Surface Pro 11 with Docking Station Ethernet Issues

Intermittent “connected but no internet” over Ethernet on multiple Surface Pro 11 devices through a dock is most likely related to the dock’s network path (dock hardware, Ethernet adapter/driver, or Windows networking stack), not the browsers.

Because the issue is resolved temporarily by disabling/re‑enabling the Ethernet adapter and rebooting, focus on stabilizing the Ethernet path and Windows network configuration rather than the Surface hardware itself.

Try these steps on one affected device and monitor whether the issue stops recurring:

1. Bypass or swap the dock to isolate the cause
   • Connect using a different wired path, for example a Surface USB‑C to Ethernet and USB 3.0 Adapter directly into the Surface USB‑C port instead of the dock. If this path is stable over time, the problem is likely with the dock or its firmware.
   • If available, test with another docking station model. A similar display issue in Windows 11 was resolved by switching the docking station, indicating that some docks can cause device‑specific problems.
2. Reinstall the Ethernet network adapter driver (on the Surface) This addresses corruption or post‑update driver issues that can cause exactly this intermittent behavior.
   1. Open Device Manager (Search → type Device Manager → open it).
   2. Expand Network adapters and locate the Ethernet adapter used via the dock.
   3. Right‑click it → Uninstall device → check Attempt to remove the driver for this device → Uninstall.
   4. Restart the Surface (Start → Power → Restart). Windows will reinstall the Ethernet driver automatically.
   5. Observe whether the issue reappears.
3. Use Network Reset as a last resort If the problem persists, reset the Windows network stack on the affected Surfaces.
   1. Go to Settings → Network & internet.
      • On Windows 11: Advanced network settings → Network reset.
      • On Windows 10: Status → Network reset.
   2. Select Reset now → Yes.
   3. After restart, re‑connect to the wired network and test. Note: Network reset removes and reinstalls all network adapters and resets their settings to defaults. VPN clients and virtual switches may need to be reinstalled or reconfigured afterward.
4. Check with another PC on the same dock and cable
   • If another Windows PC using the same dock and Ethernet cable shows similar intermittent loss of connectivity, the dock or cabling is the likely root cause.
   • If only the Surface Pro 11 devices are affected and the same dock works flawlessly with other models, focus on Ethernet drivers and Windows network configuration on the Surface Pro 11s.
5. If using Surface Dock for power and Ethernet
   • Ensure the dock is using its original in‑box power supply and that no high‑draw accessories are overloading it, as power issues can sometimes manifest as unstable peripherals (including Ethernet).

If, after driver reinstall and network reset, the issue only occurs when using a specific dock model and not when using a direct USB‑C Ethernet adapter or a different dock, treat the dock as the root cause and replace or update it.

References:

• Troubleshoot Surface Dock or Surface Docking Station
• Use the Surface USB-C to Ethernet and USB 3.0 Adapter
• Fix Ethernet connection problems in Windows
• Windows 11 doesn't show the 1900x1200 resolution option for Dell U2412M monitor - Microsoft Q&A