Suppose you are working on the internet related to something very important, but then you lose connection with this message popping up: “Router refusing to connect” error. This can be very annoying, but almost everyone faces such problems in the internet age. You don’t want to get stuck and waste your time in vain so this article will help you in finding the solution. Let’s Know More About The Router Refused To Connect.
Router Refused To Connect
If you are facing a router connection problem, you might want to check if you are trying to connect to the correct network and if the IP Address you are entering is not wrong. If that’s not the case, turning VPN off or disabling the firewall or antivirus protection might help. Lastly, restarting is always recommended while troubleshooting. We will be discussing the details later in the article.
What does the message “router refused to connect” mean?
Depending on the circumstance, the message might indicate several things:
- You are trying to connect to an open port.
- You are connecting the device to an incorrect IP Address.
- Either you or the ISP is trying to use the wrong port.
- The port doesn’t work at all.
Why would your router refuse to connect?
A router functions as a middleman between your devices and the modem. Network security concerns can prevent you or others from accessing its settings if it thinks you are not authorised to do it. Hence, it can refuse to connect for the following reasons:
- Incorrect default gateway address of your device.
- The network driver is causing the problem.
- Your LAN or Wi-Fi network card.
- Antivirus, firewalls or VPNs disrupt the connection
- Network bugs.
How to fix this issue?
The best part is that most probably, your problem isn’t that big and you can solve it yourself at your home without any equipment. Most of these errors can be easily solved by simple and fast processes. You just need to be patient while following the step-by-step process given below:
Enter the correct IP Address
First, you need to ensure that you are putting the correct IP Address; if you are not, your router will refuse to connect to your device. So, if you are redirected to a Google search page, retype the correct unique address of your route preceded by the http://, and you’ll be good to go.
Check the connection
If that didn’t work, you need to check another thing before you move to the next step. It might be the case that you are trying to connect to the wrong network and are unaware of it. Rechecking things never hurts and helps you find the reason behind your problem.
Turn off the VPN
However, if there has been no such error from your side and you are connected to a VPN server, try switching it off. Most probably, your router rejects the connection requests on detecting that your VPN is delivering network packets. You can turn it on after the problem is solved; if it doesn’t, you should report it to your VPN service provider.
Disable Antivirus
Another reason that the connection is disrupted is a firewall. Antivirus software must submit a request to network equipment to protect you against potential risks that the router may perceive as suspicious and refuse to connect.
Therefore, you can momentarily turn off your antivirus before attempting to connect to the router. You can also remove the antivirus software if it helps solve the issue.
Restart the router
However, even if disabling or removing antivirus software doesn’t work, the problem might be with the router and not your mistakes. So, just like any other internet issue, restarting the router may help.
Go in the following order
- Reboot the device (you PC, laptop or mobile) that you are trying to connect to the router. Check if this works.
- Unplug the router, wait for some time, and then plug it back in. After that, try connecting it. This will almost certainly resolve the problem.
Factory reset
If none of the above has worked for you, the last option is to do a factory reset. Out of the two factory reset methods, one needs you to log in.
The reset button on the router is the alternate option, then. For about a minute, push and hold it. This will definitely solve the error, but you might want to contact your router manufacturer’s support if it does not.
Conclusion
These are the solutions to your problem. Of course, utilising an Ethernet cable is an option as well. Your concern should be resolved by the time you reach step 6. However, if you continue to observe the issue, you must get professional assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1) How does a router work?
It is a network switching device that may direct network packets to other networks or devices based on their addresses.
Q2) How often should I reboot my router?
You should reboot every 3-4 weeks as it resets the router and prevents long-term issues.
