Electrum Not Connecting to Any Server

[jaydub121]

I just installed Electrum today, 6/19/21, on a Win10 machine.  When I open Electrum to the default wallet, it does not connect to any server.  The round icon in the lower right hand corner remains red.  What I've tried:
- Unchecking "Select Server Automatically" and tried assigning 10 different servers, but round icon remains red.
- Disabled windows firewall and my anti-virus, but no change in behavior.
- I went into windows firewall to allow the access to Electrum, but Electrum isn't even listed.

I seem to be out of options.  Any ideas?

[ranochigo]

What version of Electrum are you using?

Are you sure you installed Electrum from electrum.org and not a phishing site? Did you validate the installation using PGP?

[nc50lc]

-snip-
I seem to be out of options.  Any ideas?

I recently had an issue with connecting to servers with domain names, can only use the servers that are IP addresses, maybe you're experiencing the same?
I think it had something to do with DNS cache and solved itself after a few days.

To check if it's the same issue:
Look for the "status" in the Network settings; to open it quickly: click the (red) connection circle icon.
If it has at least 1 connected node (but not to the selected server) you can temporarily use any of those "connected nodes" (IP addresses) as server.
To select, right click on it and select "Use as server".

[NotATether]

- I went into windows firewall to allow the access to Electrum, but Electrum isn't even listed.

That's the way Windows Firewall lists permissions. Programs you just installed which you haven't made a firewall rule for will not appear in the "Windows Firewall With Advanced Security" mmc.exe snap-in. And Windows Firewall does block Electrum's network activity initially, showing a dialog prompting you to select it to run as part of a private network (on) or public network (off). Do you recall seeing such a notice the first time you ran Electrum?

If Electrum can discover servers on other machines on your network, this is the most likely culprit.

[pooya87]

-snip-
I seem to be out of options.  Any ideas?

I recently had an issue with connecting to servers with domain names, can only use the servers that are IP addresses, maybe you're experiencing the same?
I think it had something to do with DNS cache and solved itself after a few days.

I have had my Anti Virus block a bunch of Electrum servers for some time now, I haven't investigated this since it never caused any troubles for me but in a more severe case with a more strict AV it may prevent any connections from taking place.
It lists the reason for the blocked servers as its "internal blacklist" and "anti-phishing blacklist"

If I had to guess this is the reason why OP can't connect though: https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/issues/5195

[Pmalek]

If I had to guess this is the reason why OP can't connect though: https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/issues/5195

That would then be contrary to his story in OP. He stated that he installed Electrum on 19 July (yesterday). That does not exclude the possibility that he originally downloaded and installed an old version of the software, but I doubt it. Versions 3.3.0 - 3.3.8 were released during 2018/2019 and you can only get them from the 'Previous Releases' section on the official download page. If he download from the official site, I don't think he took that route.

I have Electrum installed on two computers, never experienced my AVs or firewalls blocking the connection to it. Unless OP did it himself but doesn't know it. But I have noticed that sometimes if the sever I got connected to is offline, I couldn't manually select and connect to a different node without restarting my Electrum client. @OP, you could try that as well. Untick the 'select server automatically' box, pick a random server, connect to it, and restart Electrum to see if that will work.   

[jaydub121]

I've researched all of your suggestions. 
- I did download Electrum 4.1.4 directly from Electrum home page.
- I re-installed Electrum, but no change in behavior.
- Went into Help > Check for Updates, and I get an error saying "Update Check Failed".
- There are no entries beneath "Connected Nodes"
- I am getting no warnings from Kaspersky or Windows Firewall when I start Electrum. 
- Went into Win10  Settings, clicked "Speech, region, date' , chose Date&Time and clicked Synch now.
- Reboot and re-started Electrum.

Without hiring a computer expert, looks like I won't be able to use Electrum.   What would be the next best alternative to Electrum, given that I am a newbie at Bitcoin?  Using Win10.

[hosseinimr93]

- Went into Help > Check for Updates, and I get an error saying "Update Check Failed".

This indicates that there's a problem with your internet connection, unless you haven't downloaded electrum from its official website.
That error should be displayed when you are not connected to internet. If you are connected to internet, it should say "Already up to date".  

Using a (secure) VPN or not using VPN (if you are using a VPN) may solve your problem.

[jaydub121]

This indicates that there's a problem with your internet connection, unless you haven't downloaded electrum from its official website.
That error should be displayed when you are not connected to internet. If you are connected to internet, it should say "Already up to date".  

Using a (secure) VPN or not using VPN (if you are using a VPN) may solve your problem.

Thanks.  I took your suggestion and activated the VPN that comes with Kaspersky, then opened Electrum.  When I go Help > Check for Updates it get the following feedback:

Update Check Failed
Sorry but we were unable to check for updates.
Please try again later.

HOWEVER, now it seems to actually be making an attempt to search for updates (it searches for about two seconds).  When VPN is off, I get the error message instantly, like it is not even making an attempt.  I guess that progess, of sorts.

[Pmalek]

So you have Kaspersky Anti Virus on your computer. If it's not an Internet Security Suite, you are probably using the firewall that comes with Windows Defender.

You can try and disable real-time protection on your device and turn off the firewall to see if that changes anything. Open up your Kaspersky and disable it. That will probably automatically turn on the Windows Defender, so you will have to temporarily turn that off as well. Click Start and search for 'security'. Click on Virus & Threat Protection > Manage Settings under Virus & Threat settings and turn off real-time protection.

After that, click on Firewall & network protection and turn off all the firewalls that are displayed under each of your networks.

[jaydub121]

Yes, I've diabled Windows Firewall and Kaspersky anti-virus.  Still can't connect.  I have a Windows 7 base install on a different partition so I installed Electrum on it.  Works like a charm no issues.  So, there is some setting somewhere that is stopping Electrum from being able to connect to ouside servers, including Electrum itself (for updates).  I either have to re-install Win10, which I really don't want to do, or try another wallet and see if I get the same behavior. 

[khaled0111]

Since you tried all the above and none of them worked then the problem might be because of Windows itself or because your ports are blocked either by your ISP or router.
I found this solution on GitHub posted by SomberNight (Electrum developer), it should fix your problem if it's due to port blocking:

Please try with a Tor proxy on Windows.
Download and run the Tor Browser.
While Tor Browser is running, click orb in Electrum, go to Proxy tab, and check Use Tor proxy at port ...

Also, try to connect to one of the servers using its IP instead of its name. You can find a list of servers by clicking on the red circle. Ping the server to retrieve its IP:

Code:

ping server_name

[NotATether]

Yes, I've diabled Windows Firewall and Kaspersky anti-virus.  Still can't connect.  I have a Windows 7 base install on a different partition so I installed Electrum on it.  Works like a charm no issues.  So, there is some setting somewhere that is stopping Electrum from being able to connect to ouside servers, including Electrum itself (for updates).  I either have to re-install Win10, which I really don't want to do, or try another wallet and see if I get the same behavior. 

You (probably) don't have to reinstall Windows. Check if other programs, and browsers in particular, can connect to the internet such as Google Chrome. If they can, then it must be outdated proxy settings.

Check your proxy settings in Control Panel > Internet Options. If you see any proxy listed, remove it unless you require a proxy to connect to the internet. On the other hand, if you do need a proxy to connect, go to Electrum, then Tools -> Network -> Proxy and fill in the proxy information in there.

Or you can try while connected to a free VPN like ProtonVPN. This should override any proxy settings set by Windows.

[ranochigo]

Also, try to connect to one of the servers using its IP instead of its name. You can find a list of servers by clicking on the red circle. Ping the server to retrieve its IP:

Code:

ping server_name

Some servers disables their ICMP ping and can result in a false negative.

Here's a list that can be pinged:

Code:

electrum.jochen-hoenicke.de
electrum.blockstream.info
b.ooze.cc
bitcoins.sk
electrum.eff.ro

OP, if you're able to access the website, then the update checking should not fail as it is hosted on the same domain. There might be something specifically blocking your Electrum from accessing the internet instead of a filter on your network.

Go to Tools>Preference and check "Write Logs to File", restart Electrum and try connecting to a server again. Next, go to the data directory (%appdata%/Electrum) or whichever directory you're storing your files. You will see a folder called Logs, open it and open the latest file with a text editor. You can scroll to the bottom and look for any anomalies related to the connection attempt.

Alternatively, you can try using Wasabi wallet. It isn't as easy to use as Electrum IMO but it is definitely better in terms of privacy in the first place.

[jaydub121]

~

Win10 has sophisticated threats protection  system. Try to add the access to  folder that holds Electrum: Go to settings, click Windows Security and then Virus&ThreadProtection. Find there Ransomeware protection section and click Manage ransomeware protection. Find "Controlled folder access" section in the opened window  and click "Allow an app trough Controlled folder access" (Choose YES in the pop-up window). Click "+Add an allowed app" button, then "Browse all apps"  and add   Electrum executive.

That's strange.  I don't see Ransomeware Protection in the location you suggested.  So I typed those words into the search box which does find it.  When I try to go there, I get the following response:

"Page not available.  Your IT Administrator has limited access to some areas of this app, and the item you tried to access is not available.  Contact IT helpdesk for more information."

Well, there is no IT administrator on my PC.  It's a home computer I built from scratch with Win10 Pro.  I'm the Administrator and only user. What is that about and how do I get around that?  I tried logging in as Administrator, but I still cannot enter Ransomeware Protection.

[jaydub121]

Finally got access to the Ransome Ware Protection applet.  Added electrum-4.1.4.exe to Controlled Folder Access, but no luck.

[nc50lc]

Is your Windows10 in the latest or at least newer build?
Most of the time, issues with inexplicable reason like this are likely caused by an unknown fault in the OS (since your W7 OS works).

Or try to re-install/update your network adapter's driver in the device manager:

• Right-click Start icon, select "Device Manager" | or search for device manager.
• Expand network adapters, and use "right-click>update driver" on your network adapter.
• If it didn't do anything, reinstall it.

You might also want to remove any installed non-active network adapters that may cause connection issues, "view->show hidden devices".
Hidden devices have light-colored icons.

[NotATether]

Finally got access to the Ransome Ware Protection applet.  Added electrum-4.1.4.exe to Controlled Folder Access, but no luck.

Did you try checking your proxy settings as I mentioned in my above post?

[ranochigo]

Go to Tools>Preference and check "Write Logs to File", restart Electrum and try connecting to a server again. Next, go to the data directory (%appdata%/Electrum) or whichever directory you're storing your files. You will see a folder called Logs, open it and open the latest file with a text editor. You can scroll to the bottom and look for any anomalies related to the connection attempt.

Alternatively, you can try using Wasabi wallet. It isn't as easy to use as Electrum IMO but it is definitely better in terms of privacy in the first place.

Try this. Electrum logs communication with the servers which should give some clues as to what is happening.

[jaydub121]

Is your Windows10 in the latest or at least newer build?
Most of the time, issues with inexplicable reason like this are likely caused by an unknown fault in the OS (since your W7 OS works).

Or try to re-install/update your network adapter's driver in the device manager:

• Right-click Start icon, select "Device Manager" | or search for device manager.
• Expand network adapters, and use "right-click>update driver" on your network adapter.
• If it didn't do anything, reinstall it.

You might also want to remove any installed non-active network adapters that may cause connection issues, "view->show hidden devices".
Hidden devices have light-colored icons.

Or try ( like me) to use the portable (instead of Windows installer) version of Electrum placed into   one of WIN 10 folder (preferably on partition different from that one that holds OS). It carries all dependences and is less affective  to WIN 10 whims. Recommendation to add the access to  relevant folder via "Controlled folder access"  holds on.

Thanks for everyone's help, esp. NC50lc.  I downloaded the portable version, and everything works great right out of the box.  A couple of questions:
-  I'm using the same seed that I used for the installer version.  How does the portable program recognize the same seed?  Is it reaching out to the Electrum server to verify, or what?
- Are there any security compromises in using the portable version vs. installed version?
- Does the fact that the portable version works right out of the box narrow the scope of what's going on with my Win10 setup?  Cause there was one other program that I  had to abandon because my PC had issues with reaching out to its server for program updates.