This error means EverWeb signed in to your web host's server but couldn't open the second connection it uses to send files. The usual fix is to turn on Use passive publishing connections.
What you may see
- Protocol Error: Could not open data connection to port followed by a number, such as 49422. The number changes each time.
- Error: 30 The FTP PORT command returned an error.
- In older versions of EverWeb: EverWeb could not connect to port followed by a number.
Why it happens
FTP uses two connections. One signs in. The other, the data connection, carries each file. Each one goes through a port (a numbered door on a computer).
With passive connections, your computer opens both connections to the server. That works with most home routers. Without them, the server tries to connect back to your computer, and routers and firewalls usually block that.
Fix it
Publish again after each step.
- Turn on Use passive publishing connections. On a Mac, go to EverWeb > Settings > Publishing. On Windows, go to Edit > Options > Publishing.
- Set Maximum Connections to 1 on the same tab. Some hosts limit how many connections you can open at once.
- Try a phone hotspot. Connect your computer to your phone's hotspot and publish. If that works, something on your usual network is in the way. Restart your router. Then check any firewall or security app, such as Little Snitch, Norton or Windows Defender, and allow EverWeb.
- Turn off any VPN, and iCloud Private Relay on a Mac. See How to disable iCloud Private Relay.
- If passive was already on, try it off once, then turn it back on if that doesn't help.
- Use the newest version of EverWeb your plan covers. Newer versions fix publishing problems that older ones had.
- Ask your host. You can send them these words:
I publish my website with EverWeb using passive FTP. Publishing fails with "Could not open data connection to port". Is passive FTP turned on for my account, and are its data ports open?
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 a full-screen screenshot of File > Edit Publishing Settings with your password hidden.