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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Energy-Efficient Ethernet (EEE) is a wired-network adapter feature based on IEEE 802.3az. In Windows, you can enable or disable it in Device Manager if your Ethernet adapter’s driver exposes the setting. The control may be called Energy Efficient Ethernet, Green Ethernet, or something similar; some adapters do not show it at all.
What Energy-Efficient Ethernet does
EEE is the Ethernet feature standardized as IEEE 802.3az. In Microsoft’s driver documentation, the adapter setting is represented by the *EEE keyword, described as a value that determines whether the device enables IEEE 802.3az energy-efficient Ethernet. The documented values are 0 for Disabled and 1 for Enabled, with Enabled listed as the default in that standardized keyword table. That table describes the keyword, not the shipping configuration of every adapter.
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The option is configured by the network adapter’s driver. Whether it appears in Windows, and what it is called, therefore depends on the adapter and driver package.
How to enable or disable EEE in Device Manager
- Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
- Expand Network adapters.
- Right-click the wired Ethernet adapter you use and select Properties. If several wired adapters are listed, check the adapter name or connection status to identify the one in use.
- Open the Advanced tab.
- In the property list, look for Energy Efficient Ethernet or a similar vendor-specific setting. Depending on the adapter, it may have a name such as Green Ethernet or Power Saving Mode.
- Select the property, choose Enabled or Disabled from its value control, then select OK or Apply if shown.
Windows and adapter drivers do not use one universal label or layout, so the exact controls can differ. If the setting is missing, the driver may not expose it in the interface. Check the documentation for your specific adapter and driver; the existence of Microsoft’s standardized *EEE keyword does not guarantee a visible Device Manager option.
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What to choose: Enabled or Disabled?
| Setting | What it means | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Enabled | Allows the adapter to use its EEE feature. | Choose this if you want to retain the driver’s energy-efficiency feature. |
| Disabled | Turns off EEE through this adapter property. | Use it as a troubleshooting change when you want to check whether this setting affects your particular connection. |
The available evidence does not establish a universal performance advantage, a measured amount of energy saved, or a general stability effect for either choice. Disabling EEE is not a guaranteed fix for lag, packet loss, or disconnections. If you change it to troubleshoot, note the original value first, change one setting at a time, and compare the same workload and connection conditions.
EEE is not the same as Windows adapter power management
Do not confuse the EEE property on the adapter’s Advanced tab with the Power Management tab’s “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” option. They are separate controls.
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- Connects a USB 3.0 device (computer/laptop) to a router, modem, or network switch to deliver Gigabit Ethernet to your network connection. Does not support Smart TV or gaming consoles (e.g.Nintendo Switch).
- Supported features include Wake-on-LAN function, Green Ethernet & IEEE 802.3az-2010 (Energy Efficient Ethernet)
- Supports IPv4/IPv6 pack Checksum Offload Engine (COE) to reduce Cental Processing Unit (CPU) loading
- Compatible with Windows 8.1 or higher, Mac OS
Microsoft’s Disable-NetAdapterPowerManagement and Set-NetAdapterPowerManagement cmdlets manage documented adapter power-management features such as ARP offload, device sleep on disconnect, selective suspend, and wake options. Their documented parameters do not provide a direct toggle for the standardized *EEE property, so these commands should not be treated as substitutes for changing EEE.
Why a connection may briefly change during power transitions
Microsoft notes that gigabit Ethernet adapters may change link speed while transitioning between low-power and fully operational states, and connectivity may be lost briefly during those transitions. This is general guidance about low-power transitions; it does not quantify EEE-specific savings or show that EEE causes a particular connection problem.
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- BROAD COMPATIBILITY - The USB A/C-Ethernet adapter is compatible with Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP, Mac OSX 10.6/10.7/10.8/10.9/10.10/10.11/10.12, Linux kernel 3.x/2.6, Android and Chrome OS.Compatible with IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3u and IEEE 802.3ab. Supports IEEE 802.3az (Energy Efficient Ethernet).❌Do Not Support Windows RT. (NOT compatible with Nintendo Switch.)
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- [Expansion Ports] The USB C to Ethernet Adapter expands the device to three USB 3.0 ports and one Gigabit Ethernet port. Provides you more peripheral ports while maintaining a stable network connection, plug and play, no driver required.
- [Gigabit Network Port] ALL-LUCKY USB Ethernet Adapter transmission rate up to 1000Mbps, also compatible with 10/100Mbps bandwidth. It allows you to enjoy a smooth and stable network connection and avoid too much lag. (Note: To reach 1Gbps, please use CAT6 or above Ethernet cable connection)
- [Convertible Connector]This usb hub with ethernet not only has USB-A connector, but also can be converted to USB-C connector, so that you can easily convert the connector according to the device port, improve the convenience of use.
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Sources
- Microsoft Learn: Standardized INF Keywords for Power Management
- Microsoft Learn: Disable-NetAdapterPowerManagement
- Microsoft Learn: Set-NetAdapterPowerManagement
- Microsoft Learn: Obtaining and Updating Power Management Parameters
- Microsoft Learn: Power Management Considerations for Gigabit Ethernet Network Adapters
- Microsoft Q&A: Looking to disable energy-efficient Ethernet (community guidance; labels can vary by adapter).
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