{"id":"cloud-accounts.sftp-connection-refused-or-times-out","url":"/faq/cloud-accounts/sftp-connection-refused-or-times-out","category":{"id":"cloud-accounts","title":"Cloud accounts"},"subcategory":{"id":"ftp-sftp","title":"FTP and SFTP servers"},"question":"My SFTP test connection times out or is refused. What should I check?","alt_questions":["SFTP connection refused Storage Studio","SFTP timeout Mac","Can't connect to my SFTP server","SSH server unreachable Storage Studio","SFTP port 22 blocked"],"short_answer":"Check the Server and Port, that the server runs SFTP, and that you can reach it from your network (you may need its VPN). Timeouts usually mean a firewall; refusals mean nothing's listening on that port.","answer_markdown":"Check the address, the port and whether the server is reachable from where you are. A refusal usually means nothing is listening on that port; a timeout usually means a firewall or network is dropping the connection.\n\n- Confirm **Server** and **Port** (22 unless your host says otherwise).\n- Check the server is running SFTP, not only FTP.\n- If the server is at home or work, you may need to be on that network or its VPN.\n- Make sure no firewall on the server or router blocks the port.\n- If it connects but then fails, recheck **Username** and the password or key.\n\nClick **Copy error** on the red result to keep the exact message for your host or for support.","answer_html":"

Check the address, the port and whether the server is reachable from where you are. A refusal usually means nothing is listening on that port; a timeout usually means a firewall or network is dropping the connection.

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Click Copy error on the red result to keep the exact message for your host or for support.

","answer_text":"Check the address, the port and whether the server is reachable from where you are. A refusal usually means nothing is listening on that port; a timeout usually means a firewall or network is dropping the connection.\n\n- Confirm Server and Port (22 unless your host says otherwise).\n- Check the server is running SFTP, not only FTP.\n- If the server is at home or work, you may need to be on that network or its VPN.\n- Make sure no firewall on the server or router blocks the port.\n- If it connects but then fails, recheck Username and the password or key.\n\nClick Copy error on the red result to keep the exact message for your host or for support.","tags":["sftp","troubleshooting","network"],"related":[{"id":"cloud-accounts.sftp-server-should-be-hostname-only","question":"Why does Storage Studio say \"Server should be the hostname only\"?","url":"/faq/cloud-accounts/sftp-server-should-be-hostname-only"},{"id":"cloud-accounts.test-connection-failed-what-now","question":"Test connection failed — what should I do?","url":"/faq/cloud-accounts/test-connection-failed-what-now"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"My SFTP test connection times out or is refused. What should I check? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Check the Server and Port, that the server runs SFTP, and that you can reach it from your network (you may need its VPN). Timeouts usually mean a firewall; refusals mean nothing's listening on that port.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Cloud accounts","path":"/faq/cloud-accounts/"},{"name":"My SFTP test connection times out or is refused. What should I check?","path":"/faq/cloud-accounts/sftp-connection-refused-or-times-out"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/sftp-connection-refused-or-times-out","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"My SFTP test connection times out or is refused. What should I check?","alternateName":["SFTP connection refused Storage Studio","SFTP timeout Mac","Can't connect to my SFTP server","SSH server unreachable Storage Studio","SFTP port 22 blocked"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Check the address, the port and whether the server is reachable from where you are. A refusal usually means nothing is listening on that port; a timeout usually means a firewall or network is dropping the connection.\n\n- Confirm Server and Port (22 unless your host says otherwise).\n- Check the server is running SFTP, not only FTP.\n- If the server is at home or work, you may need to be on that network or its VPN.\n- Make sure no firewall on the server or router blocks the port.\n- If it connects but then fails, recheck Username and the password or key.\n\nClick Copy error on the red result to keep the exact message for your host or for support.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/cloud-accounts/sftp-connection-refused-or-times-out"}}]},"fragment":"
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Cloud accounts · FTP and SFTP servers

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My SFTP test connection times out or is refused. What should I check?

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Short answer: Check the Server and Port, that the server runs SFTP, and that you can reach it from your network (you may need its VPN). Timeouts usually mean a firewall; refusals mean nothing's listening on that port.

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Check the address, the port and whether the server is reachable from where you are. A refusal usually means nothing is listening on that port; a timeout usually means a firewall or network is dropping the connection.

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  • Confirm Server and Port (22 unless your host says otherwise).
  • Check the server is running SFTP, not only FTP.
  • If the server is at home or work, you may need to be on that network or its VPN.
  • Make sure no firewall on the server or router blocks the port.
  • If it connects but then fails, recheck Username and the password or key.
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Click Copy error on the red result to keep the exact message for your host or for support.

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Last reviewed

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Related questions

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