What causes HttpFileFailedToRead?

The HTTP server returned an error status code (4xx or 5xx) when ADF requested the file. The HTTP connection was dropped mid-download due to network instability. The file URL in the dataset is incorrect or the file was moved/deleted on the server. The HTTP server requires authentication but the linked service credentials are missing or expired

How do I fix HttpFileFailedToRead?

Check the HTTP status code in the ADF activity run output.. Test the HTTP URL directly in a browser or with curl to confirm the file is accessible.. Verify the linked service authentication credentials if the endpoint requires them.. Add a retry policy to handle transient HTTP failures.

High severitydata source

Power BI Refresh Error:
HttpFileFailedToRead

What does this error mean?

ADF failed to read a file from an HTTP/HTTPS endpoint — the server returned an error or the connection was dropped during download.

Common causes

1The HTTP server returned an error status code (4xx or 5xx) when ADF requested the file
2The HTTP connection was dropped mid-download due to network instability
3The file URL in the dataset is incorrect or the file was moved/deleted on the server
4The HTTP server requires authentication but the linked service credentials are missing or expired

How to fix it

1Check the HTTP status code in the ADF activity run output.
2Test the HTTP URL directly in a browser or with curl to confirm the file is accessible.
3Verify the linked service authentication credentials if the endpoint requires them.
4Add a retry policy to handle transient HTTP failures.

Frequently asked questions

Does this error affect all pipeline runs or just the current one?

Depends on the root cause. A persistent misconfiguration fails every run; a transient issue may resolve on retry. Check the run history.

Can this error appear in Azure Data Factory and Microsoft Fabric pipelines?

Yes — the same connector errors appear in both ADF and Fabric Data Factory pipelines.

How do I see the full error detail for an ADF pipeline failure?

In ADF Monitor, click the failed run, then the failed activity. The detail pane shows the error code, message, and sub-error codes.

Will downstream Power BI datasets be affected when an ADF pipeline fails?

Yes — a dataset refreshing after the pipeline will use stale data or fail if the target table was cleared. The Power BI refresh may succeed while serving wrong data.

Official documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-factory/connector-troubleshoot-ftp-sftp-http