Sometimes, when you are trying to connect to a network, you might encounter an issue. While running the Windows troubleshooter might usually be enough to fix it, you might also see the "remote device or resource won't accept the connection" message. Fortunately, there are ways to fix this error message and connect your device to the network.
In this article, we will explain the most effective fixes for the "remote device won't accept the connection" error.
Part 1. Possible Reasons for “The Remote Device or Resource Won’t Accept the Connection”
The message “the remote device or resource won’t accept the connection” often appears when you are trying to establish a connection on your device. Therefore, it is worth noting all the possible reasons that prevent this connection. Below, you will find a table and a detailed explanation of the possible causes for this error.
| Possible cause | Fix |
|---|---|
| Network connection issue | Check network connection, reset your network, run the network troubleshooter |
| Firewall of antivirus settings issue | Disable the firewall and the antivirus |
| Proxy issue | Disable the proxy server |
| IP address issue | Reset your IP address |
| Group policy issue | Force update the group policies |
| Server issue | Check your server’s status |
Network Connection Issue
Since the “remote device won’t accept the connection” error appears when you are trying to connect to a network, then it’s logical that one of the possible causes is network-related. For example, the DNS settings might be off or the network connection might be unstable. In addition to this, multiple devices might try to connect to the network, using the same IP address, which might lead to this message.
Firewall or Antivirus Settings Issue
Another common cause for connection issues is the firewall or antivirus software on your computer. Sometimes, the settings prevent the connection because they consider it a privacy threat. In this instance, you can simply change the firewall settings or disable it altogether to successfully establish the connection.
Proxy Server Issue
If you are using a proxy server to connect to the network, then this might be the cause of this error message. For instance, your proxy server configurations might not match the settings on the server you are trying to connect. In that case, simply disabling your proxy for a while or changing your proxy configurations might do the trick.
IP Address Issue
This is yet another issue that relates to your network connection. In some cases, it is possible that your IP address creates conflicts that prevent the connection. Therefore, by altering it you might eliminate these conflicts that interfere.
Group Policy Issue
If you have recently made some changes in your proxy server settings, then the group policies might not have yet been updated. If that’s the case, then this is the reason why you get the “remote device won’t accept the connection” message as it will detect a mismatch in the configurations. Try to force update group policies to solve the error.
Server Issues
Finally, the “remote device or resource won’t accept the connection” message might appear due to server-related issues. The server might be down for maintenance, or down because it can’t handle any more connections. In that case, there is nothing wrong with your device or the network and the error message will continue to appear until the server is up and running.
Part 2. Fixes for "The Remote Device or Resource Won't Accept the Connection"
As you can see, the "remote device or resource won’t accept the connection" message appears for a variety of reasons. Luckily, there is a possible fix for each one of these causes and below we are going to give you step-by-step guides on how to use it.
Fix 1. Check Network Connections
When you see the "remote device won't accept the connection" error message, the first thing that you should do is check the status of your network connection. If you notice that the issue lies there, you can reset your connection settings or run the network troubleshooter.
To reset your network, follow these steps:
- Step 1.Go to Start > Settings > Network & internet.
- Step 2.Under Advanced network settings, find and click Network reset.
- Step 3.Click the Reset now button and wait until your device has rebooted.
Another possible fix is to run the network troubleshooter. You can do that by following these steps:
- Step 1.Select Start > Settings > Network & internet.
- Step 2.Under Advanced network settings, click Network troubleshooter.
- Step 3.Wait until the troubleshooter has run the diagnostics.
Fix 2. Disable Firewall
The next fix requires you to disable your antivirus and firewall as they might interfere with the connection. First of all, we will show you how to disable Windows' built-in antivirus:
- Step 1.Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security.
- Step 2.Click the Open Windows Security button.
- Step 3.Click Virus & Threat Protection.
- Step 4.Click the Manage settings option and toggle the switch to turn off real-time protection.
Apart from that, you can also disable the Windows Defender Firewall to fix this error message. The steps to do that are the following:
- Step 1.Open the Control Panel and click on the Windows Defender Firewall icon.
- Step 2.Click the Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off option from the sidebar.
- Step 3.Customize your settings and click OK to save the changes.
Fix 3. Disable Proxy
If you encounter “the remote device or resource won’t accept the connection” because of a proxy server, then disabling it will fix the issue. Here is how to achieve that:
- Step 1.Tap Win + R on your keyboard.
- Step 2.Type inetcpl.cpl and click the OK button to open the Internet Properties window.
- Step 3.Go to the Connections tab and click the LAN settings button.
- Step 4.Check the box next to Use a proxy server for your LAN and click OK.
Fix 4. Reset IP Address
Another possible fix for this error is to reset your IP address. The steps for this method are the following:
- Step 1.Type command prompt or cmd on the search bar and click Run as an administrator.
- Step 2.Type the command ipconfig/release, tap Enter, and wait until the process is completed.
- Step 3.Type the command ipconfig/renew and tap Enter.
Fix 5. Update Group Policy
As we have already mentioned, outdated group policies might be the cause of the error. For this reason, you can solve it by force updating them. The steps to do that are the following:
- Step 1.Run the command prompt as an administrator.
- Step 2.Type the command gpupdate /force and tap Enter.
Fix 6. Check Server Status
If none of the above methods works, then you should probably check your server’s status. When the server is down or overloaded, you will see the “remote device won’t accept the connection” message and there is nothing you can do about it, until the server is fixed. The simplest way to determine whether the server is working is to access it through your browser or using the “ping” command on the command prompt.
Conclusion
In summary, encountering the "remote device or resource won't accept the connection" error can be frustrating, but it is often resolvable through systematic troubleshooting. All of these methods will solve the “remote device or resource won’t accept the connection” error effectively. Follow the step-by-step guides to try them out.
