How to Fix SMTP ERROR: Failed to connect to server: Connection refused (111) error on WordPress

How to Fix SMTP ERROR: Failed to connect to server: Connection refused (111) error on WordPress

Most of the WordPress customers are facing the issue while sending mails from WordPress using any plugins. Some of them are getting the error ‘SMTP ERROR: Failed to connect to server: Connection refused (111) error’.

To fix this error you would need to disable SMTP Restrictions, from your server.

1) Login to WHM.

2) Navigate to “SMTP Restrictions” under “Security Center”. The security center section of WHM allows you to improve the security on your server.

 

3) To disable, SMTP restrictions you would need to click on the “Disable” button. This feature prevents users from bypassing the mail server to send mail, a common practice used by spammers. It will allow only the MTA, mailman, and root to connect to remote SMTP servers.

 

4) Then you would need to navigate to “Tweak Settings” under “Server Configuration”. Tweak settings, allows you to configure many cPanel & WHM settings. Tabs at the top of the interface categorize the settings, and the all tab displays all of the settings.

 

5) Disable “Restrict outgoing SMTP to root, exim, and mailman (FKA SMTP Tweak)” on mail section. Enabling this feature will redirect outgoing SMTP connections to the local mail server. root, exim, and mailman are still allowed to make direct connections.

 

That’s it. The issue should be resolved now.

 

If you need any further assistance please contact our support department.