<p>Bitcoin Core will only make a limited number of outbound connections. In particular:</p>
<ul>
<li>Up to 10 outbound connections
<ul>
<li>8 normal outbound connections</li>
<li>2 block-only outbound connections</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Up to 8 manual connections (using <code>-addnode</code> command line, <code>addnode=</code> config line, or <code>addnode</code> RPC).</li>
</ul>
<p>These limits cannot be changed without modifying the source code. In general, there is very little reason for doing so, as it doesn't increase confirmation speed, processing speed, or reliability. Early in Bitcoin's history there have been periods where the network ran out of connection slots (inbound-capable peers times the number of incoming connections they accept), so Bitcoin Core's developers are loathe to add features to go beyond the standard number.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-26T20:16:34.743Z
2021-09-26T20:16:34.743Z
Pieter Wuille
<p>How can I increase the maximum number of outbound peers bitcoin core can connect to? I can't seem to be able to connect to more than 10. I've tried using the <code>-maxconnections</code> flag but it doesn't seem to have any effect.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-26T17:23:10.197Z
There's no option for doing this. You won't see any improvement in sync speed, transaction confirmation speed, and it doesn't meaningfully increase security or reliability by increasing the number of outbound transactions.
Claris
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-26T18:25:43.727Z
[The comment](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/109833/how-do-i-increase-the-maximum-number-of-outbound-peers#comment124606_109833) is an answer.
Mercedes
<bitcoin-core><peers>
How do I increase the maximum number of outbound peers?
3872639819347
# How do I increase the maximum number of outbound peers?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-09-26)

How can I increase the maximum number of outbound peers bitcoin core can connect to? I can't seem to be able to connect to more than 10. I've tried using the `-maxconnections` flag but it doesn't seem to have any effect.

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, peers

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: There's no option for doing this. You won't see any improvement in sync speed, transaction confirmation speed, and it doesn't meaningfully increase security or reliability by increasing the number of outbound transactions.  
> **username_2**: [The comment](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/109833/how-do-i-increase-the-maximum-number-of-outbound-peers#comment124606_109833) is an answer.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-09-26. Score: 2

Bitcoin Core will only make a limited number of outbound connections. In particular:

* Up to 10 outbound connections
  + 8 normal outbound connections
  + 2 block-only outbound connections
* Up to 8 manual connections (using `-addnode` command line, `addnode=` config line, or `addnode` RPC).

These limits cannot be changed without modifying the source code. In general, there is very little reason for doing so, as it doesn't increase confirmation speed, processing speed, or reliability. Early in Bitcoin's history there have been periods where the network ran out of connection slots (inbound-capable peers times the number of incoming connections they accept), so Bitcoin Core's developers are loathe to add features to go beyond the standard number.


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