The "421 Too many connections (8) from this IP" error means your FTP client is trying to open more simultaneous connections than the server allows per IP address. The fix is to reduce the number of concurrent connections in your FTP client.
Set maximum connections to 2
In FileZilla: Edit > Settings > Transfers > set "Maximum simultaneous transfers" to 2. In SmartFTP: Tools > Settings > Transfer > General > set "Max Connections" to 2. See Changing Concurrent Connections in FileZilla or SmartFTP settings.
01. Why This Happens
The FTP server limits the number of simultaneous sessions from a single IP address (typically 8). Each concurrent file transfer opens a separate FTP session. If your FTP client is configured to allow 10 transfers at once, 2 of them will be rejected with this error.
This also happens when you have multiple FTP clients connected at the same time, or when a previous session did not disconnect cleanly and the server still considers it active.
02. How to Fix
- Reduce concurrent connections to 2-3 in your FTP client settings
- Close any other FTP connections to the same server
- Wait a few minutes if you just disconnected - stale sessions time out after 5-10 minutes
- Check for background programs that may have an FTP connection open (backup software, website editors, etc.)
For detailed FTP troubleshooting, see FTP Timeouts and our FTP client guide.
Still Getting Connection Errors?
If limiting connections does not help, your IP may be blocked by the firewall. Check with the Firewall Unblock tool or open a ticket.
Open a Support TicketQuick Recap
- Server limits connections per IP (typically 8)
- Set max transfers to 2 in your FTP client
- Close duplicate FTP sessions
- Wait 5 minutes if you just disconnected from a previous session
- Check for firewall blocks if the problem persists
FTP connection troubleshooting · Last updated March 2026 · Browse all FTP articles
