While browsing the internet, it may happen that you encounter some error codes that do not allow you to access a particular site or resource. One of the relatively frequent errors is 401 Unauthorized Response Error, and it is quite bothersome, especially when you are about to log in or see restricted materials.
Let us see what the 401 error is, why it arises, and how we can solve it.
What is a 401 Unauthorized Error?
The 401 Unauthorized Error is an HTTP response status code that describes the request you made to the server as needing authentication. Specifically, the server is saying to you: “I am not going to allow you access unless you tell me who you are.”
Unlike the 403 Forbidden error, where access is outright denied, the 401 error code informs you that there is a problem with your authentication.
Common Causes of 401 Unauthorized Response Error
Some potential causes for the 401 Unauthorized Response Error include the following:
Incorrect Login Information
Using the wrong username or password is one of the more common reasons for a 401 error.
Expired or Invalid Authentication Token
Most APIs or login sessions are reliant on an authentication token. If you get a 401 Unauthorized error, chances are the token has expired or is invalid.
Missing Authentication Headers
A bad security setup or insecure setting, or server configuration errors may cause you to be returned a 401 error response.
Access Restricted to Authorized Users
Some pages/resources are protected and can be accessed only by logged-in authorized users.
Incorrect Server Settings
If your server settings are set up improperly or have weak security, you can also receive an unauthorized 401 error.
How to Troubleshoot and Fix the 401 Unauthorized Error?
If you get the 401 Unauthorized Response Error, you can attempt the following steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue:
1. Check Your User ID & Password
Make sure your user ID and password are correct, and if you’ve forgotten your user ID or password, reset your password.
2. Clear Browser Cache & Cookies
Old cache or cookies may have old login information. Their clearing may resolve your login issue.
3. Refresh Authentication Tokens
If you are working with an API, check to see that your access token is active. If your token has expired, create a new one.
4. Verify Your Authentication Headers
Finally, ensure that the request you are making is correct and has the needed headers such as Authorization: Bearer <token>.
5. Contact the Website or API Administrator
If you have tried all the above and nothing helps, something is probably wrong on the server side.
6. Use Secure HTTPS Connection
At times authentication problems could be due to the fact you are making an insecure HTTP connection to a resource. Always use HTTPS.
Preventing 401 Unauthorized Errors
- Ensure your credentials are secured.
- Update the token and maintain it regularly.
- Make sure to have the right server permission and file permission configuration enforced.
- Implement a secure authentication system and deploy it to aid you from experiencing any user login issues.
Correct API integration and authentication procedures are necessary for Magento 2 users to prevent 401 error codes when processing API requests or integrating third-party add-ons. If you are still experiencing issues, you can also take advantage of MageComp’s Magento support to fix these types of errors.
FAQ
1. What does a 401 Unauthorized Error mean?
A 401 Unauthorized Error indicates that your identity cannot be verified by the server for lacking or invalid authentication credentials.
2. Is 401 equivalent to 403 error?
No. 401 Unauthorized indicates that authentication is required or failed, but 403 Forbidden indicates that access is prohibited even after successful authentication.
3. Does clearing cache resolve a 401 Unauthorized error?
Yes, sometimes cached login sessions in cookies might cause issue. Removing them could be one of the solutions.
4. Why am I receiving a 401 error in Magento 2 API?
Most of the time, it is either the wrong credentials for the API, expired tokens, or missing authentication headers.
