New Mac laptop + FMPro won't connect to FM Server instances - except with FMP v19

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New Mac laptop + FMPro won't connect to FM Server instances - except with FMP v19

I recently got a new laptop running MacOS 15.6. I have installed various versions of FileMaker Pro (FMP) on this machine: v19, v20, v21, v22... But most of those are unable to connect to various FileMaker Server installations (of various versions). I AM able to connect to these same FMServer instances using FMPro v19, though. Very strange.

Connecting to: FMS 20

- FMP v19: OK

- FMP v20, v21: fail

Connecting to: FMS 21

- FMP v19: OK

- FMP v20, v21, v22: fail

These servers are all AWS instances - i.e. remote machines, publicly available (no VPN, etc). So it isn't a Local Network thing.

I have created a new user account/profile on this same laptop, and this new account IS able to connect to these same remote servers using FileMaker Pro - any version of FM Pro is able to connect to any allowed version of FM Server. So it is something with the configuration of the user account itself.

There is a setting in Privacy & Security -> Local Network for "FileMaker Pro 22" - and that is enabled (for both user accounts). But keep in mind that FMPro v19 works fine from this machine on each of these servers. I have tried this from a few different networks - same results. I have another Mac on the same network (my home) that also runs Sequoia - it has no troubles connecting to all of these servers with appropriate versions.

I only have one user account on this laptop - the one created when I first set it up, the default 'Admin' level user. It seems I have read that removing this account could lead to major problems, so I'm not too keen on deleting it and starting over. If the other account works fine, seems like it should be a simple setting, somewhere...

Any thoughts about how to get the other versions to be able to connect, for this original user account?

Posted on Oct 3, 2025 11:27 AM

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Answer 1

HWTech

Level 9

68,000 points

Nov 6, 2025 5:34 PM in response to Cronk9

I won't be much help here since I don't manage any FMP servers & have never had any issues connecting to our local servers.

If I understand things correctly (it is a bit confusing), your new laptop's main/default macOS admin user account is the only one which cannot connect to the servers except when using FMP v19 client. However, a new macOS user account on that same new laptop has no issues.

This indicates you have an issue localized to your main macOS user account. It is possible you have a login item that is somehow interfering, or maybe one of your preference files is corrupt. Have you tried deleting the FMPro related preference .plist files for that user account?

You mention running macOS 15.6 which is outdated since the most recent version is 15.7.2 (about four versions different).

You neglected to mention how you configured this new Mac. Did you manually set it up, or did you migrate from your old working Sequoia system, or from a TM backup, or some other method?

What errors messages are given when you attempt to connect & it fails? What about checking the logs on your new Mac and also the server connection logs as well.

And are you running the fully patched versions of the FMP clients & servers?

Have you tried contacting the FMPro developers for assistance?

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