Disconnected from the AnyDesk Network: How to Fix It

Person on a laptop trying to start a remote session when AnyDesk shows Disconnected from the AnyDesk network

Quick answer: “Disconnected from the AnyDesk network” means AnyDesk can’t reach its own servers, so it can’t start or keep a session. Check the internet connection, sync the PC’s clock, and make sure your firewall or antivirus allows AnyDesk and the domain *.net.anydesk.com on TCP port 80, 443 or 6568. Then flush DNS, turn off any VPN or proxy that blocks it, and update AnyDesk to the latest version.

Applies to: AnyDesk on Windows 11 and Windows 10 (most steps also apply on macOS and Linux), when the AnyDesk window shows “Disconnected from the AnyDesk network” instead of a ready status.

Person on a laptop trying to start a remote session when AnyDesk shows Disconnected from the AnyDesk network

What the message means

AnyDesk uses its own servers to find the other device and set up every session. AnyDesk’s own documentation lists three possibilities: the request never reached its servers, the servers rejected it, or the reply never got back to your PC. In practice that’s almost always one of these:

  • No working internet connection, or a very unstable one.
  • A firewall, antivirus or router blocking AnyDesk’s ports or domain.
  • DNS that can’t resolve AnyDesk’s server names.
  • A wrong system clock, which breaks the encrypted (TLS) connection.
  • A VPN, proxy or company firewall that inspects or blocks the traffic.
  • An outdated AnyDesk version that the servers no longer accept.

Check which side has the problem: if AnyDesk works on another device on the same network, the cause is on the affected PC; if it fails on every device, look at the router, network or AnyDesk’s service status.

Fix 1: Check the internet connection and restart AnyDesk

  1. Open a website to confirm the PC is online. If it isn’t, restart the router and reconnect Wi-Fi first.
  2. Close AnyDesk completely: right-click its icon in the notification area and choose to quit, or end AnyDesk.exe in Task Manager.
  3. If AnyDesk is installed (not just run as a portable file), press Win + R, type services.msc, right-click AnyDesk Service and select Restart.
  4. Open AnyDesk again and wait a few seconds for the status to change to ready.

Fix 2: Sync the PC’s clock

AnyDesk’s encrypted connection depends on certificates, and certificates are rejected when the computer’s date or time is far off. AnyDesk lists clock sync as one of its standard fixes.

  1. Go to Settings > Time & language > Date & time.
  2. Turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically (if available).
  3. Under Additional settings, select Sync now.
  4. Restart AnyDesk.

If the clock is wrong again after every restart, the motherboard’s CMOS battery may be flat.

Fix 3: Allow AnyDesk through the firewall and antivirus

Laptop on a desk used to allow AnyDesk through Windows Defender Firewall and open ports 80, 443 and 6568

According to AnyDesk’s firewall documentation, the client needs:

WhatValue
Domain to allow*.net.anydesk.com
Outgoing ports (at least one open)TCP 80, 443 or 6568
Local Discovery (optional)UDP 50001-50003
  • In Windows, open Control Panel, go to Windows Defender Firewall and select Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall. Select Change settings and make sure AnyDesk is ticked for the network types you use. If it isn’t listed, use Allow another app and browse to the AnyDesk program file.
  • In third-party antivirus or internet security suites, add AnyDesk to the trusted or allowed programs list. Temporarily disabling the firewall part is a quick test; turn it back on afterwards.
  • If your router, school or company firewall does HTTPS scanning or deep packet inspection, ask whoever manages it to exclude *.net.anydesk.com. AnyDesk notes that this kind of inspection can break its encryption and cause disconnects.

Malware sometimes changes network or proxy settings too. If you didn’t change anything and AnyDesk suddenly can’t connect, a full malware scan is a sensible check.

Fix 4: Fix DNS problems

Person typing on a laptop while checking AnyDesk proxy, DNS and clock settings

If DNS can’t resolve AnyDesk’s server names, the client can’t find them. Clear the DNS cache in an administrator Command Prompt:

ipconfig /flushdns

If that doesn’t help, try a public DNS service on the network adapter: go to Settings > Network & internet, select your Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, then Edit next to DNS server assignment, choose Manual, turn on IPv4 and enter a public DNS server such as 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8. Some ad-blocking DNS services and parental-control filters block remote-access tools, so switching away from them can also fix it.

Fix 5: Check proxy, VPN and company networks

  • Disconnect any VPN and test again. If AnyDesk works without it, add an exception in the VPN app (often called split tunnelling) or leave the VPN off while you use AnyDesk.
  • If your network requires a proxy, check AnyDesk’s proxy option in its settings (under Connection in recent versions) and make sure it matches your network. On a home network, no proxy or automatic detection is usually right.
  • On company, school and hotel networks, remote-access tools are often blocked on purpose. Ask the network administrator, or test on another network such as a phone hotspot.

Other network sharing problems on Windows have similar root causes; see error 0x80070035: network path not found and “The local device name is already in use” if you also have trouble with shared folders or drives.

Fix 6: Update or reinstall AnyDesk

AnyDesk discontinues support for older versions, and outdated clients can stop connecting. Download the latest version only from AnyDesk’s official website (anydesk.com), install it over the old one, and restart the PC. If the message continues, uninstall AnyDesk from Settings > Apps > Installed apps, restart, and install a fresh copy.

Never download AnyDesk from third-party sites or links sent by strangers. Scammers often ask people to install it so they can take control of the PC; only give your AnyDesk address to people you know and trust.

Official sources: for more detail, see AnyDesk’s own documentation:

Frequently asked questions

Is the AnyDesk network down?

Occasionally, but it’s much more often a local problem. If AnyDesk fails on several devices and networks at the same time, check AnyDesk’s official status page or support channels before changing settings.

Do both computers need to be online with AnyDesk?

Yes. Both sides need to reach AnyDesk’s servers. If the remote PC shows this message, nobody can connect to it until its own connection is fixed.

Which ports does AnyDesk use?

AnyDesk needs at least one of TCP ports 80, 443 or 6568 open for outgoing traffic. UDP ports 50001-50003 are only used for finding devices on the local network.

Is the free version limited in a way that causes this?

The free licence can restrict or end sessions if AnyDesk detects commercial use, but those cases usually show a different message. “Disconnected from the AnyDesk network” is a connection problem.

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