What causes UserErrorSqlConnectionFailed?

The SQL server firewall is blocking inbound connections from the Azure Data Factory integration runtime IP addresses. The server name or port in the linked service is incorrect. The self-hosted integration runtime cannot reach the SQL server due to a firewall or routing issue. The SQL Server service is stopped or the server is unreachable

How do I fix UserErrorSqlConnectionFailed?

Verify the SQL server name and port (default 1433) in the ADF linked service.. For Azure SQL Database, add the Azure Data Factory regional IP addresses to the server firewall in the Azure portal.. For on-premises SQL Server with a self-hosted IR, confirm the IR machine can reach the SQL host on port 1433.. Use the ADF 'Test connection' button on the linked service to isolate whether the issue is DNS, network, or authentication.. Check the SQL Server error log and Windows Event Viewer for connection rejection messages.

High severitydata source

Power BI Refresh Error:
UserErrorSqlConnectionFailed

What does this error mean?

ADF failed to connect to SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, or Synapse Analytics. This is a network-level failure before authentication begins.

Common causes

1The SQL server firewall is blocking inbound connections from the Azure Data Factory integration runtime IP addresses
2The server name or port in the linked service is incorrect
3The self-hosted integration runtime cannot reach the SQL server due to a firewall or routing issue
4The SQL Server service is stopped or the server is unreachable

How to fix it

1Verify the SQL server name and port (default 1433) in the ADF linked service.
2For Azure SQL Database, add the Azure Data Factory regional IP addresses to the server firewall in the Azure portal.
3For on-premises SQL Server with a self-hosted IR, confirm the IR machine can reach the SQL host on port 1433.
4Use the ADF 'Test connection' button on the linked service to isolate whether the issue is DNS, network, or authentication.
5Check the SQL Server error log and Windows Event Viewer for connection rejection messages.

Frequently asked questions

Does this error affect all pipeline runs or just the current one?

Depends on the root cause. A persistent misconfiguration fails every run; a transient issue may resolve on retry. Check the run history.

Can this error appear in Azure Data Factory and Microsoft Fabric pipelines?

Yes — the same connector errors appear in both ADF and Fabric Data Factory pipelines.

How do I see the full error detail for an ADF pipeline failure?

In ADF Monitor, click the failed run, then the failed activity. The detail pane shows the error code, message, and sub-error codes.

Will downstream Power BI datasets be affected when an ADF pipeline fails?

Yes — a dataset refreshing after the pipeline will use stale data or fail if the target table was cleared. The Power BI refresh may succeed while serving wrong data.

Official documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-factory/connector-troubleshoot-sql