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High severitycredentials

Power BI Refresh Error:
SqlServerInvalidLinkedServiceCredentialMissing

What does this error mean?

The SQL Server linked service is missing required credentials — ADF cannot connect because the username, password, or connection string is incomplete.

Common causes

  • 1The password or username field in the SQL Server linked service was left empty
  • 2The connection string was truncated or is malformed, omitting required authentication parts
  • 3An Azure Key Vault reference for the password resolved to an empty or non-existent secret

How to fix it

  1. 1Open the SQL Server linked service in ADF Studio and verify all required fields (server, database, username, password) are populated.
  2. 2If using Azure Key Vault for the password, confirm the secret name and version are correct and the secret has a value.
  3. 3Test the connection using the "Test connection" button on the linked service settings page.
  4. 4Re-enter the credentials manually and save the linked service to force a fresh credential store.

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/connector-troubleshoot-synapse-sql

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