QL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified

Question

i made a asp net web app in VS22 and ran it locally using sql express, then made an azure account and set it up setup the db, used the connection string but im getting this error whenever the web app tries to get data or post data to the db. although i have ticked the box to allow azure servers to interact, and i can connect from my pc using SMSS. what could be causing this? i have tried messing with every setting for two days now, about to rewrite everything in php/mysql