What causes SftpFailedToConnectToSftpServer?

The SFTP server hostname or IP address in the linked service is incorrect. Port 22 (or the configured SFTP port) is blocked by a firewall between the integration runtime and the SFTP server. The host key fingerprint in the ADF linked service does not match the current server host key. The SFTP server is offline or undergoing maintenance

How do I fix SftpFailedToConnectToSftpServer?

Verify the SFTP server hostname and port in the ADF linked service.. Test connectivity from the self-hosted integration runtime machine: ssh @ -p .. Check firewall rules on both the IR machine and the SFTP server for outbound/inbound rules on the SFTP port.. If the server host key changed (e.g., after a server migration), update the host key fingerprint in the linked service.

High severitydata source

Power BI Refresh Error:
SftpFailedToConnectToSftpServer

What does this error mean?

ADF cannot connect to the SFTP server — the server is unreachable, the port is blocked, or the host key fingerprint does not match.

Common causes

1The SFTP server hostname or IP address in the linked service is incorrect
2Port 22 (or the configured SFTP port) is blocked by a firewall between the integration runtime and the SFTP server
3The host key fingerprint in the ADF linked service does not match the current server host key
4The SFTP server is offline or undergoing maintenance

How to fix it

1Verify the SFTP server hostname and port in the ADF linked service.
2Test connectivity from the self-hosted integration runtime machine: ssh <user>@<host> -p <port>.
3Check firewall rules on both the IR machine and the SFTP server for outbound/inbound rules on the SFTP port.
4If the server host key changed (e.g., after a server migration), update the host key fingerprint in the linked service.

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-ftp-sftp-http