# Fix ‘The Proxy Server Refusing Connections Error’ Message **URL:** https://www.compsmag.com/blogs/fix-the-proxy-server-refusing-connections-error-message/ **Author:** Ayushi Chauhan **Published:** 2022-04-13 **Updated:** 2022-04-13 **Categories:** Blogs **Tags:** Blogs Daily, Computer Guides, guiderobert, Guides and Tutorials, guiding12, How To Guide, How To Guides, internet tips and tutorials, Tips, Tricks, Windows 10 **Reading Time:** 7 min --- This guide is about Fix ‘The Proxy Server Refusing Connections Error’ Message. So read this free guide, Fix ‘The Proxy Server Refusing Connections Error’ Message step by step. If you have query related to same article you may contact us. ## Fix ‘The Proxy Server Refusing Connections Error’ Message - Guide Can it be said that you cannot connect to the Internet as the error message 'The intermediary server is refusing connections' is displayed in Mozilla Firefox? Assuming it is, just sit back and relax. There is an exceptionally basic fix to resolve this issue. This is an issue related to incorrect proxy server settings in Firefox. ## Fix 'Proxy server refusing connections error' message ### Forcing Firefox to Automatically Detect Proxy Settings It turns out that this particular issue can also occur due to the way Firefox is configured to handle proxy servers by default. Unlike many other proxy servers, Firefox will not adopt the system-wide proxy services being used for the network you are currently connected to. Fortunately, you can modify the default settings to force the browser to automatically detect proxy settings for this network, which will end up solving the problem. Several affected users confirmed that this operation finally allowed the affected users to visit all websites without encountering the 'Proxy server is refusing connections' error. Here's a quick guide by accessing the Mozilla Firefox network settings and modifying the default connection settings so that the HTTP proxy and port for the entire network are adopted. Open up your Mozilla Firefox browser and click the action button in the upper right section of the screen. In the newly appeared context menu, click Options. Once inside the Options tab, select the General category from the vertical menu on the left and use the menu on the right to scroll to Network Settings. When you get there, click on Settings to bring up up the advanced menu. Once you manage to reveal the Connection Settings menu, simply change the toggle associated with Configure Internet Access to 'Use System Proxy Settings'. Once you've made this modification, click OK to save the changes, restart your browser, and try to access the same webpage that was failing earlier. If the same 'Proxy server is refusing connections' error is still occurring, go to the next potential fix below. ### Adding the URL's SSL port to the allowed list (if applicable) Another scenario that will cause this issue is a situation where the user final attempts to access a URL that contains an alternate port for an SSL connection. Some proxy solutions, including EdgeWave iPrism, will treat this as a potential security breach. If this scenario applies, you can resolve the issue by going into the proxy server configuration and adding an alternate SSL port to the port. Of course, the steps to do this will be very different depending on which Proxy solution you are using. But to make things easier for you, here is a general guideline you can use to whitelist the blocked SSL port. Review the URL that is triggering the 'Proxy server is refusing connections' error to see if it contains any evidence of a port being actively used. Once you've managed to identify the problematic port, open your proxy settings and look for a setting that allows you to add the port as an alternate SSL port. After doing this, save the configuration and restart your computer. After the next boot is complete, check if the issue is resolved on the next computer boot. If this issue is still not resolved after following the instructions below, or this method was not applicable, then proceed to the next potential fix. ### Switch to an HTTPS proxy (if applicable) You may also encounter the 'Proxy server is refusing connections' error when trying to access an FTP site through an HTTP proxy. Unlike HTTPS proxies, HTTP proxy servers do not allow this. If this scenario applies, you may be able to resolve the issue by switching to an HTTPS proxy solution that ensures secure end-to-end communications. In case you don't want to pay for a premium service, you can use this site to find viable SSL Proxy servers that you can use. If you don't encounter the issue when trying to access a site with FTP functionality, go to the next possible fix below. ### Disabling the built-in proxy server (if applicable) Another scenario that will end up Generating this problem is if a proxy server is enabled in your local area network (LAN) settings without you knowing. Even if you are voluntarily using a dedicated Proxy solution, you must take a trick to the Internet Properties tab and see if you are not actually using two proxies at the same time. This regularly occurs after a computer is attacked by malware or adware. Some viruses deliberately adjust your proxy settings to redirect you to spam ads. Many affected users reported that they were able to fix the problem completely after disabling the built-in proxy function in the Internet Properties tab. #### How to disable the built-in proxy in windows 10 Open up a Run dialog and press Windows key + R. Then type 'ms-settings:network-proxy' and press Enter to open up the Proxy tab of the Settings menu. Once inside the Proxy tab, use the right side menu to scroll down to the Manual proxy configuration section and turn off the toggle associated with Use a proxy server. After this modification is applied, restart the computer and see if the problem is resolved on the next computer startup. #### How to disable built-in proxy in Windows 7, Windows 8.1 Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Inside the text box, type 'inetcpl.cpl' inside the text box and press Enter to open up on the Internet Properties tab. Once you are able to open the Internet Properties tab, select the Connections tab from the horizontal menu at the top and click LAN Settings (under Local Area LAN Settings). Once you manage to get into the Local Area Network (LAN) Settings menu, go to the proxy server setting and uncheck the box associated with 'Use a proxy server for your LAN' After the proxy server is disabled, restart the computer and see if the problem is resolved on the next computer startup. If the 'Proxy server is refusing connections' error persists, go to the next potential fix below. ### Uninstalling the VPN Client (if applicable) It turns out that Firefox doesn't have a specific error message pointing to a problem caused by a VPN network. So, in case you are using a VPN client that really facilitates this issue, you will still get the same error message (Proxy server is refusing connections). If this scenario is applicable, you may be able to resolve the issue by simply disabling the VPN client causing the issue. If this is not an option, the only option left is to completely uninstall the VPN solution. In case you run out of options, here's a quick guide by uninstalling the VPN client from your computer. Press Windows key + R to open a Run dialog box. Inside the text box, type 'appwiz.cpl' and press Enter to open up the programs and Features screen. When prompted by UAC (User Account Control), click Yes to grant administrative privileges. Within the Programs and Features screen, scroll down the list of installed apps and find the VPN client you are actively using. Once you manage to find the VPN solution, right-click and choose Uninstall from the newly presented context menu. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the uninstall, restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved at the next system boot. ## Final note I hope you like the guide Fix ‘The Proxy Server Refusing Connections Error’ Message. In case if you have any query regards this article you may ask us. Also, please share your love by sharing this article with your friends. --- *End of Article*