RealtekRTL8111

RealtekRTL8111

by Mieze
Network Realtek

Realtek RTL8111/8168 PCIe Gigabit Ethernet driver for macOS

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RealtekRTL8111

RealtekRTL8111 is a macOS driver for Realtek RTL8111/8168 series PCIe Gigabit Ethernet controllers. It provides native-like Ethernet support for Hackintosh systems using these common network chips.

Supported Hardware

RTL8125RTL8111H / RTL8168H
RTL8111G / RTL8168GRTL8111F / RTL8168F
RTL8111E / RTL8168ERTL8111D / RTL8168D
RTL8111C / RTL8168CRTL8111B / RTL8168B

Overview

Many motherboards use Realtek RTL8111 or RTL8168 series Ethernet controllers. macOS doesn’t include native drivers for these, so this kext provides full functionality including Gigabit speeds, Wake-on-LAN, and energy-efficient Ethernet.

Features

  • Gigabit Ethernet: Full 10/100/1000 Mbps support
  • Wake-on-LAN: Supports Wake-on-LAN functionality
  • Energy Efficient Ethernet: IEEE 802.3az support
  • VLAN Support: Hardware VLAN tagging support
  • Stable: Well-tested and actively maintained

Installation

Prerequisites

  • OpenCore bootloader (0.7.0 or later)
  • macOS 10.11 or later
  • Realtek RTL8111/8168 series Ethernet controller

Steps

  1. Download the latest release from GitHub
  2. Copy RealtekRTL8111.kext to your EFI partition: EFI/OC/Kexts/
  3. Add the kext to your config.plist under Kernel > Add
  4. Reboot your system

config.plist Entry

<dict>
    <key>BundlePath</key>
    <string>RealtekRTL8111.kext</string>
    <key>Comment</key>
    <string>Ethernet driver</string>
    <key>Enabled</key>
    <true/>
    <key>ExecutablePath</key>
    <string>Contents/MacOS/RealtekRTL8111</string>
    <key>MaxKernel</key>
    <string></string>
    <key>MinKernel</key>
    <string></string>
    <key>PlistPath</key>
    <string>Contents/Info.plist</string>
</dict>

Troubleshooting

Ethernet not detected

  • Verify your Ethernet controller is a Realtek RTL8111/8168 series
  • Check System Information > Ethernet for the controller model
  • Ensure the kext is loaded (check with kextstat | grep realtek)

No internet connection after installation

  • Check System Preferences > Network for the Ethernet interface
  • Verify DHCP is configured correctly
  • Try setting a manual IP address

Slow network speeds

  • Ensure you’re using the latest version of the kext
  • Check your network cable and switch/router
  • Disable Energy Efficient Ethernet in System Preferences > Network > Advanced > Hardware if speeds are inconsistent

FAQ

How do I know if I have a Realtek RTL8111?

Check System Information (Apple menu > About This Mac > System Report > Ethernet). Look for “Realtek” in the controller name. Common identifiers include RTL8111, RTL8168, and RTL8125.

Is this kext compatible with Intel Ethernet?

No, this kext is specifically for Realtek controllers. For Intel Ethernet, use IntelMausi or LucyRTL8125Ethernet.

Does this support 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet?

Yes, the latest versions support the Realtek RTL8125 2.5 Gigabit controller.

Resources