not set to Private. This article will describe the process for setting the local network, either wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi to be a Private network.
Windows 11
1 - Connect the computer to the network, either wired or wireless
2 - Open the Windows Settings - right-click on the Start Menu and select “Settings” from the pop-up menu
3 - On the left column select “Network & internet”
For Wired Networks
4 - Select the “Ethernet” option
5 - The connected network should be expanded, if not click on “Network Connected" to expand the section
6 - Select the “Network profile type” either “Public network” or “Private network” to suite your needs
For Wi-Fi Networks
4 - Select the “Wi-Fi” option
5 - Select your Wi-Fi network name “properties”
6 - Select the “Network profile type” either “Public network” or “Private network” to suite your needs
Windows 10
1 - Connect the computer to the network, either wired or wireless
2 - Open the Windows Settings - right-click on the Start Menu and select “Settings” from the pop-up menu
3 - Select “Network & Internet” fro the bottom section
4 - Select the “Ethernet” option from the left pane
5 - Select the “Connected” network from the right pane
6 - Select the “Network profile type” either “Public network” or “Private network” to suite your needs
Windows PowerShell
If the option does not show up in the Windows Settings GUI, or if you prefer to use the terminal.
1 - Open a new terminal: Right-click on the Start Menu and select “Terminal”
2 - Run the following command to list the available networks
Get-NetConnectionProfile
PS C:\Users\plugable> Get-NetConnectionProfile Name : Network InterfaceAlias : Ethernet Instance 0 InterfaceIndex : 7 NetworkCategory : Private DomainAuthenticationKind : None IPv4Connectivity : Internet IPv6Connectivity : NoTraffic
3 - Run the following command to set the network to Private
Set-NetConnectionProfile -Name Network -NetworkCategory Private
Where “Network” is the network name from step #2 and “Private” can be either “Public" or “Private”
How to Use Two External Displays with the Lid Closed on MacBook Air and MacBook Pro M3
Overview
With the release of Apple’s M3 CPU chips and the Sonoma 14.6 update your base MacBook Air and MacBook Pro systems with M3 chips can now host two external displays natively in clamshell mode. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up and using two external displays with the lid closed on your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro equipped with an Apple M3 chip.
Requirements
Before getting started, ensure you have the following:
- MacBook Air or MacBook Pro with an Apple M3 chip.
- macOS Sonoma 14.3 or later for an M3 MacBook Air or macOS Sonoma 14.6 or later for an M3 MacBook Pro.
- Two external displays with compatible video inputs (e.g., HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C).
- A dock or graphics adapter can be used as well.
- External keyboard and mouse (wired or wireless).
- Power adapter or power source for your MacBook
- A docking station that provides adequate charge can be used in place of the native power adapter, be sure to check the wattage your dock provides.
Steps to Set Up Dual External Displays with the Lid Closed
1. Set Up Your External Keyboard and Mouse
- If you’re using a wired keyboard and mouse, connect them directly to your MacBook or Plugable dock.
- For wireless peripherals, ensure they are paired with your MacBook and functioning properly.
- An AC adapter/power cable of some kind will also need to be connected for clamshell mode to function properly. This adapter can be one from a docking station or the included Apple adapter.
2. Connect Your Displays
- Connect the first external display to your MacBook using the appropriate cable (e.g., HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C)
- Close your laptop’s lid.
- Connect the second external display using a similar method.
- Ensure both displays are powered on and set to the correct input source.
3. Configure Display Settings
- Open System Settings on your MacBook.
- Go to Displays.
- You should see both external displays listed. Arrange them according to your preference by dragging the display icons.
- Adjust the resolution, refresh rate, and other settings as needed.
4. Enable "Clamshell Mode" (Lid Closed Mode)
- With your external displays connected and set up, close the lid of your MacBook.
- Your MacBook will automatically switch to "Clamshell Mode," where the internal display turns off, and the external displays become your primary screens.
- Ensure your MacBook is connected to a power source to prevent it from entering sleep mode.
5. Check the Display Arrangement
- With the lid closed, check that the external displays are functioning as expected.
- If necessary, re-open the Displays settings to adjust the arrangement, resolution, or other preferences.
Troubleshooting Tips
- No Display on External Monitors: If the external displays are not showing anything, open the lid of your MacBook and check the connections.
- MacBook Sleeps When Lid Is Closed: Make sure your MacBook is connected to a power adapter. Clamshell Mode requires the MacBook to be plugged into an external power source.
- Performance Issues: If you experience lag or performance drops, try lowering the resolution or refresh rate of the external displays.
Thunderbolt Dock Users
With these steps, one can use Plugable Thunderbolt docks to enjoy a dual-display setup without the need for additional software installation. The dock leverages the native capabilities of the MacBook Air M3 and MacBook Pro M3, providing a straightforward and efficient solution for expanding your workspace with additional USB ports, audio, and ethernet (as well as the dual displays).
Additional Resources
If you should need any assistance with your setup, please feel free to reach out to our support team at support@plugable.com.
