Zoho CRM Error message #2 : Fixing [Invalid Credentials] and [Authentication Fail] while configuring IMAP

Zoho CRM Error message #2 : Fixing [Invalid Credentials] and [Authentication Fail] while configuring IMAP



Hi Everyone!

As a part of our Zoho CRM Error messages series, we're going to focus on couple of error messages that you might encounter while configuring IMAP and ways to resolve them. These are:

  • [Invalid Credentials]

  • [Authentication Fail]

 

The annoying part is that sometimes you get these error messages despite entering the correct credentials. Troubleshooting these errors start with understanding the root cause of these errors. You get these errors when:

  • TFA (two factor authentication) is enabled for your account

  • An previously saved password gets auto filled while configuring but you changed the account password recently.

  • When an incorrect server name is entered. For e.g., the user might be in zoho.eu domain but entered the domain name as zoho.com.

 

How can you resolve these errors?

  • If TFA is enabled: Generate app specific password for your email account from the "Two Factor Authentication" section in your Zoho Accounts page and use the same for IMAP configuration. More on that here.

       

       

 

 

  • Password auto fill: If a previously saved password gets auto filled and you have changed the password since then, ensure you retype the password manually while configuring.

  • Ensure you use the correct hosted server name while configuring IMAP.

  • Ensure you are logged in to web mail while configuring the IMAP.

 

Hope this helps resolve the error messages encountered while configuring IMAP. If the issue persists, do post in our community or contact our support team for the fix. 

We will continue to add more fixes to other prominent error messages in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Check the steps for resolving connection errors while configuring IMAP here.


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