It’s become routine: Each new update of Mac OS X macOS breaks third-party drivers and applications. This time it’s many popular third-party USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet adapters that don’t work. But have no fear! It’s a simple fix!
I’ve got a few different USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet dongles: One from Cable Matters (from Amazon) and another by j5 Create (from Best Buy). Both are essentially identical, though, being based on the AX88179 chipset from Asix of Taiwan.
Since this chipset is not supported “out of box” by Mac OS X or macOS, it’s necessary to install a driver to get it working. And upgrading to macOS 10.12 “Sierra” unsurprisingly kills this driver. The simple solution: Reinstall the driver!
As is typical with devices like this, it’s best to install the basic driver from the chipset company rather than the specialized drivers from the device company. So rather than trying to chase down Cable Matters or j5 Create, just head to Asix.co.tw and download the AX88179 driver from there. I installed version 2.8.0 from Asix and everything is hunky-dory again.
It’s funny: There are threads on the Apple Support forums with people crying that these devices aren’t working, and lots of horrible/useless suggestions to fix them. But just reinstalling the driver works fine!
Thank You Stephen! You saved my day!!
Mine, too~ j5create adapter now working like a champ. Thanks, Stephen.
Thanks! worked
Hi, is not working for me. Last saturday I updated to Sierra and today I’ve tried to reinstall the driver and I can see the interface in the network preferences panel but I can not connect to the network. Any suggestion?
Thank you very much, you helped me! 🙂
I have to do that for each macos update.
I always forgot the name of the chipset to find the website to download the new drivers.
I think almost all ethernet adapters for mac are build by Asix.
Thank you so much for writing this up!
I was getting hugely frustrated with my Kensington USB 3.0 to Ethernet adapter (AX88179) refusing to work under Sierra. Driver re-install (I just re-installed the Kensington drivers I had installed previously) fixed it.
I realize that this is an old post, but I’d like to comment that I’m still having trouble with this. Hopefully, I’ll still get a reply.
I’m in college right now, so it might have something to do with needing to wait for IT support to register my Ugreen USB-ethernet adapter, but I don’t think that that’s the main issue (since the lights on the ethernet end of the adapter do light up when the ethernet cable is plugged in and the adapter is plugged in to the computer – I’m just not getting an ethernet connection yet since the school hasn’t registered the device). My USB-ethernet adapter is supposed to be USB 3.0-compatible, but it shows up in System Information as a USB 2.0 device. I’ve tried installing the latest driver from Ugreen as well as installing the latest driver from ASIX. I’m assuming that the ethernet signal will come through just fine once my device is registered with IT support, but even then it’ll probably still only work as a USB 2.0 device, which means that I won’t be able to get the speeds that I’m supposed to get with it.
Is there any way that I can remedy this issue? Please let me know! Thanks.
Curious situation with my new late-2016 13″ MBP TouchBar. I purchased an Anker USB-C hub with ethernet for use at my home office through the ethernet connection. Everything except the ethernet functionality worked. I was able to charge and connect to USB devices. Thought the hub might be defective, trouble shot my connection which was good and live, also downloaded the latest driver for Sierra from Anker. No avail.
Out of exasperation, I switched the connection from the foreward left Thunderbolt port to the rearward left Thunderbolt port. The Network panel in System Preferences was then able to detect and connect to my home network through the 10/100/1000 Mbps and at full speed as verified by Speedtest.
This was surprising as I’d not read anything on the net about variation in ability to access the LAN functionality. Neither was I able to find anything in any of the Apple tech bulletins pertaining to specific ports to use with ethernet adapters.
Has anyone else caught wind of this peculiarity?
I tried on my MBP same model as yours just 15″ and my ethernet doesnt work period. I tried your switch from forward to rear on both left and right sides. Nothing. Drivers added as well.
Many thanks! My HooToo ht-ue01 works perfectly now! Great post.
Hi, so really really thanks for your help, you helped me!! 😀
I have the same problem. I see the driver interface in the network preferences but I cannot connect to the network either.
THANK YOU! This was exactly the fix.
Your issue is not the adapter but the OS 😉
I have the same problem too. Please Help!
same here
Yep, works perfectly on my Chromebook, requires lots of effort to make work (poorly) on my MacBook.
Thanks for sharing. Installing driver from your link (the chipset company) worked, while doing same from the device company didn’t.
I’m having this issue with usb to Ethernet and thunderboldt to Ethernet except there’s nothing 3rd party about them, they are both from Apple.
Just updated to OSX High Sierra
Dual external monitors
The one hooked to Cable Matters USB 3.0 to HDMI was black but curser still was visible
Downloaded AX88179 diver, did not resolve issue
Went to Cable Matters website and download their diver
Worked perfectly after unplugging USB and re inserting in MacBook
Thanks! This worked for me on macOS 10.13.1.
Windows & Mac – Insignia NS-PU98505 Drivers
https://www.file-upload.com/si27gargwxm9
Thank you for this!