What causes ODBCDriverError?

The ODBC driver version is outdated and incompatible with the current Snowflake server version. The DSN configuration in odbc.ini or ODBC Administrator contains an incorrect account identifier or warehouse name. The Snowflake account URL format changed (e.g. org-name.snowflakecomputing.com vs legacy format) and the DSN was not updated. A network proxy or firewall is terminating HTTPS connections on port 443 before they reach Snowflake. The authentication method (SSO, key-pair, or password) configured in the DSN is no longer valid

How do I fix ODBCDriverError?

Update the Snowflake ODBC driver to the latest version from the Snowflake downloads page.. Verify the DSN account identifier: use - .snowflakecomputing.com format.. Test connectivity with snowsql using the same account and credentials to isolate whether the issue is driver-specific.. Check that port 443 is not blocked by a firewall or proxy: curl -v https:// .snowflakecomputing.com.. Enable ODBC driver logging (set Tracing=6 in odbc.ini) and review the trace file for the specific error.

Medium severityconnection

Power BI Refresh Error:
ODBCDriverError

What does this error mean?

The Snowflake ODBC driver encountered an error establishing or maintaining a connection, or failed to execute a statement. ODBC driver errors cover a wide range of issues from authentication failures to network timeouts and unsupported SQL features.

Common causes

1The ODBC driver version is outdated and incompatible with the current Snowflake server version
2The DSN configuration in odbc.ini or ODBC Administrator contains an incorrect account identifier or warehouse name
3The Snowflake account URL format changed (e.g. org-name.snowflakecomputing.com vs legacy format) and the DSN was not updated
4A network proxy or firewall is terminating HTTPS connections on port 443 before they reach Snowflake
5The authentication method (SSO, key-pair, or password) configured in the DSN is no longer valid

How to fix it

1Update the Snowflake ODBC driver to the latest version from the Snowflake downloads page.
2Verify the DSN account identifier: use <org_name>-<account_name>.snowflakecomputing.com format.
3Test connectivity with snowsql using the same account and credentials to isolate whether the issue is driver-specific.
4Check that port 443 is not blocked by a firewall or proxy: curl -v https://<account>.snowflakecomputing.com.
5Enable ODBC driver logging (set Tracing=6 in odbc.ini) and review the trace file for the specific error.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find the Snowflake ODBC driver version I have installed?

On Windows, open ODBC Data Source Administrator > Drivers tab and find SnowflakeDSIIDriver. The version is listed there. On Linux/Mac, run odbcinst -q -d -n 'SnowflakeDSIIDriver' after installing unixODBC.

Does the Snowflake ODBC driver support multi-factor authentication?

Yes, via the authenticator DSN parameter. Set authenticator=externalbrowser for SSO or authenticator=username_password_mfa for MFA with cached tokens. For automated connections, use authenticator=snowflake_jwt with key-pair authentication.