5 Ways to Use Your Computer’s Ethernet Port (Without Connecting to Your Router)

Back in the day, when Wi-Fi routers were not that popular, you would find many people using RJ45 Ethernet cables to connect their computers to the Internet. Even now, many users default to a wired internet connection when they want a reliable setup with no network drops. For example, gaming setups, workstations, and servers run without interruption when connected to the Internet via an Ethernet cable. That’s also a big reason why brands sell specific gaming Ethernet cables, flat Ethernet cables for better cable management, and blue Ethernet cables for a different look in a commercial setup. If you’re confused by so many types of cables, don’t worry – you’ll be relieved to know that SlashGear has a guide on how to choose the right Ethernet cable for your computer.

If you’ve got a few of these RJ45 cables lying around, there’s actually a lot you can do with them without connecting your computer to the Internet. For example, you can connect the printer to your computer with an Ethernet cable instead of using Wi-Fi or USB. Likewise, you can share your computer’s Internet connection or transfer large files that would otherwise take a lot of time. So, even if you have a PC or laptop with an unused Ethernet port, here’s how you can repurpose it without using it to access the Internet.

If you’ve ever tried to transfer 4K video files, or large backups, or anything that amounts to hundreds of gigabytes of data between two computers, using Wi-Fi to do it can take hours. USB flash drives, or very fast portable SSDs, require you to first copy the data from one computer and then paste it into another, adding unnecessary time to the process. If you’re looking for a seamless solution, your Ethernet port offers a straightforward, fast alternative. Simply plug an Ethernet cable directly into the ports of both computers. Thanks to the Auto-MDIX technology present in many network cards since the last decade, the connection is established automatically. Next, jump into the network adapter settings on both PCs to manually assign static IP addresses to the same subnet, such as setting the first PC to 192.168.1.1 and the second to 192.168.1.2, both with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.

Once configured, enable file sharing in Windows or macOS, right-click the folder you want to transfer, and share it with the local network. You can access it from another machine by typing the IP address into your file explorer. This method is advantageous because it bypasses your router, which means that transmissions are not slowed down by other streaming or gaming devices on your network. A standard Gigabit Ethernet port will give you a transfer speed of up to 125 MB/s, but if both your devices have 2.5GbE or 10GbE ports, you can reach speeds of up to 300 MB/s or 1.2 GB/s, respectively. This is undoubtedly one of the fastest and most secure ways to transfer large files between two computers.

You may find yourself in a situation where your PC has a great Internet connection through your home or office Wi-Fi router, but you have another device, such as an office laptop or an old desktop PC without a network card, that doesn’t have Wi-Fi capability. In these cases, you can use your PC’s Ethernet port to share its Internet connection — turning your computer into a router or personal hotspot. You can do that by connecting one end of an Ethernet cable to your PC that is connected to the Internet, and the other to a device that needs Internet access. In Windows, navigate to the Network Connections panel, right-click the adapter that currently has Internet access, and select its properties. Under the Sharing tab, simply check the box to allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection and select your Ethernet adapter from the drop-down menu.

Your PC will immediately start forwarding Internet traffic to the connected device. This trick is an absolute lifesaver in hotels or other public places that use captive portals with web logins. Some devices like portable game consoles or older smart TVs may struggle to load the login screen, but you can still use this method by using a USB-C to Ethernet adapter. This way, you only have to confirm the connection on your main device. In addition, if your router is too far away for your device to receive a good wireless signal but your PC has a strong, high-gain Wi-Fi signal, using your PC to use tethering provides a strong, hard-wired connection for free gaming or streaming.

A Network Attached Storage (NAS) device is a personal cloud server for your home or office, usually connected to a central router so that any device on the network can access its contents. However, if you are a solo creative professional, such as a video editor or music producer, you may want to bypass the network altogether and mount a NAS directly at your workstation for maximum performance. After all, you will be the only one accessing the archived files. You can achieve this by connecting an Ethernet cable directly from the LAN port on the back of the NAS into the Ethernet port on your PC. As a PC-to-PC file transfer method, you need to ensure that both devices can communicate by assigning them static IP addresses.

Access your NAS’s control panel to assign its Ethernet port a static IP such as 10.0.10.1. Then, go into your PC’s network settings and give its Ethernet adapter an IP address in the same range, such as 10.0.10.2. You can then easily map the NAS drives directly to your operating system using that IP address. The main advantage here is the fast speed. Most modern NAS enclosures come equipped with 10-Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) ports, and using those speeds on a regular network would require purchasing an expensive 10GbE network switch and upgrading your router. By wiring the NAS directly to a 10GbE PCIe card in your PC, you save hundreds of dollars on network equipment while ensuring that large transfers are never blocked by network traffic from other users in the home.

Printers are some of the most useless devices out there. We’ve all experienced the frustration of a wireless printer mysteriously dropping its connection when a document needs to be printed quickly. While most network printers are designed to be connected to a router to serve the entire home or office, you can actually connect a network printer directly to your PC’s Ethernet port to create a highly reliable, one-stop printing station. To set this up, connect an Ethernet cable from the LAN port on the back of the printer directly to your computer. Next, use the screen on the printer to navigate to its network settings and turn off DHCP. Then, manually assign a static IP address, such as 192.168.8.60. You will then need to match this subnet to your PC by going to your Ethernet adapter settings and setting the static IP as 192.168.8.61.

Finally, when adding a printer to your PC settings, skip the automatic search and choose to add it manually using a TCP/IP address. Enter the printer’s static IP to allow your OS to install the necessary drivers. You finally have a reliable printer setup as a direct connection eliminates the need for troubleshooting related to printers leaving the network. In addition, this is a very good setup from a security point of view. If you are printing sensitive documents, legal agreements, or confidential client data, keeping the printer off the grid ensures that no one else can access the printer’s memory.

If you use two computers side by side, carrying two separate keyboards, mice, and other peripherals can clutter your desk and affect your workflow. KVM switch hardware solves this, but is often expensive and can end up causing cable damage. Software KVMs, on the other hand, allow you to share a single mouse and keyboard with multiple computers, and (you guessed it) you can use it over an Ethernet connection. Connect an Ethernet cable between the two computers and configure the static IP addresses on both machines’ Ethernet adapters so that they share the same subnet. Note that you will need to keep both computers connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi.

Next, install a KVM software solution such as Barrier or Mouse without Borders. Select a PC with a physical keyboard and mouse as the server, and point the second PC to the server’s static IP address as the client. Although you can run software KVMs over your home Wi-Fi, doing so may introduce latency issues or micro-stutters, especially if other users in your home or office are also using the router. By running the software KVM over a solid Ethernet connection, you can ensure that latency is virtually zero. The result is more space on your desk, cost savings from not having to buy a hardware switch, and a seamless way to move your cursor between computers.