Troubleshooting “SharePoint Designer Cannot Connect to Server” Error

The “SharePoint Designer Cannot Connect to Server” error occurs when attempting to connect SharePoint Designer (SPD) to a SharePoint site. This prevents users from editing workflows, lists, and pages. The issue is common in SharePoint 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and SharePoint Online and can be caused by:

• Incorrect login credentials
• Network or firewall restrictions
• Blocked SharePoint Designer access
• Authentication method mismatch
• Corrupt SharePoint cache

This guide provides a step-by-step process to diagnose and resolve the issue.

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Step 1: Verify Your Credentials and URL

Before troubleshooting, confirm that you are:

✅ Using the correct SharePoint site URL
✅ Using an account with sufficient permissions
✅ Not locked out by Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Try Logging into SharePoint via Browser

1. Open Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
2. Navigate to your SharePoint site.
3. If prompted, log in using your credentials.
4. If you cannot access the site, the issue is with your account or SharePoint settings.

🔹 If the site loads successfully, proceed to Step 2.

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Step 2: Verify SharePoint Designer Version Compatibility

Your SharePoint Designer version must match your SharePoint environment.

SharePoint Version	Compatible SharePoint Designer Version
SharePoint 2010	SharePoint Designer 2010
SharePoint 2013	SharePoint Designer 2013
SharePoint 2016	SharePoint Designer 2013
SharePoint 2019	SharePoint Designer 2013
SharePoint Online	SharePoint Designer 2013

Check Your SharePoint Designer Version

1. Open SharePoint Designer.
2. Click File > Account.
3. Click About SharePoint Designer to see the version.

🔹 If the version is incorrect, download the correct one from Microsoft.

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Step 3: Clear SharePoint Designer Cache

Corrupt cache files can prevent SharePoint Designer from connecting.

Manually Delete the Cache Files

1. Close SharePoint Designer.
2. Open File Explorer and delete the following folders:
   • C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WebsiteCache
   • C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SharePoint Designer
3. Restart SharePoint Designer and try connecting again.

🔹 If the issue persists, continue to Step 4.

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Step 4: Enable SharePoint Designer Access (For SharePoint Admins)

Your SharePoint Administrator may have disabled SharePoint Designer.

For SharePoint Online:

1. Go to Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
2. Navigate to SharePoint Admin Center > Settings.
3. Scroll to SharePoint Designer Settings.
4. Ensure “Allow users to use SharePoint Designer” is enabled.
5. Click Save and try connecting again.

For SharePoint On-Premises:

1. Open Central Administration.
2. Go to Security > Configure SharePoint Designer Settings.
3. Ensure the following are enabled:
   • Enable SharePoint Designer
   • Enable Customizations
   • Enable Master Page Editing
4. Click OK and restart SharePoint Designer.

🔹 If the setting is already enabled, proceed to Step 5.

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Step 5: Check Authentication Method (For On-Premises Users)

SharePoint Designer requires NTLM, Kerberos, or Claims-Based Authentication.

1. Open IIS Manager (inetmgr).
2. Expand Sites and select your SharePoint site.
3. Click Authentication in the middle panel.
4. Ensure Windows Authentication is enabled.
5. If using Claims-Based Authentication, try the following URL in SharePoint Designer: https://yoursiteurl/_layouts/15/start.aspx
6. Restart IIS with: iisreset

🔹 If authentication is correct, move to Step 6.

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Step 6: Restart the SharePoint Web Services (For On-Premises Users)

If SharePoint Web Services are down, SharePoint Designer cannot connect.

1. Open SharePoint Management Shell as Administrator.
2. Run the following commands: iisreset /stop iisreset /start
3. Try connecting SharePoint Designer again.

🔹 If the issue persists, go to Step 7.

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Step 7: Check Firewall and Proxy Settings

Firewalls and proxies may block SharePoint Designer’s connection.

1. Open Internet Explorer / Edge.
2. Go to Settings > Internet Options > Connections.
3. Click LAN Settings and disable proxy (if enabled).
4. Add SharePoint as a trusted site:
   • Go to Security > Trusted Sites.
   • Add your SharePoint URL (https://yoursharepointsite.com).
5. Restart SharePoint Designer and test the connection.

🔹 If using a corporate network, contact IT to whitelist SharePoint Designer.

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Step 8: Repair SharePoint Designer

If SharePoint Designer is corrupted, repairing or reinstalling it can fix the issue.

Repair SharePoint Designer

1. Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.
2. Find SharePoint Designer and click Modify.
3. Select Repair and follow the instructions.

Reinstall SharePoint Designer

1. Uninstall SharePoint Designer.
2. Download the correct version:
   • SharePoint Designer 2013 (64-bit)
   • SharePoint Designer 2013 (32-bit)
3. Install and try connecting again.

🔹 If reinstalling does not help, go to Step 9.

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Step 9: Enable Legacy Authentication (For SharePoint Online Users)

If your organization disabled legacy authentication, SharePoint Designer may not work.

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Connect to SharePoint Online: Connect-SPOService -Url https://yourtenant-admin.sharepoint.com
3. Enable legacy authentication: Set-SPOTenant -LegacyAuthProtocolsEnabled $True
4. Try opening SharePoint Designer again.

🔹 If you still cannot connect, proceed to Step 10.

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Step 10: Use an App Password (For Multi-Factor Authentication Users)

If your account has Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enabled, SharePoint Designer may not work with your normal password.

1. Open Microsoft 365 Security & Compliance Center.
2. Go to Security & Privacy > App Passwords.
3. Create an App Password for SharePoint Designer.
4. Use this App Password instead of your regular password when logging in.

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