Bluestacks is a software that allows you to run Android applications on your Windows computer. This makes it possible for anyone to play their favorite mobile Android games on their Windows 10 machine. Although this is a solid performing software there are instances when certain issues can occur. In this latest installment of our troubleshooting series we will tackle the Bluestacks failed to connect to server issue.
Fix Bluestacks Failed To Connect To Server
Before performing the recommended troubleshooting steps for this particular problem I suggest that you try restarting your computer first. This will refresh the operating system as well as remove corrupt temporary data and is quite effective in fixing most software related issues.
There are several factors that can cause the Bluestacks failed to connect to server issue ranging from an interference from the antivirus program to a network settings issue. Listed below are the troubleshooting steps you need to do to fix this problem.
Disable your antivirus
One of the most common reasons why this problem occurs is because it is being blocked by your antivirus program. To check if this is what’s causing the problem you should try to disable the antivirus.
If you are using Windows Security
- Select Start – Settings > Update & Security – Windows Security – Virus & threat protection > Manage settings
- Switch Real-time protection to Off.
If you are using Avast
- Search for the Avast icon in your computer’s system tray and right-click on it.
- Click on Avast shields control.
- Locate the options to disable the program – the options are to disable it for 10 minutes, an hour, until the computer is restarted or permanently (until you yourself turn it back on). Select whatever option suits you best and use it to disable the program.
If you are using AVG
- Search for the AVG icon in your computer’s system tray and right-click on it.
- Click on Temporarily disable AVG protection.
- Choose how long you want AVG to be turned off and whether you want AVG to disable its Firewall too.
- Click on OK to disable the antivirus program.
If you are using McAfee
- Search for the McAfee Antivirus icon in your computer’s system tray and right-click on it.
- Click on Exit.
- You should see a dialog box warning you that McAfee‘s protection will be turned off. Click on Yes in this dialog box to disable the antivirus program
In case failed to connect to server issue does not occur anymore then you should add Bluestacks to the exception list of your antivirus software.
Windows Defender
- Click the Windows button and in the search bar type “Windows defender”.
- Open the application named “Windows Defender Security Center”.
- Select the option “Virus and threat protection”.
- Go to Virus and Threat Protection Settings. Windows may prompt you to allow an administrator access to use this feature. If so, press Yes.
- Search the window which says “Add or remove exclusions”. Click it and you will be navigated to a menu where you can add exclusions.
- Click on the option which says “Exclude a folder” and navigate to your Bluestacks directory. Once you reach the location select the folder and save changes.
Bitdefender
- Open Bitdefender and go to the Protection Window by clicking the shield icon shown below in the picture.
- Click on the link which says View Modules.
- Click on the Settings icon which you can see on the upper right corner of the antivirus.
- Go to the Exclusions tab present in the window.
- Click on “List of files and folders excluded from scanning”.
- Click on the ADD button. Navigate to your Bluestacks directory and select the folder to exclude it from the scanning process. You should also select the Both option before you add an exception
- Click Add and save changes.
Avast Antivirus
- Open the Avast interface.
- Click on Settings found at the bottom left corner of the screen.
- From Settings, browse to General and scroll down the options until you find Exclusions.
- Expand the section and you will see a dialogue where you can add global exceptions. Navigate to your Bluestacks directory using the option of Browse.
- Once you have selected the Bluestacks folder, click on ADD found at the bottom left side of the screen. Press OK and it is now added to global exceptions of Avast antivirus.
McAfee Antivirus
- Open McAfee Antivirus by clicking on its icon present on the toolbar on the bottom right side of your Windows.
- Click on Manage Security.
- Select the option of Schedule and run scans option present in the box of Virus and Spyware Protection.
- Select the option of Schedules scans from the list of options that follow. A new window will open and from there you will see the Add button present under the tab of Excluded Files and Folders. Select the Bluestacks directory after clicking Add through the file explorer.
- Once you reach the location select the folder and save changes.
Kaspersky AV
- Open Kaspersky AV from the icon present in your taskbar at the bottom right of the screen.
- Navigate to the Settings menu.
- Select the tab of Additional and select the tab of Threats and Exclusions from the list of options given.
- Click on the Configure Exclusions present in the middle of the screen.
- Select the option of Add present in the bottom right of the screen.
- Now navigate to the Bluestacks directory using the Browse button. Once you reach the location select the folder and save changes.
Malwarebytes
- Open your Malwarebytes window by either clicking on the icon in the taskbar located at the bottom right side of the screen, or by clicking the program’s launch file.
- Once the program is opened, click on the Malware Exclusions tab located on the left side of the window.
- In this tab, you find an option which says “Add folder”. Click it and you will be navigated to File Explorer from where you can select your Bluestacks directory easily.
Check if the Bluestacks failed to connect to server still occurs.
Change the Bluestacks privileges
Try granting full control permission to Bluestacks then check if this fixes the problem.
- Locate Bluestacks folder, right click it and choose Properties from the menu
- Go to the Security tab and click the Edit button
- Select your username from the Group or user names list and check Full control in the Allow column and click Apply and OK to save changes.
Check if the Bluestacks failed to connect to server still occurs.
Restart the internet connection
One factor that can cause this problem is an issue with the internet connection. If this is what’s causing the problem you should try to reset this.
- Open Network Connections and locate your network connection.
- Right-click it and choose Disable from the menu.
- After your connection is disabled, wait a few seconds and then right-click the connection again and choose Enable from the menu.
Check if the Bluestacks failed to connect to server still occurs.
Reinstall Bluestacks
In case the above steps fails to fix the problem then you should try to reinstall the software.
Uninstall
- Click on the Start button then click on Settings
- In Settings find Apps and click on it.
- Locate and right-click on BlueStacks App Player, click on Uninstall, confirm the action in the resulting popup and go through the uninstallation wizard all the way to the end to uninstall the application.
- Navigate to X:\ProgramData (X being the drive letter corresponding to the partition of your computer’s hard drive that Windows is installed on), locate and click on the BlueStacksSetup folder to select it, press Delete and confirm the action in the resulting popup. The ProgramData folder is almost always hidden, so you are going to have to have File Explorer show all hidden files and folders to see it.
- Press the Windows Logo key + R to open a Run dialog
- Type %temp% into the Run dialog and press Enter
- Press Ctrl + A to select everything in the folder, press Delete and confirm the action in the resulting popup.
- Press the Windows Logo key + R to open a Run dialog
- Type regedit into the Run dialog and press Enter to launch the Registry Editor
- Navigate to the following directory in the left pane of the Registry Editor: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > BlueStacks
- In the left pane of the Registry Editor, click on the BlueStacks sub-key under the SOFTWARE key to have its contents displayed in the right pane.
- Select everything you see in the right pane of the Registry Editor, press Delete and confirm the action in the resulting popup.
Install
- Go to https://www.bluestacks.com/download.html
- You can either select the installer you want (32/64 bit versions of Android and Windows/Mac) from the options on the right side, or let BlueStacks auto-detect the right installer for you according to the OS you are using.
- Once the download has finished, open the downloaded file to begin the installation process.
- Click on the Install Now button to kickstart the installation process. You can also pick a desired location for the Install by Clicking on the Customize Installation option.
- The Micro Installer will now download all the necessary files.
- BlueStacks will now be automatically downloaded, extracted, and installed.
- The BlueStacks Engine will automatically open and you will now be prompted to complete a one-time initial Setup process.
- When prompted, Sign in to your existing Google account or create a new one to get started.
Check if the Bluestacks failed to connect to server still occurs.