Ethernet Router For Mac

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  • When choosing a router for home or office use, you would also want it to have Ethernet connector ports for wired Internet access. The other important factor to look out for is wireless security in the form of WPA2 encryption and a firewall. Best Wireless Routers for Mac.
  • A switch: This gizmo’s job is to provide more network ports for the other computers in your network. Switches typically come in 4- and 8-port configurations. Most Internet routers (sometimes called Internet-sharing devices) include a built-in switch, so if you’ve already invested in an Internet router, make doggone sure that it doesn’t come equipped with the ports you need before you go.

Before WiFi became the most popular and easiest way to connect to the Internet, every Mac and computer used to connect using an Ethernet cable. It was a standard feature of the ports a Mac had available.

Linksys Max-Stream EA7500 Wireless Router. Best Router For Mac (Editor's Choice) Without a. Anker 3-Port USB 3.0 Portable Data Hub. If you want a USB to Ethernet adapter for your Macbook Air that offers more than just an Ethernet port, you may want to consider this adapter that converts one of your Macbook Air’s USB type A ports into an Ethernet port plus three replacement USB ports.

How to connect Mac to Ethernet?

If your Mac has an Ethernet port, then you need an Ethernet cable.

  1. Plug the cable into a Internet at one end (this could be in a wall or a floor-mounted connection)
  2. Make sure the Internet is switched on
  3. Now connect the wire into the Ethernet port in your Mac

Open a browser and test the connection. You should have fully functioning wired Internet, plugged straight into your Mac.

What if I don't have an Ethernet port?

Mac ethernet cableEthernet Router For MacUsb

Most modern Macs don’t. As more people switched to WiFi, having an Ethernet port became less useful. They also take up a lot of hardware space. It is the same reason fewer Macs than ever still have USB ports. It is easier for people to store what they need in the cloud and download as needed than carry things around on USB devices.

However, you still might find it useful, or more secure, to connect to the Internet using an Ethernet port. Thankfully, there is a way around having a Mac that no longer has an Ethernet port. You can still get a hard-wired connection.

Firstly, check what ports your Mac does have. It should either have a USB port, or a Thunderbolt port, or both. Depending on what you have will determine when you need to buy.

Either purchase a:

  • Belkin USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter, or;
  • An Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter

There are other models, but the ones that Apple recommends to make this work.

Here are the steps to take to make this hard-wired connection, even without an Ethernet port:

  1. Connect whichever Apple Ethernet adapter you've bought either to the USB port or Thunderbolt port;
  2. Now plug the Ethernet cable into the Internet connection at its source and the Mac Ethernet adapter at the other end;
  3. Next, go to Apple Menu > System Preferences;
  4. Within System Preferences, click on Network;
  5. A message should appear: New Interface Detected. Click OK;
  6. Now click Apply to save this setting and remember this network connection;
  7. To make this connection more secure, click on Thunderbolt Ethernet interface > Advanced:
  8. Here you can change a range of settings, such as whether the connection is automatic, speed, and other changes that can be made.

Now you should be all set up. Using the Internet should be as quick whether or not you are connected using WiFi or Ethernet.

What happens if I’ve got a slow Ethernet connection?

Connect Pc To Mac Ethernet

Assuming this isn't a problem with the Internet where you live or work, it’s worth looking at what could be making your Mac run slowly.

Thankfully, we have a solution for a Mac that is running slow.

  1. Run CleanMyMac X app (download a free edition here)
  2. Click the Maintenance tab
  3. Here you can try various tune-ups to speed your Mac

The tool that directly translates into Macs speed is “Run Maintenance Scripts”. This restores parts of your system libraries that have started to slow down. Try running it and see if your Mac gets more responsive. As an extra improvement, flush your DNS-cache in the same app. It helps when your network slows down for no reason.

Mac Ethernet Cable

With CleanMyMac X, there are a whole suite of tools you can use that will restore a Mac to how it worked when new. Give your Mac the tune-up it needs, making it run faster, easier to use and improve performance.