Overview
The 'authentication credentials not provided' error appears when the Search Atlas WordPress plugin cannot verify your account credentials during a diagnostic run. This usually means the connection between your WordPress site and Search Atlas has broken or was never fully established.
Because the source of this error can vary by site configuration, the steps below cover the most common areas to check. Work through them in order before escalating.
Step 1: Verify Your API Key
Before changing any plugin settings, confirm that the API key linked to your site is still valid.
- Log in to your Search Atlas dashboard.
- Navigate to your account or integration settings and check whether an API key exists and is active.
- If the key appears inactive, expired, or missing, generate a new one from within the dashboard.
- Copy the key carefully — do not rely on a previously copied value.
An invalid or expired key is a common cause of authentication failures that persist even after reconnection attempts.
Step 2: Reconnect the Plugin
If your key is active but the error continues, try fully disconnecting and reconnecting the plugin.
- In your WordPress admin panel, open the Search Atlas plugin settings.
- Remove or clear the currently stored API key.
- Paste the fresh key you copied from the dashboard into the appropriate field and save.
- Wait a minute, then run diagnostics again to see whether the error clears.
Step 3: Check for Security Plugin or Server-Level Conflicts
Security plugins and server-level firewalls can block the requests the Search Atlas plugin sends during authentication.
- Temporarily deactivate any security or firewall plugins and run diagnostics again to see if the error disappears.
- If diagnostics pass with those plugins off, re-enable them one at a time to identify the conflict, then adjust that plugin's settings to allow Search Atlas traffic.
- Contact your hosting provider to confirm that outbound requests to Search Atlas servers are not being blocked at the server or firewall level.
- Check whether your site's REST API is accessible — if it is disabled or restricted, the plugin will not be able to authenticate.
Step 4: Clear Cached Credentials
Stale cached data can cause the plugin to send outdated credentials. Clear your WordPress site's cache (including any object cache or page cache) and your browser cache, then attempt to reconnect the plugin and run diagnostics again.
Step 5: Escalate if the Error Persists
If you have worked through all of the steps above and the 'authentication credentials not provided' error still appears, the issue likely requires investigation by our support team. To help us resolve it as quickly as possible, please have the following ready when you reach out:
- Your WordPress site URL
- The exact error message displayed during diagnostics
- A list of any active security or firewall plugins
- Details of any recent changes to your site or hosting environment
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.