What Are the Common Causes of Socket Error 10013?

Socket errors occur for a variety of reasons, from encountering a bad server to having no Internet connection. A socket error 10013 happens because permission to access the server was denied. This happens almost exclusively because the firewall or anti-virus program in the user’s computer is set to a high security level, but it also can happen because there are several functions tied to the same driver and it confuses the socket. In the case of the former, the error is easy to fix, but the latter is more difficult. Until the socket error is resolved, the computer will not be able to access the server.

Firewalls and anti-virus programs are sometimes the cause of a socket error but, in the case of a socket error 10013, they are almost exclusively the cause. Firewalls are made to protect a computer from harmful connections, so they will often restrict server connections. This means permission access will be adamantly denied.

If the user turns off the firewall, the permission access will go through — if the firewall is the reason for the denied access — but it can become annoying for a user to keep turning the firewall on and off whenever he or she wants to access a server. A better way to fix this is to check the “Permissions” section of the program and see if the server is there. If not, one should contact the Internet service provider (ISP) and ask for help in adding the new server to the list.

Outdated drivers also may be the culprits behind a socket error 10013. The server may no longer use the drivers, which is why permission cannot be granted. If this is the reason for the error, performing a general computer upgrade will typically fix the problem. If not, check the software manufacturer’s website for new drivers and download them to the computer. Corrupted drivers also may cause this problem, but upgrading or downloading new drivers should fix the problem in the same way.

The hardest-to-fix reason for the socket error 10013 is if more than one driver or program is bound to the same driver. This requires the user to access the driver code and differentiate the two or more programs. It is often easier to contact the software creator for help on this issue, because the creator should be able to guide the user through the steps needed to differentiate the programs.