Chromebooks consist of connectivity ports that you can use to plug in your peripherals like most other laptops. Again, depending on the model, different Chromebooks have different types of ports, although you will observe one out of two standard ports in every Chromebook—a USB-C or a USB-A port. On the contrary, devices such as the Acer Chromebook Spin 311, HP Chromebook x360 14c, and the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 comprise generous port selection.
With that said, if your work or personal requirements necessitate you to form an ethernet connection through your device, but you don’t have one on it, let this guide show you a compact solution. We’ll be exploring how to connect your Chromebook to ethernet via USB-C port in the tutorial at hand, so keep on reading to leave here knowledgeably well-equipped.
- On a side note, check out Crosh in Chrome OS and how you can open it.
Connecting the Chromebook to ethernet using a USB-C port
To connect your Chromebook to an ethernet port with the help of USB-C, you are going to need what is commonly known as a USB-C to ethernet adapter. This is the most definite way of connecting two different types of interface points with each on a Chromebook that doesn’t comprise a built-in HDMI port.
The method in question is tried and tested. It is currently being employed by millions of people across the spectrum, so you’ll be making a well-informed decision with it.
Apart from the specialized adapter, you will also require a separate ethernet cable that’ll go in your external monitor and the USB-C to HDMI adapter. Once you have all the necessary items, you’ll find it easy to connect your Chromebook to an ethernet port with its USB-C port.
Now, one crucial point to be wary of is that all USB-C to ethernet adapters won’t work on your Chromebook, as we’ve outlined in our best USB-C hubs for Chrome OS guide here. Therefore, it’s imperative to pick a suitable adapter that supports Chromebooks.
We’ve managed to pull out two of the best ones in this specific category, so you won’t have to do the digging yourself. Let’s look at these cherry-picked adapters now and assess what functionality they pack for end-users like you.
Best USB-C to ethernet adapters for Chrome OS
The following are two of the most high-quality USB-C to ethernet adapters that you can grab directly from Amazon and get going with them perfectly.
Cable Matters USB-C to Gigabit ethernet adapter
Cable Matters USB-C to ethernet Adapter
The first product to make it on this list is the Cable Matters USB-C to Gigabit ethernet Adapter. The best part about this gadget is that it complies with the “Works With Chromebook” certification from Google. This initiative rounds up different types of peripherals and other accessories commonly sold online that are officially verified to work on Chrome OS. This is because this operating system’s core build differs from other desktop-grade programs, such as Windows and macOS.
Due to this, all products won’t be compatible with working on Chromebooks. People often look at Amazon reviews and end up buying top-rated products for their devices, but only to find out that their purchase has been incompatible right from the get-go. You can check out the Works With Chromebook page over here and acknowledge more of this project from the people up high.
Cable Matters USB-C to ethernet adapter is a cost-effective gadget with plenty of positive reviews on the marketplace. It’s priced just right at about $18 and is known to work for a wide variety of different Chromebooks, such as Acer’s Spin series, the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14, and the Google Pixelbook Go as well. The product is definitely above regular USB-C to ethernet adapters in the sense that it supports a data transfer rate that goes as up as 5 Gigabytes per second.
Get the Cable Matters USB-C to ethernet Adapter directly from Amazon today.
Uni USB-C to ethernet adapter
Uni USB-C to ethernet Adapter
The next entry to make the cut is the Uni USB-C to ethernet Adapter that works like a charm on Chrome OS. Although it isn’t authenticated with the “Works With Chromebooks’ project, the plethora of reviews this product has stating its compatibility with Chrome OS is blatant proof of the item’s efficacy. It will set you back a little higher than the Cable Matters adapter, about $2 more, but the added build quality shortly justifies this trivial increase in price.
The Uni USB-C to ethernet adapter comprises a stellar 4.6/5.0 overall score with more than 6,200 global ratings when jotting this article down. One person humorously writing a review for the product says that this ethernet adapter has two-fold functions. First off, it allows them to connect their Chromebook with an ethernet connection, and it functions as a hand warmer.
It’s deemed to be completely plug-and-play, meaning that all you have to do is plug in the ethernet cable into the adapter and connect the unit with your Chromebook. That’s about it. Furthermore, the manufacturer of this product has manifested quite a reputation for itself. It’s well-recognized for developing hundreds of high-quality gadgets right alongside their USB-C to ethernet adapter that we’re talking about right now.
Grab this item directly from Amazon today.
How to use the USB-C to ethernet adapter with a Chromebook
Gathering a capable USB-C to ethernet adapter for your Chromebook is one thing. Utilizing it efficiently is another. After you have this item in your possession, the next step is to get an ethernet cable. If you already have it, great! If not, you can buy one online or from a local electronics shop nearby.
Get started by locating the USB-C port of your Chromebook. Carefully examine the lateral sides of the device to find it. If you’re not sure what a USB-C port looks like, take a look at the following image. It should help depict the component clearly for you.
USB-C port in a Chromebook
After this, the next step is to connect the USB-C terminal USB-C to an ethernet adapter to your Chromebook. You’ll now be left with a free ethernet slot on the adapter. Grab the ethernet cable and plug it right in, and that should cover the first half of the operation.
You should now have your Chromebook all sorted. The only part left now is to plug the other end of the ethernet cable into the internet router, modem, or any other device that you’ve been meaning to connect your Chromebook to. If your requirements were purely about internet connectivity, attaching your Chromebook to ethernet via a USB-C port this way will prompt the device to detect the signals of the internet, leaving you with a fully operational Chromebook.
That’s about it for this guide! We genuinely hope you’ve found here what you were looking for. We have now reached the article’s conclusion.
Conclusion
An ethernet connection is probably the most recommended form of internet connectivity that everyone should strive toward having. It’s leaps and bounds ahead of a Wi-Fi connection in terms of both reliability and security. In addition, professional gamers tend to have ethernet setups for video games simply because of a better multiplayer experience. It’s easy to comprehend why one would prefer this form of the internet over a wireless one.
Chromebooks, on the other hand, come in various shapes and sizes. Their port selection also varies, depending on the type of model it is, whether oriented toward personal use or entirely enterprise purposes. If you want to connect your device to an ethernet connection but lack the necessary port to do so, fret not. The prospect is painlessly possible with the help of a USB-C to ethernet adapter, as we’ve shown you in this guide.
Please let us know in the comments section if you found this guide helpful. Chrome Ready wishes you good luck!
