How to Fix Connection Refused in Minecraft

The Error

Connection refused: no further information
java.net.ConnectException: Connection refused: connect

"Connection Refused" means your client reached the server's IP address, but the server actively rejected the connection. This is different from "Connection Timed Out" where packets are silently dropped. A refusal means something is listening on the IP but not on the port, or a firewall explicitly blocked you.

Quick Fix

Verify the server is running and accepting connections on the correct port. If self-hosting, check that port 25565 is forwarded in your router and allowed through your firewall.

Step-by-Step Diagnosis

1. Verify the server is running. The most common cause of "Connection Refused" is that the server is not started. SSH into the server machine or check your hosting panel. Look for the "Done!" message in the server console.
2. Confirm the IP and port. Double-check the server address. If the server uses a non-default port, include it: play.example.com:25566. The default port is 25565.
3. Check port forwarding (self-hosted). Log into your router's admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1). Forward TCP port 25565 to the local IP of the server machine. Use ipconfig (Windows) or ip addr (Linux) to find the local IP.
4. Check firewall rules. On Windows, open Windows Defender Firewall and add an inbound rule for port 25565 TCP. On Linux, run sudo ufw allow 25565/tcp or add an iptables rule.
5. Test from localhost. On the server machine, try connecting with localhost or 127.0.0.1. If this works but external connections fail, the issue is networking (port forwarding or firewall), not the server itself.
6. Test the port externally. Use YouGetSignal or telnet yourip 25565 from another network to verify the port is reachable from the internet.
7. Check server-ip in server.properties. If server-ip is set to a specific IP that does not exist on the machine, the server fails to bind. Leave server-ip= blank to bind to all interfaces.

Common Causes

• Server not running. The server process crashed or was never started. Check the panel or console.
• Port not forwarded. The router does not know to send traffic on port 25565 to the server machine. This is the most common issue for home-hosted servers.
• Firewall blocking the port. Both the OS firewall and router firewall can block incoming connections. Both must allow port 25565.
• Wrong port in server address. If the server runs on port 25566 but you connect to port 25565, you get "Connection Refused" because nothing is listening on 25565.
• ISP blocking port 25565. Some ISPs block common game server ports. If this is the case, change the server port to something like 25580 in server.properties and update your port forwarding.
• Double NAT. If your modem and router both perform NAT, you need to port forward on both devices. Alternatively, put the modem in bridge mode.

Hosting Provider Specifics

On managed hosting (Pterodactyl-based panels, shared hosting), port forwarding is handled by the provider. If you get "Connection Refused" on a hosted server, check the panel to confirm the server is online and note the assigned port. Some hosts do not use 25565 as the default.

FAQ

What is the difference between "Connection Refused" and "Connection Timed Out"?

"Connection Refused" means the server machine received your request and actively rejected it (nothing listening on that port). "Connection Timed Out" means your packets never reached the server or were dropped. Refused is a definitive rejection; timed out is silence.

I can connect locally but not from outside. Why?

This is a port forwarding or firewall issue. The server is running correctly, but external traffic cannot reach it. Verify your port forward and firewall rules for port 25565 TCP.

Does "Connection Refused" mean I am banned?

No. If you are banned, you receive a specific ban message after successfully connecting. "Connection Refused" is a network-level error that occurs before any Minecraft protocol exchange.

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