Fix: io.netty.channel.abstractchannel$annotatedconnectexception

The “io.netty.channel.abstractchannel$annotatedconnectexception: Connection refused: no further information” error is a common frustration experienced by Minecraft players. This error message typically appears when you’re trying to connect to a Minecraft server but encounter difficulties during the connection process.

What Does the Error Message Mean?

The error message io.netty.channel.abstractchannel$annotatedconnectexception essentially signifies that there was a problem with establishing a network connection between your Minecraft client and the server you’re trying to join. The specific causes can vary, ranging from issues within your own network setup to problems with the server you’re attempting to connect to.

The error message might initially appear to be a jumble of technical terms and symbols. However, breaking down its components and understanding its structure can provide valuable insights into the nature of the error and its implications.

Namespace (“io.netty.channel.AbstractChannel”): The first part of the error message, “io.netty.channel.AbstractChannel,” refers to a specific class in the Netty framework. Netty is an open-source networking framework that allows developers to build robust and performant network applications. The “AbstractChannel” class is a foundational element within Netty, responsible for managing network communication channels.

Exception Type (“AnnotatedConnectException”): The second part of the error message, “AnnotatedConnectException,” specifies the type of exception that has occurred. In this case, it indicates an exception related to connecting to a network resource, such as a server or service. The term “Annotated” implies that additional contextual information might be attached to this exception.

Common Scenarios That Trigger the Error

After receiving numerous reports from multiple users we investigated the issue and devised a set of solutions that solved the problem for most of the users. Also, we looked into the reasons due to which the error is triggered and listed them below. For that:

Now that you have a basic understanding of the nature of the issue we will move on towards the solutions. It is recommended that you try these solutions in the specific order in which they are provided to ensure that no conflicts occur.

Fix 1. Power-Cycle your Network

Whenever the internet router is reset the IP address that is provided by the ISP is changed unless you are using a static IP address. Therefore, in this step, we will be reinitializing the internet settings and the DNS cache by completely power cycling the Internet Router. For that:

1. Disconnect the power from the internet router.

   

2. Wait for 5 minutes and reconnect the power.
3. When internet access is granted try to connect to the server and check to see if the issue persists.

Fix 2. Reset your Network Configurations

Your Windows Network configurations can also be a culprit here, as it’s possible that your Network settings are configured incorrectly. For resetting network configurations, follow the steps below:-

1. Search for the Command Prompt in the Windows Search bar then click “run as administrator”.

   

2. Once the Command Prompt window is opened, type the following commands one by one:-

   ipconfig /flushdns
   ipconfig /release
   ipconfig /renew
   netsh winsock reset
   netsh int ip reset

3. Restart your computer and check to see if the issue persists.

Fix 3. Add Exception in Firewall

It is possible that the Windows Firewall that you are using might be blocking your connection to the server. Therefore, in this step, we will be adding an exception in the Firewall for some executables in the Minecraft folder that need internet access. For that:

1. Click on the start menu and select the Settings icon.
2. In the Settings, click on the “Updates & Security” option.
3. Select the “Windows Security” from the left pane and select the “Firewall & Network Protection” option.
4. Scroll down and select the “Allow an App through Firewall” option.
5. Click on “Change Settings” and select “Yes” on the warning prompt.
6. Select the “Allow another app” from the options and click on “Browse“
7. Navigate to the game installation directory and select the game and the launcher executable.
8. Now repeat the above process again and this time navigate to the directory where you have the Minecraft servers installed.
9. Open the “Maxwell” folder and then the “MinecraftServer” folder.
10. Now allow both the  Java executables located inside the folder in the same way.
11. Now repeat the process again and instead of clicking “Allow another app” after selecting the “change” option simply scroll down the list of apps available and allow all the “Java Platform SE Binary” options through both the “Private” and “Public” networks.

    

12. Open the Minecraft launcher, try to connect to the server, and check to see if the issue persists.

    

Fix 4. Add the IP address and Port Before Connecting

If the IP address that you are using is not a static one, it will change every couple of days or whenever the Internet Connection is reset. Therefore, in this step, we are going to be checking the IP address and the correct port for the game and add it to the Minecraft Launcher. For that:

1. Click on the search bar on the Windows toolbar and type in “Command Prompt“.
2. Right–click on the icon and select “Run as Administrator“.

   

3. Type in “ipconfig” and note down the “IPV4 Address“.

   

4. Also, Navigate to the “Minecraft Servers folder>Maxwell (some random numbers)> MinecraftServer” and open the “Server Properties” text document.

   

5. Note down the “Server Port” listed there. In our case it was “25565” it should be similar in most cases however in some it is not.
6. Now open up Minecraft and navigate to the “Play Multiplayer” option.
7. Select the server which you want to join by clicking on it and select “Edit” from the below options.

   

8. The server name can be according to your preference but the “Address” needs to be the IPV4 address that we noted and the port number for example “XXX.XXX.X.X:25565” the “25565” is the port number and it may vary.

   

9. Click on “Done“, click on “Refresh” and check to see if the issue persists.

Note: There are some applications that are generally incompatible with certain elements of Minecraft and cause issues with it. The list of applications is available here. If these are installed on the computer on which the server is running from or on your computer you will continue to face issues with the game.

Fix 5. Check for Port Filtering

We came across numerous instances where users were accidentally filtering ports. Even though the port forwarding was working alright, the filtering automatically nullifies it and you will not be able to connect to Minecraft servers.

Here, what you can do is check your router’s and your local machine’s network configurations and make sure that port filtering isn’t turned on and if it is, the correct ports are being filtered.

Fix 6. Check ISP Network Access

If none of the above methods work, you should check your ISP’s network access. ISPs sometimes block network access to specific domains and don’t allow you to go through. Contact your ISP and verify that internet access isn’t indeed blocked.

Furthermore, you can also change your internet connection to your smartphone’s 3G and see how that works out for you. If it does, it probably means that your ISP is blocking you and you need to change your network.

If Minecraft is working with the Mobile Data it means that your ISP is blocking the connection. If that’s the case please contact your ISP to get your issue resolved.