GeoServer/QGIS – WMS works but WFS doesn’t!

by David Crowther

Question:

In QGIS when I connect to my GeoServer Service, Web Map Services (WMS) are connecting but Web Feature Services (WFS) are not – why is this?

Answer:

If you are trying to connect QGIS to your WFS Service and you get this message…..

… the issue could be the version of GeoServer that you are using, and possibly if you are trying to use a newly created GeoServer ROLE.

For example, in GeoServer 2.24.1 there is an additional setting that you need to update to allow new ROLES to utilise the WFS service.

To resolve this in GeoServer choose the Security > Services menu…

… and the Service access rules list opens.

Check the wfs.* rule…. because it is likely that it won’t have any of your new Roles added.

To update the settings, choose wfs.* from the table… and the Edit existing service access rule page opens.

Update the service access rule, to add any new ROLES that you which to allow WFS connectivity.

Once added, now QGIS should be able to connect to your GeoServer WFS instance, listing the layers available to that Role.

And you will be able to add WFS layers into the map.