What causes UserErrorLinkedServiceAuthenticationFailed?

The username or password stored in the linked service is incorrect or the user's password was changed. The service principal client secret expired (after 1–2 years). The service principal was deleted from Azure Entra ID. The connection string contains an invalid or expired account key

How do I fix UserErrorLinkedServiceAuthenticationFailed?

Open the linked service in ADF Studio and update the credentials — re-enter the password or rotate the service principal secret.. In Azure Entra ID, verify the service principal (App Registration) still exists and generate a new client secret if needed.. Update the ADF linked service or Key Vault secret with the new credential value.. Use the 'Test connection' button to confirm authentication succeeds before saving.. Consider storing credentials in Azure Key Vault and referencing them in the linked service to simplify future rotations.

High severitycredentials

Power BI Refresh Error:
UserErrorLinkedServiceAuthenticationFailed

What does this error mean?

Azure Data Factory failed to authenticate to the target service using the credentials stored in the linked service. This covers username/password failures, expired service principal secrets, and invalid connection strings.

Common causes

1The username or password stored in the linked service is incorrect or the user's password was changed
2The service principal client secret expired (after 1–2 years)
3The service principal was deleted from Azure Entra ID
4The connection string contains an invalid or expired account key

How to fix it

1Open the linked service in ADF Studio and update the credentials — re-enter the password or rotate the service principal secret.
2In Azure Entra ID, verify the service principal (App Registration) still exists and generate a new client secret if needed.
3Update the ADF linked service or Key Vault secret with the new credential value.
4Use the 'Test connection' button to confirm authentication succeeds before saving.
5Consider storing credentials in Azure Key Vault and referencing them in the linked service to simplify future rotations.

Frequently asked questions

Does this error affect all pipeline runs?

Yes — once credentials expire or are revoked, every scheduled and manual pipeline run fails until updated.

How do I store credentials more securely in ADF?

Store secrets in Azure Key Vault and reference them in linked services — rotating a credential requires only updating the Key Vault secret.

Can I set up monitoring for credential expiry before pipelines fail?

For service principal secrets, set Azure Monitor alerts on Key Vault or App Registration expiry. For OAuth tokens, proactive rotation on a fixed schedule prevents failures.

Will re-entering credentials in the ADF linked service fix all pipelines that use it?

Yes — all pipelines using the same linked service succeed immediately after credentials are updated.

Official documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-factory/data-factory-troubleshoot-guide