FIX: The remote device or resource won’t accept the connection

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by Andrew Wafer
Andrew Wafer
Andrew Wafer
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Andrew is not just trying to bring you closer to Windows, but he's truly interested in this platform. He just happens to be passionate about sharing that knowledge... read more
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  • The remote device or resource won't accept the connection error can be caused by misconfigured proxy settings or the installed antivirus.
  • Your primary approach should be to disable the proxy.
  • Some users fixed things by resetting the IP or force updating group policies, amongst other solutions.
Fix The remote device won't accept the connection error message in Windows

The Internet has, of late, become a vital part of our lives, and even a few minutes of connection drop can affect things severely. And when that happens, users run the troubleshooter, which reads, The remote device or resource won’t accept the connection.

The worst part, this error affects all browsers, and when you hover the cursor over the error message, it reads wpad.Home won’t accept connection. But fret not! We have a few solutions that worked for other users flawlessly.

What does The remote device or resource won’t accept the connection error mean?

The error message indicates a problem with the network settings, which, in turn, prevents the connection. Users generally reported The remote device won’t accept the connection error on Windows 10 Wi-Fi.

Here are a few common reasons behind it:

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  • Misconfigured proxy settings – If your computer has a proxy set up, it’s likely to lead to the error.
  • Conflicting third-party apps – Certain antivirus and third-party firewalls can affect how the connection is set up, and are one of the most common reasons behind the problem.
  • Bug in the installed version of the OS – For many users, the message in the troubleshooter showed up after updating the OS, which likely points to a bug in the installed version.
  • Issues with the drivers – Frequently, incompatible, corrupt, or outdated drivers could lead to errors.

How can I fix The remote device that won’t accept the connection error?

Before we head to the slightly longer solutions, let’s try a few quick ones and see if this help:

  • Restart the computer.
  • Turn off the router/modem, wait for a minute, and then power it on.
  • Disable any third-party antivirus or firewall installed on the computer. If that works, we recommend you switch to a more reliable antivirus and an effective firewall.
  • Verify whether the error is seen across devices on the network or just one. In case it’s the former, you would have to contact the ISP (Internet Service Provider), while in the case of the latter, check the solutions below.

1. Turn off proxy settings

  1. Press the Windows + R, type inetcpl.cpl, and press Enter.internet properties windows 10
  2. Switch to the Connections tab, and click on LAN settings.
  3. Now, select the Automatically detect settings option, uncheck Use a proxy server for your LAN and click OK to save the changes.disable proxy to fix the remote device won't accept the connection

This solution worked for most users and got things up and running when they received The remote device won’t accept the connection message for a shared folder. Also, find out what to do if the proxy won’t turn off.

2. Reset the affected browser

Note icon NOTE
We have listed the steps to reset Google Chrome. Since the steps remain similar for most, you can easily reset the other browsers.
  1. Launch Chrome, paste the following path in the address bar, and hit Enter:chrome://settings/resetreset
  2. Next, click on Restore settings to their original defaults.restore settings to their original defaults to fix the remote device won't accept the connection
  3. Next, click on Reset settings in the confirmation prompt.reset settings

If you are encountering The remote device won’t accept the connection issue in Windows 10 on Chrome or another browser, it could be the individual browser settings to blame. Simply resetting it should do the trick.

3. Reset IP

  1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type cmd, and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter.cmd
  2. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
  3. Now, paste the following command and hit Enter:ipconfig/releasecommand to fix the remote device won't accept the connection
  4. Once done, execute the following command:ipconfig/renew

4. Force update Group Policies

  1. Press Windows + S to open the Search menu, type Command Prompt, and click on Run as administrator.command prompt
  2. Click Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
  3. Paste the following command and hit Enter:GPUPDATE /FORCEupdate policies to fix the remote device won't accept the connection

5. Uninstall conflicting applications

  1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type appwiz.cpl in the text field, and click OK.appwiz.cpl
  2. Locate and select the program(s) installed around the same time the error first appeared, and click Uninstall.uninstall app to fix the remote device won't accept the connection
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

If the problem first appeared after downloading a program, usually a security software or one that modifies the Internet settings, uninstalling the app should work.

You can surely opt for CCleaner here, as it is a great maintenance tool that has an uninstall feature to help you easily uninstall any conflicting app.

Get CCleaner

6. Uninstall recent Windows updates

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings, navigate to Windows Update, and click on Update history.update history
  2. Now, scroll down to the bottom and select Uninstall updates.uninstall updates to fix the remote device won't accept the connection
  3. Click on Uninstall next to the last major update.uninstall
  4. Again, click Uninstall in the confirmation prompt.confirm uninstall

If nothing else has worked yet, your best bet to fix The remote device or resource won’t accept the connection error is to uninstall the recent updates. And once done, the problem should be gone for good.

Before you leave, do not forget to check the best ways to increase the Internet speed in Windows. Also, in the comments section, please tell us which fix worked for you.

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