Ben Lobaugh

Quick fix for Jetpack register_http_request_failed
June 24, 2013

Please note: This post is several years old now and may no longer be valid. If it does not work for you please check your logs for the new solution. I would love to hear about it to update guidance on this post if needed.

If you are running into the following error:

Jetpack could not contact WordPress.com: register_http_request_failed

It is likely because your host does not properly support outgoing HTTPS requests. To get around this you can disable the Jetpack HTTPS call and run over HTTP by placing the following in your wp-config.php file:

define( 'JETPACK_CLIENT__HTTPS', 'NEVER' );

Note the double underscore between CLIENT and HTTPS.

I want to stress that though this will work all your interactions with the Jetpack servers are now no longer encrypted. If you are not concerned about the data being transmitted ( this could include comments ) it is ok to leave that line in wp-config.php but it is much safer for you and your visitors to run over HTTPS. I highly recommend contacting your hosting provider and asking them to enable outgoing HTTPS.

12 thoughts on “Quick fix for Jetpack register_http_request_failed”

  1. ebrahmins (October 16, 2013)

    Hi Tried this thing

    but

    Jetpack could not contact WordPress.com: register_http_request_failed. This usually means something is incorrectly configured on your web host. Operation timed out after 15007 milliseconds with 0 bytes received

    1. Ben Lobaugh (blobaugh) (October 16, 2013)

      There may be missing libraries on your host. The Core Control plugin can show you what http methods are not supported. If that does not help try posting at http://wordpress.org/support/plugin/jetpack

      1. KruVy (October 16, 2013)

        Thanks for your reply –

        Here is my post –
        http://wordpress.org/support/topic/not-able-to-update-the-plug-in?replies=4#post-4768134

  2. nudeics (November 14, 2013)

    Hi,
    this solved my blog’s issue
    http://www.oncry.com/resolved-register_http_request_failed-error-of-jetpack-plugin/

  3. sabo79 (February 8, 2014)

    Perfect ! Big THX ! This fixed my problems !

  4. DobaKung (July 28, 2014)

    Thank you so much, Ben!!

  5. iserdaroz (August 10, 2015)

    Same problem different solution. In my situation php curl package doesn’t exists in the system (Ubuntu 12.04 LTS – LAMP) .

    Just try,

    apt-get install php5-curl
    /etc/init.d/apache2 restart

    And if you get DNS resolving problem after eliminating php curl issue try to change system’s DNS setting to Google DNS 8.8.8.8

  6. Nikhil (June 14, 2016)

    Thanks worked well!

  7. Jan Reilink (August 10, 2016)

    Please don’t do this, ever. For exactly the reasons you provide (“no longer encrypted”).

    If you receive such an error message, urge your hosting company to fix its PHP installation, or move away to another provider.

    On https://www.saotn.org/dont-turn-off-curlopt_ssl_verifypeer-fix-php-configuration/ I provide two solutions for this Jetpack “register_http_request_failed” error; one for system administrators and one for end-users. The post also shows how to fix your OpenSSL configuration in PHP.

  8. Fahad (September 1, 2016)

    This didnt fix.

  9. ADEBAYO (August 24, 2017)

    Please im having the same issue and i cannot update my plugins or themes and all jetpack features are currently not working on http://www.edusbaze.com/

    1. Ben Lobaugh (blobaugh) (August 29, 2017)

      Hello! This is a very old post (as far as technology goes!) and may no longer be valid. What errors are you receiving in your logs and elsewhere that lead you to this as the possible solution? Have you implemented the “fix”?