How to fix the error 'MongoServerError: bad auth : Authentication failed'?

Oftentimes, you might come across the error "bad auth: authentication failed." What does this error mean?

"Bad auth" means the authentication method is not proper due to providing wrong username or password; hence, it failed.

This blog will discuss the possible mistakes we make for which this error appears and the solutions we can try to fix the error.

1) using whitespaces

When you put your username and password, do not add any whitespace (extra space) before and after your username and password in the MongoDB string connection.

Mistake-1

Mistake-2

Correct way-1

const uri = mongodb+srv://iphoneUser:Tq6uuoPOts7CiRlK@cluster0.ebhzh.mongodb.net/?retryWrites=true&w=majority;

Correct way-2

const uri = mongodb+srv://${process.env.DB_USER}:${process.env.DB_PASS}@cluster0.ebhzh.mongodb.net/?retryWrites=true&w=majority;

2) username and password did not match

Check if the username and password in your MongoDB connection string matches with the username and password in your mongodb database access

Correct: Username and password matches

MongoDB connection string

Database Access

3) Forgot to save username and password

Make sure you have clicked the 'Add User' button after creating the username and password in your database access.

4) Using angle brackets

Do not put your username and password inside the angle brackets like the picture below:

Wrong

Correct

5) Environment variables did not match

If you are using environment variables, make sure you have written them correctly in your MongoDB connection string

Did not match

Matched

6) Do not add any space when assigning your secret information to the environment variables

Wrong:

Correct:

7) Don't forget to do the following before using the environment variables

Always check if you have installed dotenv in your package.json. If you haven't, then run this command to install dotenv

npm i dotenv

After installation, make sure you have imported dotenv

require("dotenv").config();

Take time and go through your code to see if you have made the mistakes discussed above when your authentication fails. I am sure one of these solutions will help you connect your MongoDB successfully. Happy coding!!!