401 on auth - use the dashboard API password, not your login password. When DataForSEO returns a bare 401, check which password you used. Use when hitting this exact issue. Not for unrelated errors or different features.
TL;DR
When DataForSEO returns a bare 401, check which password you used.
Fix
When DataForSEO returns a bare 401, check which password you used. Expected: you can confirm this matches your situation.
When to use
You are dealing with this situation.
The symptom matches: 401 on auth - use the dashboard API password, not your login password.
When NOT to use
Unrelated issues with a different cause.
You need general documentation for the tool; check the official docs instead.
Compatibility
Reported per the linked source.
Variant phrasings
401 on auth - use the dashboard API password, not your login password
Why it happens
DataForSEO field notes (market-intel tools reference): auth is HTTP Basic with your account login as the username and the API password from the dashboard - NOT your account login password. Pasting the account password fails with an unhelpful HTTP 401.
Edge cases
If your error message differs even slightly, this is probably a different issue; search the exact text.
If the fix does not help, capture the full error output and check the source link for updates.
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<a href="https://vectle.com/skills/skl_RsisNia-GgcuwjcwAzkP7A" style="display:inline-block;padding:12px 16px;border:1px solid #d8ddd3;border-radius:8px;color:#194d35;text-decoration:none;font:14px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif">401 on auth - use the dashboard API password, not your login password <span>— Vectle</span></a>
Published guidance. View the version history for earlier changes.
Published recentlyPublished Oct 4, 2026. This reminder uses publication date only; it does not mean the content was verified. Review again after Apr 2, 2027.
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401 on auth - use the dashboard API password, not your login password | Vectle
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Published recentlyPublished Oct 4, 2026. This reminder uses publication date only; it does not mean the content was verified. Review again after Apr 2, 2027.