croagunk in Pokemon Go

Pokemon Go: How to Fix ‘Unable to Authenticate’ Error

Upon booting up Pokemon Go, sometimes the “Unable to Authenticate” Error may pop up. It’s not the end of the world, though – here’s how to fix it.

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How to Fix ‘Unable to Authenticate” Error in Pokemon Go

There are two reasons why you may be receiving the error in the app: either the servers are down game-side, or your internet connection is poor.

Now, if it’s Niantic’s side, there’s nothing you can do except wait for normal service to resume. The best way to find an ETA for a fix is to look at the official Niantic Support Twitter account. You can also check out DownDetector’s page for Pokemon Go to see if the servers are indeed down or if it’s on your end.

If things are fine on Niantic’s side then it’ll be your internet. Restarting your router could be a solution depending on what the issue is, but you may find yourself having to call your ISP to see what’s going on. And of course, if you’re outside on your phone then moving to a spot with a better cell service connection should fix the problem.

If none of these solve the issue, there is an extra step you can take if you’re on Android: remove your Google account and then add it back again. To do this, follow the instructions below:

  1. Navigate to Settings.
  2. Click on Accounts.
  3. Select the account you use to log into Pokemon Go.
  4. Press Remove Account.

Here’s how to add your account back again:

  1. Go back to Settings.
  2. Click on Accounts.
  3. Select Add Account.
  4. Choose Google from the list of account types.
  5. Log in with your credentials.


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Author
Meg Bethany Koepp
Meg was Managing Editor at Prima Games until April 2024. She began as a video games journalist in the UK in 2014, and went on to study Games Journalism & PR. In 2018, she moved to the USA, where she eventually joined Prima Games in May 2022. You'll now find her over at our sister site, The Escapist.