Make sure that you set the same port for both internal and external IP's and that the port number matches the one set in your router. Set RetroShare's server options to "Manually Forwarded Port" mode.
You can find more information on how to do this on If possible, configure your router to assign a static local IP address to the computer that runs RetroShare alternatively, configure your computer to use a static IP address.If you get the response "Error: I could not see your service" then your port isn't redirected. Go to, enter the port number in the text field and hit Enter. Start by finding out if your RetroShare is accessible from the internet: write down the external port used by RetroShare, across from "External address" in Options (the cog-wheel), Server page. In theory DHT allows two friends to connect even behind closed ports but this does not always work. If you don't do this, you will be able to connect to your friends whose ports are open but they won't be able to connect to you directly. It is strongly recommended that you open the port used by RetroShare in your box/router/firewall. To see which port RetroShare is using, go to the "Options" screen and under "Server" it will be displayed across from "External address". To obtain your friend's IP address from your friends list, click on the small arrow or + sign next to their name to expand their locations, and then right-click on their location and select "Friend details" from the menu.
If you have a firewall and/or antivirus software installed, make sure that they aren't blocking RetroShare's port or your friend's IP address. Exchange keys again with the friends for whom you have no location.This might not recover all of your friends locations, but should help as long as you are connected to at least one friend who has enabled discovery. You must chose either the "Public: DHT & Discovery" or the "Private: discovery only" mode. Activate discovery in the server options (this is enabled by default).Restore your latest backup (if you made one after adding your most recent friend).If there is no sign then there are a few solutions you can try: Clicking on this sign will display their locations. If your connection problems started after a crash or a power loss, Retroshare may have lost your friends locations.Ĭheck to see if the names in your friends list have a small arrow or a + sign to their left. Check that you have the file bdboot.txt in the proper directory (see the Solutions page).Sometimes it seems that you need to establish a connection to at least one friend before the DHT indicator will turn green.DHT can take up to 30 minutes to really kick in.The drop-down box located in the top-right corner of the "Network configuration" tab should read either "Public: DHT & Discovery" or "Inverted: DHT Only". To activate DHT, click the cogwheel icon to open the options dialog, then click "Servers" in the list on the left.If it isn't, hover it with your mouse to see an explaination of the problem. The DHT indicator at the bottom of the window should be green.Check that DHT is workingĭHT isn't required to run Retroshare, but it will help solve connection issues: collect your friends IP addresses, and connect through unconfigured routers and firewalls. If you were connected in the past but aren't anymore, your friend may have changed his key, lost yours, or may be gone on vacation with his computer turned off ask your common friends. Verify that your friends name appears in your friends list, and that yours appears in his/hers. You must add your friend's key, and he must add yours. If you cannot establish a connection between you and a friend… Make sure you have exchanged your keys properly