This tutorial helps you fix this error “Your site can’t connect to the Akismet servers“. If by any chance you encountered this, consider it solved for as long as you follow the simple procedures below. Akismet is a top plugin when it comes to fighting spam comments on WordPress sites.

It is reported that users who employ this plugin worry less about Spam comments since the plugin itself does the work depending on user settings. And now that WordPress is dominating the website and blog industry, chances are that you will likely encounter the above error since it also happened to me recently besides having been a WordPress user for more than 10 years.

Common causes of can’t connect to the Akismet servers

• Web hosting provider
• Conflicting plugins
• Cache activation

How to fix this error

Having listed the common cause of this error, I wont spend much time elaborating on the same since they are self explanatory. Instead, I will head straight away to the solution which will help you solve the above. And please note that you will need to follow each step at ago since that is the only way you will get to know the cause and which solution worked for you.

Your firewall may be blocking Akismet from connecting to its API. Please contact your host and refer to our guide about firewalls.

Fix 1: – Deactivate all plugins it

Sometimes, the other plugins installed on your WordPress website might be contradicting. To find this out, you will need to deactivate all of them and retry activating “Akismet”. If it works, good for you and if it doesn’t, then try fix 2 below.

Fix 2: – Disable caching plugin and also delete cache

Oh yea, many caching plugins have been reported as being the cause of this error. While I can’t tell you that cache plugin A or B is bad, all I recommend is you to disable any cache plugin you have active and retry. If it works, lucky you but if not, then head to solution 3 below.

Fix 3: – Contact your hosting provider

Almost 90% of websites and blogs which suffer the above error are a result of their web hosting providers having deactivated the HTTP(s) outgoing connections in Firewall options. This is common with many free web hosting services. Mine occurred when I hosted a client site on Awardspace.net free web host.

The solution to this is to either request the HTTP(s) outgoing connections in Firewall options be enabled or upgrade to a paid plan in case this isn’t supported by your current plan. Also consider using other free web hosting providers with such support.