How to replace an RJ45 ethernet connector plug yourself

What's worse than having your ethernet plug constantly fall out of your smart tv, android box, PS, XBox, laptop, modem, hub, server, router, etc because the little locking tab broke.
Well all is not lost as Driveway Dudes Paul shows you how to easily replace an RJ45 ethernet connector plug yourself.
You can buy the plugs quite cheaply (less than 5c each) usually available at an electrical retail outlet or online.
The crimping tool would cost you less than €10 or equivalent in you countries currency.
You could probably buy a ready made cable for less but what if the cable was in an inaccessible place.
And also wouldn't it be fun to learn something new and do it yourself.
We all know that hardwiring your device is so much better than relying on a sometimes intermittent WiFi signal so you could also order ethernet cable and make up suitable lengths to suit your own requirements and needs.
Tools used
Safety blade, Snips, and Crimping tool.
Please think safety. Knives can be sharp.
Feel free to comment, like, share and subscribe.
This video is for guide purposes.
Check out this affiliate link: ebay.us/hmvfIv
Learn how to earn money by working online. tinyurl.com/DrwyDuds
Don’t pay someone else when you can Do It Yourself!

[@smj_]

This is like watching a master electrician: you know exactly what to do, yet your product isn't 'quite' as good, if the good is just it working properly. Masterful. Thanks for this tut!

[@DrivewayDudes]

Thanks for the compliment and we hope that you found this useful

[@chriscrowe11]

Thank you so much!!! Your video turned something I was initially intimidated to do into something I tackled in under 5 minutes!

[@davidhumbert715]

One of the best self help videos I have ever watched. Thank you Thank You

[@chiot2875]

You’re awesome man, simple and easy explanation 😄 Gonna try this after a supply run. Damn connector tabs

[@madigoldstein768]

this is the most wholesome channel i've ever come across. liked for the simplicity and helpfulness, subbed for the vibe 😎

[@DrivewayDudes]

Awesome, thank you!

[@Reelglad]

I loved your video! We accidentally cut our ethernet cable and it goes thru a concrete wall, so threading a new one thru is impossible with the plastic connector already on! I will be trying this method tomorrow and rewatching your helpful video whilst I do it, thanks again, wish me luck haha

[@johnzouboulakis3240]

Thought of doing this in the past and I passed 😄. Now that I saw your video and your very helpful, to the point and easy to understand presentation I'm going for it man, thank you very much sir! 🌈

[@monticiski9566]

Thank you for a clear, easy to understand video! I really enjoyed it.

[@greanfinisher4014]

Your video was very helpful, and I followed it to the letter. Now I have four Ethernet cables repaired. Thanks!

[@johnwinchester9654]

Quick and easy to follow. Thanks

[@MrRight-uv9vb]

I like this guy tutorials 🔥🔥🔥

[@VictorSanchez-mh2db]

I learn something new and good today, Thanks a lot.

[@scarops]

Great tutorial. Very helpful. Thank you

[@thechiropractor3314]

Good video nice and easy to follow. I’m gonna try to replace the ripped wires the the old home owner left.

[@weebclips3807]

Thank you so much I was stumped on how to drill the hole bigger in my brick wall without hitting g the other wire and u just saved me a huge headache

[@truenation7388]

Made that look soo easy, thank you

[@Iplaygoofy]

I loved the sound effects!

[@yaza9281]

Thank you, easier then I though it would be, saved me re running a 50m cable

[@Kowtangpratet]

Well done, sir! I really enjoyed that and learned a new skill!

[@blancocd]

the intro is so relaxing

[@davecunningham4393]

borrowed all the bits off my brother ,now after watching your vid..im confident to do the job..im after connecting my cctv cameras to the router

[@salmurgolo1478]

Thank you sir! This worked

[@aguasanta]

New skill unlocked. Thank you

[@17thstreetsurfer]

Thank you! Great video :)

[@ronnie1971ful]

Cool and easy to follow

[@TheRedskins2175]

Awesome video sir, saved me from throwing away perfectly good cameras.

[@voicevy3210]

simple and effective

[@aryanlivi3553]

This was extremely Helpful.Thankyou :)

[@deanbowyer343]

So awesome.. Cheers

[@mikesnell5700]

Very informative, thanks for your time.

[@wellgoldman2590]

Thanks for sharing mate.

[@ERPTZ]

Thanks worked out great

[@superluismigueL100]

3 years later still very useful thank you

[@DrivewayDudes]

Glad it helped!

[@ashleyholewell4339]

3 years later & you’ve helped me massively, I install crypto hotspots requires a lot of internet cable buying 10m here 10m there gets costly now I’ve watched this I’m going to buy 50m CAT 6 cut what I need then fit RJ45 to each end thanks to you absolute legend people like you make the world go round 👍🏻

[@mdkapil3560]

Wow ,it works ,thanks

[@Avtar218]

Thanks a lot Sir.

[@greanfinisher4014]

Hmmmm......Actually, I was working on a couple of Ethernet connector plugs last night. The curious thing about it was that I couldn't quite figure out just how that locking tab secured the ethernet plug in place (other than some friction fit). Anyways, what I did know was that the locking tab had to be extended out at a certain angle. Before viewing your video today, all I used last night were a few small pieces of flat toothpicks and a touch of superglue. That worked fine for the Ethernet cable in which the tab wasn't actually busted. As for the other Ethernet cable with the busted tab, I did get a somewhat snug fit, and it was much better than before. Say, I'll certainly pick up some RJ45 ethernet connector plugs along with the crimper, and get the job done right. Thanks for the video!

[@bernadettepesce7044]

Thanks for the useful video. Love the accent!

[@earljmaui_boy2546]

Aloha all y'all. . . and DD Paul... great job... easy to follow and straight to the point. I just purchased the very same tool in a kit (cable tester; bag of fifty connectors; wire stripping tool; ten rubber caps; the crimper tool; and a tiny instruction sheet in Chinese [ LOL ] ). I don't think I'll need a translation of the instructions since watching your video... I loved it... * * * Keep up the good work Driveway Dudes... * * * 𝑩𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒐𝒏 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝑰𝒔𝒍𝒆, 𝑯𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝑵𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒂; 𝑨𝒍𝒐𝒉𝒂 𝒚'𝒂𝒍𝒍... * * * Until that time. . .

[@DrivewayDudes]

Thanks for the compliments. We try to make tasks as easy and straightforward as possible so that anyone can attempt it

[@barumillerova9408]

Thank you, I didn't know how to do that so this was actually really helpful ❤️

[@DrivewayDudes]

You're so welcome!

[@itisaporsche]

Exactly what I was looking for. I have one that has separated and needs repair. Now I shall go and conquer! Cheers from US. Just subscribed! You are -

[@gamevichannel]

Well, the video was the best explanation ever, but this thing was the most difficult stuff I ever did in my life 😂...my fingers hurt so much. It was near to impossible to keep all the little cables straight and in the correct order. I got it working the second time. First time all was ok, but the speed was like 95Mbps...so ofc, maybe some cables didn't went all in. So I did it again, and this time the speeds are close to 1000Mbps. I don't want to do this ever again...😂 But really, thank you, Kind Sir for the explanations and infos in this great video! Subscribed! ❤❤❤

[@DrivewayDudes]

Thank you for your comment. We are happy that you found our video helpful

[@ayahoo16]

Thanks man

[@farhad1917]

Fantastic explanation

[@DrivewayDudes]

Glad you liked it

[@Tanoaproductionsfiji]

thank you!! much appreciated.

[@DrivewayDudes]

You're welcome!

[@sunekusan]

Saved my life 💞 thank you

[@DrivewayDudes]

Glad you found the video useful.

[@deikshant1]

Does a loose connector affect the internet speeds? I want to try this but just want to be sure.. thank you!

[@starxx0]

Thanks dude simple easy gg

[@luckylokesh]

nice video

[@Phyoomz]

I love this guy. That said, I need to just buy a new cable. lol

[@leonardlee982]

Cool...also, if the locking tab is the only thing that is broken, you can get an rjclip to fix the connector without crimping.

[@zubzero1513]

Awesome

[@cayrick]

I am in total confusion when it comes to ethernet cables. I bought a Lorex video cam system and it comes with 100ft of cable with terminals on the end identified as RJ45 cable (PoE) for each camera. Now I am challenged with cutting cable ends to shorten them and feed them into the house from outside. I bought the crimping tool and am freaking out at the possibility of screwing up this last part. I think your video gave me a little confidence but left me less confused. I want to then buy short extension pre-fabbed cables (AMZN) to connect from ethernet wall box cover plates (4 ethernet connectors per wall plate) for a total of 8. I am stymied whether these extensions will be wired correctly for my NVR, or is it better to just fab some on my own? The manufacturer sells them in sets of 5 which would work nicely for me but they do not identify the wiring standard they have used. At least now I know that I need to find this info and I thank you for this insight.

[@EnabledShooter]

Other than the colors being in a different order, what is the difference between the T568A and T568B?

[@frankkloer6861]

I tried this once before and couldn't quite get the wires lined up. Your method makes this a cinch. Thanks.

[@djabthrash]

It is the hardest part and a pita

[@ayman5014]

saved my life waw

[@kursonan1928]

i love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu thank you so much

[@DrivewayDudes]

Glad it helped!

[@seekingthemiddleway4048]

Surprising how easily those wires slide into the plastic plug. I was expecting a struggle.

[@JSat_Act]

Hi! Thank you so much. This is very useful. I'm a girl in my twenties learning to do this for the first time (dad died, so I've got to figure it out!) and I really appreciate the help. If I could ask just one question, how do you choose which crimping tool to buy? I looked online and there are so many ones I don't know which one to pick

[@DrivewayDudes]

Thanks for the nice comment. If it says it’s a crimp tool for RJ45 plugs/connectors then it would be the one you want. There are many different types and brands that can do things like cable stripping and other types of crimp connectors though can vary in price. Pick the one that you think is the correct one for your needs and comfortably within your price range

[@doonk6004]

This should be perfect for decapitating my ethernet cable in order to pull it back through the floor and repair it to move the router down stairs. Thanks for the video!

[@kenmcf]

I have a 25ft with the tab issue..i was going to just buy another, but I will try to just fix the connector. A useful skill to learn anyway for the future. Its so great you do not have to strip the ends of each little wire..that would be a btch. Is there a recommended brand of connectors?

[@JeremyCook]

Pretty neat. So no stripping required? Does the connector have some sort of sharp edge/point internally that pierces the insulation?

[@DrivewayDudes]

Thank you. Only the outer sleeve. Yes.

[@rjlewis9999]

Do you need to worry about stripping any insulation off of the wires themselves before putting them into the replacement connector?

[@DrivewayDudes]

If after fitting and crimping the stripped wires into the plug and it works then all is good

[@rjlewis9999]

@@DrivewayDudes Does the video say you have to remove insulation from the wires themselves? I tried fixing an old Kenwood ham radio mike that has an RJ-45 connector and it still doesn’t work. Didn’t see anything in this video about removing insulation from the wires themselves.

[@DrivewayDudes]

@@rjlewis9999 Each individual wire does not need to be stripped. If you did and crimped them into the connector and it works then good

[@matsumimoonflower9]

how do you know which configuration of wire patterns to use?

[@DrivewayDudes]

Before removing the wiring from the broken connector it would be best to take note of the placement of the colours by taking a pic and or writing down the configuration. Hope this helps

[@Helli4458]

Me using this video 5 years later for a connector on my cat 7 cable that the clip broke and won't maintain connection on my pc.

[@laOrzy]

Having trouble as the connector won’t stick into the wires the plastic head keeps falling off

[@djabthrash]

You did the crimping wrong imo

[@nermainmerl6108]

Nice video, somehow mine doesn't work now lol

[@Joskapistanyaad]

I hoped that you would show a way to get the plug off without cutting the cable.

[@DrivewayDudes]

When the pins are compressed they penetrate the insulated wires. The plug cable retaining/locking tab is not designed to be reopened. Attempting to remove the pins and the locking tab would be labour intensive and there's no guarantee the wiring would line up exactly with the replacement plug pins nor make full contact

[@ColdxNorth]

You're a lifesaver. But crimping tools are horrifyingly expensive in my country, is there any alternatives?

[@derekredekop5630]

No

[@ColdxNorth]

@@derekredekop5630 I figured it out but thanks~!:)

[@yoDominican-]

@@ColdxNorth how did you do it without it?

[@ColdxNorth]

@@yoDominican- Flat head screwdriver. That in the right size and a hammer.

[@evertongregg1727]

What if you don't have a crimping tool though?

[@DrivewayDudes]

You can push the tab in with a small blade screwdriver

[@evertongregg1727]

Ok thank you so much

[@naehalmulazim]

Even the phone linemen in my area don't have a crimping tool to their name, talk about useless.

[@aalish]

lob u

[@NBag-ni4ow]

It's a pain in the behind. I have wasted 3 plugs already. The shielding in the cable makes your life miserable. You can never align the colored wires due that stupid thing keeping the wires apart on the base of the cable.

[@TheMelorino]

why didnt you strip the wires?

[@jwickert3]

I wondered if you have to strip each individual wire. I guess not.

[@ceejay3k]

@@jwickert3 When you crimp the connector, it cuts into each individual wire so there's no need to strip them individually.

[@sbrw4316]

Why did he cut the wires

[@gilberttorres924]

He never once checked the end of the connector to see the conductors, color code & copper were aligned correctly. What a lousy teacher.

[@DrivewayDudes]

Test carried out off camera. There would be no point making a how to if it didn't work