Ethernet Status - Missing LAN Status Bar Icon

FAQS

• 1. Auto start on system (re)start not working

  There have been rare situations where auto start of the app on system (re)start does not work. In those cases add Ethernet Status to your login items by hand.

  On macOS 13 Ventura and later, open System Settings, go to General → Login Items, click + under ‘Open at Login’, then pick Ethernet Status from your Applications folder.

  On macOS 12 Monterey and earlier, open System Preferences, select Users & Groups, choose the Login Items tab, click + and pick Ethernet Status from your Applications folder.

• 2. I want to hide Public IP in menu

  Open the pull down menu and select ‘About Ethernet Status’. In the window that opens, go to the Preferences tab. There is a checkbox there to show or hide the Public IP address in the menu.

• 3. Does it detect Thunderbolt based ethernet adaptors?

  YES

• 4. Does it support USB based ethernet adaptors/dongles?

  YES

• 5. How to know if ethernet is connected without opening the menu?

  The menubar icon changes based on the current ethernet status as follows -

  

   Active

  

   Inactive

  

   Disconnected/No interface found

• 6. What is the difference between “Active” and “Inactive” states?

  Active state indicates that current network traffic is being routed through a ethernet interface. Inactive state indicates that the connected ethernet interface is not being used for network traffic as some other interface (WIFI for example) is also connected and has a higher priority based on order configured in Network Settings.

• 7. Why am I not getting notifications?

  Two things to check. Notifications are a Full Version feature, so first make sure you have upgraded. The toggle itself lives in the Preferences tab, along with the notification sound and a choice of wording.

  If they are switched on and you still see nothing, macOS is most likely holding them back. Focus and Do Not Disturb hide banners without any warning. Check that Ethernet Status is allowed under System Settings → Notifications, and that Focus is off.

• 8. What do the Speed and Data figures show?

  Speed is the live up and down rate on the ethernet interface carrying your traffic.

  Data has two figures in the submenu. Session is what has moved since that interface last connected, so unplugging and replugging a cable starts it again. Total keeps counting across reconnects. Both only accrue while Ethernet Status is running, so quitting the app and reopening it later leaves a gap.

• 9. What does ‘(Over VPN)’ mean next to Active?

  It means your traffic is leaving through a VPN that sits on top of the ethernet connection. The ethernet interface is still the one carrying the packets. The VPN routes over it.

• 10. My iPhone is tethered over USB. Why doesn't it show up?

  On purpose. macOS presents a tethered iPhone, iPad or Android phone to the system as an ethernet interface, but it is not a wired LAN connection, so Ethernet Status leaves it out rather than reporting your phone as ethernet. Bluetooth tethering is left out for the same reason.

• 11. How do I upgrade to the Full Version?

  Open the Ethernet Status menu and choose ‘About Ethernet Status’. In the window that opens, go to the Upgrade tab, where you will find the price in your local currency and a button to buy.

• 12. Is the Full Version a subscription?

  No. It is a single in-app purchase and it stays with your Apple ID. If you reinstall, or move to a new Mac, open that same Upgrade tab and click ‘Restore Purchase’.