FTP error ECONNREFUSED: connection refused by the server giving you trouble? Find out what our in-house experts recommend. 

At Bobcares, we offer solutions for every query, big and small, as a part of our Server Management Service.

Let’s take a look at how our Support Team recently helped a customer with FTP error ECONNREFUSED.

How to resolve FTP error ECONNREFUSED

Have you been facing trouble with the ECONNREFUSED – connection refused by a server error in FileZilla? This handy tutorial by our Support will help put everything right in no time. In fact, we have not one but three different ways to resolve this error:

• Disable the Firewall or Anti-Virus software
• Change FileZilla’s default port value
• Edit FileZilla’s network configuration wizard

Option 1: Disable the Firewall or Anti-Virus software

According to our Support Team, many of our customers face the ECONNREFUSED error as a result of the firewall and anti-virus software on their computers. In other words, the firewall and anti-virus software prevents FileZilla from making a connection.

On Windows:

1. First, we have to press the Windows key on the keyboard and type in Control Panel.
2. Then, head to the System and Security and select Windows Defender Firewall.
3. Next, navigate to the left menu bar and locate Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.

   
4. After that, change the settings to turn off Windows Defender Firewall for public as well as private networks in the next window.
5. Finally, click OK and allow the changes to take effect.

On macOS:

1. First, we have to click the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
2. After that, we will locate the Security & Privacy option.
3. Then, we will switch to the Firewall section and select the Turn off Firewall option.

According to our Support Techs, if the error still persists after turning off the firewall, it is time to try one of the next two options.

Option 2: Change FileZilla’s default port value

This solution method involves changing the port we are using to connect with FileZilla. In other words, all we have to do is change the port from 21 (default FTP port number) to 22 (default SFTP port) in the port column.

Option 3: Edit FileZilla’s network configuration wizard

The next solution method involves editing FileZilla’s network configurations as seen below:

1. First, we have to connect to the FileZilla FTP client and then navigate to Network Configuration Wizard under the Edit section.
2. Next, click Next when Firewall and router configuration wizard window.
3. Then, select Passive (recommended) under Default transfer mode. Furthermore, add a checkmark next to Allow fallback to another transfer mode on failure option.
4. After that, we have to select Use the server’s external IP address instead.
5. Then, we will select Get the external IP address from the following URL. In case the input field is empty, we have to enter the default value ( which can be found at this link ) and proceed.
6. Finally, we will select the Ask operating system for a port option.

After following these steps, we have to verify by clicking the Test button.

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Conclusion

To conclude, the skilled Support Engineers at Bobcares demonstrated how to deal with FTP error ECONNREFUSED: connection refused by the server.