Publishing stops with a dropped connection, or Error 56: Failure with receiving network data

A dropped connection means the link between your computer and the server was cut off while EverWeb was publishing. The cause is usually on your connection, not in your website. Changing Use passive publishing connections fixes it most often.

What you may see

  • Error: 56 Failure with receiving network data
  • Error: 55 Failed sending network data
  • In older versions of EverWeb: Connection dropped

If Error 55 also says your server may have run out of disk space, see My hosting is full. What is using my space and how do I clear it? (Error 55) instead.

Fix it

Try these in order, and publish again after each one. The publishing settings are under EverWeb > Settings on a Mac, or Edit > Options on Windows.

  1. Change Use passive publishing connections on the Publishing tab to the opposite setting. If that doesn't help, turn it back on, since on is the normal setting.
  2. Set Maximum Connections to 1 on the same tab. Wait 15 to 20 minutes, then publish.
  3. Turn off any VPN, and iCloud Private Relay on a Mac (how). If you host with us, then sign in to your EverWeb account page (the Client Area) on this computer to clear any block.
  4. Try another network, such as your phone's hotspot. Hotels, cafes and offices often block publishing.
  5. Test without a secure connection. Some networks drop secure connections.
    • EverWeb + Hosting: on the Account tab, turn off Use Secure Publishing.
    • Another host: in File > Edit Publishing Settings, set Protocol to FTP, if your host allows plain FTP.

    If it publishes, your network is blocking secure connections. Plain FTP doesn't encrypt your password, so turn the secure setting back on as soon as you're on a network that allows it.

  6. If it stops partway through a large website, click Continue Publishing when EverWeb asks, not Cancel. See Publishing a large website times out or stops when my computer is idle.

"Connection dropped" while updating EverWeb

If you see Socket Connection Error: Connection dropped while EverWeb downloads an update, quit EverWeb and get the installer from the download page instead. Install it, restart your computer, then publish with File > Publish Entire Site.

A newer version publishes only while your Updates & Support plan is active. If your plan has ended, see How can I download an earlier version of EverWeb?

Still stuck?

Go to Help > Publishing Connection Diagnostics (EverWeb 4.5 or later) and click Run Tests. Then contact us with the full error text (click Copy To Clipboard), the diagnostics report, and which steps you tried.

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