Could not connect to SFTP Server

1️⃣ Check basic SFTP settings (most common fix)

In FileZilla → Site Manager:

Protocol: SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol
Host: ftpaz.netsoltech.com
(do NOT include sftp:// or @ here)
Port: 22
Logon Type: Normal
Username: [email protected]
Password: your email/hosting password

✅ Click Connect

2️⃣ Try host without the email format

Some servers do not allow @ in usernames.

Try:

Username: tahirn5
or tahirn5.netsolpk.com

(Ask hosting support which one is correct)

3️⃣ Make sure SFTP is enabled on the server

This error often happens when:

SFTP is disabled
Only FTP/FTPS is allowed

👉 Contact your hosting provider and ask:

“Is SFTP (SSH) enabled for my account?”

If they say NO, then use:

Protocol: FTP
Port: 21
or
FTPS (Explicit)

4️⃣ Check firewall / network blocking

Try connecting from:

A different Wi-Fi
Mobile hotspot
Home network instead of office/school

If it works elsewhere → your network is blocking port 22

5️⃣ Try connecting via command line (quick test)

If you have access to terminal / CMD:

ssh [email protected]

❌ If it times out → server or firewall issue
✅ If it asks for password → FileZilla config issue

6️⃣ Ask hosting support these exact questions

Send them this:

Is SFTP enabled on my account?

What is the correct SFTP hostname?

Is port 22 open for my IP?

What is the exact username format?

⚠️ Important note

Your log shows:

open "[email protected]@ftpaz.netsoltech.com" 22

This double @ means FileZilla may be misinterpreting the username.
👉 Put ONLY the username in the Username field, not user@host.

1️⃣ Confirm what you’re connecting to (VERY important)

Azure does not provide SFTP automatically.

You must be connecting to one of these:

✅ Linux VM (Ubuntu/CentOS/etc.) → supports SFTP via SSH
❌ Azure App Service / Web App → SFTP works but with FTPS, not SSH
❌ Azure Storage Account → needs SFTP explicitly enabled

Tell me which one this is, but meanwhile follow below 👇

2️⃣ If this is an Azure Linux VM (most common case)

✅ FileZilla settings

Protocol: SFTP – SSH File Transfer Protocol
Host: <VM Public IP>   ❗ NOT domain name for testing
Port: 22
Username: <linux username>
Password: <VM password> or SSH key

⚠️ Do NOT use email-style usernames on Linux VMs
(e.g. [email protected] ❌)

3️⃣ Open port 22 in Azure (THIS IS THE MAIN FIX)

Azure Portal → VM → Networking

Check Inbound port rules

You MUST have:

Port: 22
Protocol: TCP
Source: Your IP or Any
Action: Allow

If missing → Add inbound port rule

⛔ Without this, FileZilla will always fail.

4️⃣ Check Azure Network Security Group (NSG)

Sometimes people open port 22 on VM but NSG blocks it.

Azure Portal:

VM → Networking → Network Security Group → Inbound rules

Ensure:

Priority lower than deny rules
Port 22 = ALLOW

5️⃣ Make sure SSH is running inside the VM

sudo systemctl status ssh

If stopped:

sudo systemctl start ssh
sudo systemctl enable ssh

6️⃣ If this is Azure App Service (Web App) instead

⚠️ SFTP over SSH will NOT work

Use instead:

Protocol: FTPS (Explicit)
Host: <appname>.ftp.azurewebsites.windows.net
Username: <appname>\<deployment user>
Port: 21

(Password from Deployment Center)

7️⃣ If this is Azure Storage Account (Blob SFTP)

You must:

Enable SFTP on the storage account
Create a local user
Assign permissions
Use:

Host: <storageaccount>.blob.core.windows.net
Port: 22
Username: local-user-name

🚨 Why your current setup fails

From your log:

open "[email protected]@ftpaz.netsoltech.com" 22

This means:

Wrong username format
Probably port 22 blocked
Possibly not a Linux VM