Azure function. Failed to connect. Make sure your project is running locally. localhost refused to connect

Question

I'm starting to learn Azure Functions. Yesterday, I ran the first tutorial
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-functions/create-first-function-vs-code-python
The function ran locally, then I deployed it and ran it remotely. Today, it still runs remotely, but not locally. The error is
Failed to connect. Make sure your project is running locally.
I tried using the play button to run it and that looks good, but the Workspace Local / Local Project / Functions / <name> and Execute Function Now leads to this error. Copy Function Url and running that in a browser leads to
localhost refused to connect...ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED
This post describes exactly the same problem
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/70348084/localhost-refused-to-connect-while-running-azure-functions-locally

So how else can I start the function locally?
And, could it be a firewall problem?

Answer 1

It's working today. I'm not sure why, but at least I discovered a button 'start host' in the Terminal window.