Common authentication issues in Salesforce usually fall into a few categories related to user login, security settings, and integration authentication. Here’s a breakdown:
- Incorrect Login Credentials Wrong username or password — The most basic issue; users might forget their credentials or enter them incorrectly.
Case sensitivity — Salesforce usernames aren’t case-sensitive, but passwords are.
- Account Lockouts Exceeded login attempts — After multiple failed logins, Salesforce locks the account.
Password expiration — Organization password policies may force a reset after a set period.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Problems Lost or unconfigured MFA device — If a user changes phones or loses access to the authenticator app, they may be blocked.
Authenticator app sync issues — Time mismatch or app not generating correct codes.
- IP Restrictions & Login Hours Login IP range restrictions — Salesforce admins can limit login access to specific IPs. Attempting from outside these ranges causes login failures.
Restricted login hours — Users trying to log in outside their allowed schedule will be blocked.
- SSO (Single Sign-On) Errors Identity provider (IdP) misconfiguration — Incorrect SAML/OAuth settings or certificate mismatches.
Expired SSO certificate — Common in older SSO setups; certificate expiration breaks authentication.
User not provisioned in IdP — SSO works, but the user account isn’t linked.
- Connected App & API Authentication Issues Invalid OAuth tokens — Tokens may expire or get revoked.
Incorrect Connected App settings — Callback URL, scopes, or permissions misconfigured.
API login restrictions — The profile or permission set might block API logins.
- Browser or Network Issues Blocked cookies or scripts — Salesforce login pages require cookies and JavaScript enabled.
VPN/firewall interference — Some secure networks block Salesforce login requests.
✅ Best Practices to Avoid Authentication Issues
Keep passwords and MFA devices updated.
Review and renew SSO & OAuth certificates before expiration.
Document and test Connected App configurations.
Set up a backup MFA method for users.
Use the Salesforce Login History page to diagnose issues quickly.
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