Fix Ethernet Adapter Renaming to Local Area Connection 2 Repeatedly on Windows 11

Your Ethernet adapter changes its name from the original to Local Area Connection 2, then to 3, 4, and so on after each reboot or driver update. This creates confusion when you manage network profiles, firewall rules, or VPN connections that depend on a fixed adapter name. The root cause is typically leftover registry entries from previous network configurations or driver installations that Windows 11 cannot fully clean up. This article explains why the numbering increments and provides a permanent fix using the Device Manager and Registry Editor to reset the adapter name back to its default.

Why Windows 11 Renames the Ethernet Adapter to Local Area Connection 2

Windows 11 stores network adapter configuration in the registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\DefaultMediaCost and in the SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318} key. When a network adapter is replaced, updated, or moved to a different PCIe slot, Windows creates a new instance with a new GUID. The old GUID remains in the registry, and Windows appends a number to the connection name to avoid duplicate names.

Each time you reinstall the driver or the system detects a new hardware configuration, Windows increments the number. For example, the original Local Area Connection becomes Local Area Connection 2, then 3, and so on. The problem persists because Windows does not automatically purge stale registry entries for disconnected adapters. The same behavior occurs if you use a USB-to-Ethernet adapter that changes ports or if you run multiple network cards.

Steps to Reset the Ethernet Adapter Name to Its Original Default

The following steps remove the current adapter instance, delete leftover registry entries, and let Windows 11 create a clean adapter with the base name Local Area Connection. You need administrator privileges to complete this process.

1. Open Device Manager
   Press Win + X and select Device Manager. Expand the Network adapters section. Locate your Ethernet adapter. Its name often includes Realtek, Intel, or Qualcomm.
2. Uninstall the Ethernet adapter and its driver
   Right-click the adapter and select Uninstall device. In the confirmation dialog, check the box that says Delete the driver software for this device. This removes the driver package and the registry entries that track the adapter instance. Click Uninstall.
3. Restart your computer
   Restart Windows. Do not reconnect the network cable yet. After the restart, Windows 11 reinstalls the generic driver for the Ethernet adapter. The adapter appears as Local Area Connection without a number suffix in Network Connections.
4. Open Registry Editor to remove stale entries
   Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\DefaultMediaCost. Look for subkeys with names that contain numbers such as {E2B3F8A0-1A2B-4C3D-8E4F-5A6B7C8D9E0F}. These GUIDs represent previous adapter instances. Right-click each subkey that does not match your current adapter and select Delete. Confirm the deletion.
5. Delete the old adapter entries in the Class key
   Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}. You see subkeys numbered 0000, 0001, 0002, and so on. Each subkey represents a network adapter. Select each subkey and look in the right pane for the DriverDesc value. If the description matches your Ethernet adapter but the NetCfgInstanceId value does not match the GUID of your current adapter, right-click the subkey and select Delete. Do not delete the subkey for your current adapter.
6. Reboot and reconnect the network cable
   Restart your computer. After the restart, plug in the Ethernet cable. Open Settings > Network & internet > Ethernet. The adapter should show the name Local Area Connection without a number.

If the Ethernet Adapter Still Shows a Number After the Main Fix

Adapter renamed to Local Area Connection 2 after a Windows Update

Windows Update sometimes reinstalls a network driver and triggers a new adapter instance. To prevent this, pause driver updates through Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options. Under Pause updates, select Pause for 1 week. Then repeat the steps above to uninstall the adapter and delete registry entries. After the fix, resume updates but watch for driver-specific updates that may cause renaming again.

Multiple network adapters cause persistent numbering

If you have a built-in Ethernet adapter and a USB-to-Ethernet adapter, Windows may assign Local Area Connection to one and Local Area Connection 2 to the other. Use the Registry Editor method to locate each adapter GUID and rename the subkey in DefaultMediaCost. Alternatively, rename the adapter manually in Network Connections: right-click the adapter, select Rename, and type a custom name like Ethernet-Primary. Manual renaming persists across reboots unless Windows detects a new adapter instance.

Registry cleanup did not resolve the issue

If the adapter name still increments after following the steps, check the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces key. Delete any subkey that contains an old IP address configuration for a disconnected adapter. Be careful to identify the current adapter by matching the DhcpIPAddress value with your active connection. Reboot after deleting the stale interface entries.

Uninstall with Driver Deletion vs Simple Uninstall: What Works Better

Item	Uninstall with driver deletion	Simple uninstall
Registry cleanup	Removes adapter instance and driver registry entries	Leaves registry entries for the adapter instance intact
Effect on adapter name	Resets to Local Area Connection without number	Often results in Local Area Connection 2 or higher
Time required	About 15 minutes including registry cleanup	About 5 minutes but may not fix the numbering
When to use	When the adapter name increments after each reboot or driver update	When you only need to temporarily disable the adapter

After completing the registry and device cleanup, your Ethernet adapter should display the original Local Area Connection name without an appended number. If the numbering returns after a future driver update, repeat the uninstall-with-driver-deletion method and pause driver updates temporarily. For advanced users, create a system restore point before editing the registry so you can revert changes if needed.