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I have plugged a network cable into my PC to temporarily adjust some settings on my router. Now I can't unplug it. The cable is physically stuck in the RJ45 port. I've tried squeezing every part of it but it won't come out.

Any suggestions for how I might remove it?

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Pull... HARDER – Marco Ceppi Sep 26 '11 at 20:17
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LAME CABLE IS LAME. – jrg Sep 26 '11 at 20:18
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3 Answers

up vote 14 down vote accepted

Glad it's sorted. For the future this often works and doesn't need a lot of brute force:

If the plastic clip has 'stuck' or lost its springiness so it cannot be squeezed:

  1. Gently slide off any cover over the connector

  2. PUSH the connector IN a little bit

  3. Slide a piece of plastic between the clip of the plug and the body of the socket while pulling gently on the plug to remove it. I use the end of a small tie-wrap (plastic cable tie) as they are very thin, but a 'pointy' pen top can work too. You can use a small jewellers' screwdriver but I prefer something soft. You should try and press the plastic/screwdriver in as far as possible (but gently) as you simultaneously pull on the connector..

pulling out yer cablez

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up vote 5 down vote

Unplug the router end of the patch cable first.

The RJ45 system relies on a spring tab holding the plug in which is released by compressing the plastic tab sticking out parallel to the cable. This may well be partially covered by a shroud.

Option two. Can you get at the RJ45 socket from the other (in)side? If it's a network card, remove it from the motherboard connecting strip & deal with it accordingly. If, as I suspect, it's actually of the motherboard or you have a laptop/small form factor then this can be a challenge. I've only had to do this once when my cat managed to chew through the CAT5 cable (I know ~ bad pun) too close for me to get a grip on the cable.

Do not be tempted to pull the end of the network cable — you may well be left with the RJ45 plug buried in the socket.

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Yes, it is a portable computer. – George Edison Sep 26 '11 at 20:25
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if the RJ45 plug is all that is stuck in the socket, a pair of needle nose pliers would work better. – jcolebrand Sep 26 '11 at 20:44
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up vote 4 down vote

I DID IT!

I was finally able to remove the cable by twisting it vertically while applying a great deal of force. This made me a little nervous due to the amount of pressure I was applying - but it worked.

I'll probably be a bit more careful putting the cable in next time.

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Sometimes that's just what it takes. I've found that sometimes the release tab is caught on the inside of the port, and that by gently pushing INTO to port while first pressing the little plastic release tab to uncatch the tab and then pulling out, you'll have some success. But sometimes it just happens that you need to pull, and pull, and PULL, just like you did. – music2myear Sep 26 '11 at 21:57
I'd replace that cable as quickly as possible. – Sarge Sep 26 '11 at 22:46
Please do not forget to mark the answer as accepted. – kinokijuf Nov 27 '11 at 17:10
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