# Could not connect to the Processing server to install libraries

**URL:** <https://discourse.processing.org/t/could-not-connect-to-the-processing-server-to-install-libraries/44126>\
**Category:** Libraries\
**Created:** [March 21, 2024, 5:20am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/could-not-connect-to-the-processing-server-to-install-libraries/44126 "2024-03-21T05:20:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ppiyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8c91f0/32.png) [@ppiyo](https://discourse.processing.org/u/ppiyo)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 5:20am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/could-not-connect-to-the-processing-server-to-install-libraries/44126/1 "2024-03-21T05:20:59Z")

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May I know how to solve this issue? I am using Processing 3.5.4.

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/3X/6/1/61a0246e9b6fa91a5317ec269394d407e3e46946.png)

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**Author:** ![GoToLoop](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/gotoloop/32/86_2.png) [@GoToLoop](https://discourse.processing.org/u/GoToLoop)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 6:03am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/could-not-connect-to-the-processing-server-to-install-libraries/44126/2 "2024-03-21T06:03:01Z")

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I’m also getting it! 😱  
It attempts this URL: [https://download.Processing.org/contribs](https://download.Processing.org/contribs) 🌐  
But it gets this HTTP response code error [500](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_HTTP_status_codes#5xx_server_errors): 👻

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**Author:** ![quark](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/quark/32/26_2.png) [@quark](https://discourse.processing.org/u/quark)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 9:30am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/could-not-connect-to-the-processing-server-to-install-libraries/44126/3 "2024-03-21T09:30:59Z")

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Getting the same error here.

It is most unlikely that there is a user work-around and that the issue can only be solved by the Processing team. They may well decide that amount of work needed to fix it is not worth it for an older version of Processing.

Unless you have a specific need for 3.5.4 I suggest you use the latest version 4.3

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**Author:** ![SLG](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/slg/32/19436_2.png) [@SLG](https://discourse.processing.org/u/SLG)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/could-not-connect-to-the-processing-server-to-install-libraries/44126/5 "2024-03-26T17:41:28Z")

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I reported the same issue in another thread a couple of weeks ago. I really wish this issue would be solved, as I would like to use Processing 3 Python mode in my computer science classes.

Processing 4 does have a Python mode but it is difficult to use, as error checking is virtually non-existent. My hope is that the Processing team can either make Processing 3 Python mode available again, or find someone to work on Processing 4 Python mode, to make it more usable.

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**Author:** ![jafal](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/jafal/32/19112_2.png) [@jafal](https://discourse.processing.org/u/jafal)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 7:59pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/could-not-connect-to-the-processing-server-to-install-libraries/44126/6 "2024-03-26T19:59:26Z")

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> [@SLG](#):
>
> Processing 4 does have a Python mode but it is difficult to use, as error checking is virtually non-existent. My hope is that the Processing team can either make Processing 3 Python mode available again, or find someone to work on Processing 4 Python mode, to make it more usable.

Try this

**Notes:**

- If you are under some restrictive proxy our without Internet acess you can download [PyhtonMode.zip](http://py.processing.org/3/PythonMode.zip) and manualy copy it (on Windows & Mac OS) under _Documentos \> Processing \> modes \>_ PythonMode. On Linux, under your _sketchbook_ folder/material-aulas.

[https://abav.lugaralgum.com/como-instalar-o-processing-modo-python/index-EN.html#5-check-if-installation-has-finished-with-a-green-mark-and-select-python-at-the-modes-menu](https://abav.lugaralgum.com/como-instalar-o-processing-modo-python/index-EN.html#5-check-if-installation-has-finished-with-a-green-mark-and-select-python-at-the-modes-menu)

> <https://github.com/jdf/Processing.py-Bugs/issues/330>
>
> \[Contribution Manager Preview\](https://ibb.co/0rZwr12)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jafal](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/jafal/32/19112_2.png) [@jafal](https://discourse.processing.org/u/jafal)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 8:09pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/could-not-connect-to-the-processing-server-to-install-libraries/44126/7 "2024-03-26T20:09:59Z")

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> [@ppiyo](#):
>
> May I know how to solve this issue? I am using Processing 3.5.4.

You can download your library as zip file manually and extract it to processing libraries folder

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![glv](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/glv/32/18785_2.png) [@glv](https://discourse.processing.org/u/glv)\
**Post date:** [March 29, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/could-not-connect-to-the-processing-server-to-install-libraries/44126/8 "2024-03-29T20:57:51Z")

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> [@ppiyo](#):
>
> May I know how to solve this issue? I am using Processing 3.5.4.

The links to the libraries are available here:  
[https://download.Processing.org/contribs](https://download.processing.org/contribs) Thanks @GoToLoop for providing this!  
I would save a copy of this somewhere in case it is not available in the future for any reason!

Adding a Processing library:  
_[Adding a Processing Li... | Wiki | UAL Creative Computing Institute](https://wiki.cci.arts.ac.uk/books/dark-lab/page/adding-a-processing-library)_

Some code I wrote to save a file with links or name of zip file (modify for this):

```auto
String [] contrib;
int count = 0;

void setup()
  {
  contrib = loadStrings("https://download.processing.org/contribs");
  for(int i=0; i< contrib.length; i++)
    {
    if (contrib[i].contains("download="))
      {
      
      //links  
      println(contrib[i].substring(9));
      
      //zip
      //int lastIndex = contrib[i].lastIndexOf("/");
      //String ss = contrib[i].substring(lastIndex+1);
      //println(ss);
      count++;
      }
    } 
  println("Count: ", count);
  
  String links [] = new String [count]; 
  
  int ix=0; 
  for(int i=0; i< contrib.length; i++)
    {    
    if (contrib[i].contains("download="))
      {
      links[ix++] = contrib[i].substring(9);
      }
    }
  saveStrings("links.txt", links);   
  }

```

You can certainly download them one at a time.

I used _wget_ to archive all the zip files locally:

> **[Wget for Windows](https://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/wget.htm)**
>
> wget {whatisit}

I had some fun downloading them all in Processing and also with command-line scripts.  
I will leave this adventure for the enthusiastic!

`:)`

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ProcessingOrg](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/processingorg/32/18341_2.png) [@ProcessingOrg](https://discourse.processing.org/u/ProcessingOrg)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/could-not-connect-to-the-processing-server-to-install-libraries/44126/9 "2024-04-03T14:19:13Z")

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Hello everyone,

A fix for the ‘Could not connect to the Processing server’ error in Processing 3 has been implemented and deployed. You should now be able to view and download libraries, tools, and modes from both Processing 3 and 4.

We are currently monitoring the results to ensure the issue is fully resolved. Thanks to everyone who reported this problem. Your input has been invaluable in addressing this issue.

Please continue to share any feedback or bugs you encounter.

Best,  
The Processing Foundation Team

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![givetosurfrider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb9ed0/32.png) [@givetosurfrider](https://discourse.processing.org/u/givetosurfrider)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2026, 8:01pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/could-not-connect-to-the-processing-server-to-install-libraries/44126/10 "2026-08-11T20:01:40Z")

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I am getting this problem now. Did something change since the fix went in?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sableraph](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.processing.org/sableraph/32/251_2.png) [@sableraph](https://discourse.processing.org/u/sableraph)\
**Post date:** [August 31, 2026, 12:07pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/could-not-connect-to-the-processing-server-to-install-libraries/44126/11 "2026-08-31T12:07:38Z")

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We recently migrated our web infrastructure to handle increased traffic from bots and scrapers, and it looks like this has affected the Contribution Manager in Processing 3.5.4. We’re looking into the issue. _Note: The contribution manager remain unaffected in Processing 4.x_

In the meantime, I made this page as a workaround: [Processing Contributions Explorer](https://sableraf.github.io/processing-contributions-explorer-web/)

It’s not a perfect replacement, and doesn’t offer the same convenience the Contribution Manager does, but it should at least make it easier to find and download libraries and modes if you’re using a version of Processing affected by the “Could not connect to the Processing server” error.

Edit: Note that this is not an official project and is not maintained by the Processing Foundation. I just made this for people who need a workaround while a more permanent fix is being worked on.

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/processingfoundation1/original/3X/c/a/ca455655ac35c3cf3e6e0e30a6f9f93f68768f11.jpeg)

cc @moon