About
The 'Target Principal Name is Incorrect' error occurs in Microsoft SQL Server when a user attempts to connect to a database using Windows authentication. This issue is caused by a combination of the Windows authentication configuration settings not being set up correctly and an expired Kerberos authentication token. This guide will walk through how to fix this error and provide useful resources for further troubleshooting.
Steps for Fixing 'The Target Principal Name is Incorrect' Error
- Check that the Windows authentication settings are set up properly.
- Make sure the Windows server name is listed in the Connection Properties "Server Name" field.
- Ensure that the windows credentials for the user attempting to connect are valid
- Check that the SQL Server instance is running under the appropriate service account
- Confirm that the Windows Authentication mode is enabled on the server
- Re-establish a valid authentication token
- If the settings are configured properly, invoking the
kinitcommand in the Windows command prompt should get a new valid authentication token. After issuing the command, log off and log back in to the server and retry the connection. - If the
kinitcommand still fails, then issue therenewcommand to reset the authentication token.
Resources
FAQs
What causes the Target Principal Name is Incorrect error?
- The Target Principal Name is Incorrect error occurs in Microsoft SQL Server when a user attempts to connect to a database using Windows authentication. This issue is caused by a combination of the Windows authentication configuration settings not being set up correctly and an expired Kerberos authentication token.
How do I fix the Target Principal Name is Incorrect error?
- To fix this error, check that the Windows authentication settings are set up properly and re-establish a valid authentication token using the
kinitcommand in the Windows command prompt.