Unfortunately, MTG Arena is susceptible to technical problems and bugs as a digital game. Typically, these issues are resolved reasonably expediently by the hard-working team at Wizards of the Coast. Other bugs, however, have unfortunately persisted for some time, with no word on when the issue may be resolved. One of these problematically persistent bugs in MTG Arena has been a consistent login issue that plagues many players. Typically prevalent following a new patch being pushed, “unable to login. Authentication failed” is an all too common sight. Thankfully, there may be a new fix to this longstanding issue to go along with the tried and tested methods.
How to Fix MTG Arena Unable to Login Authentication Failed
As with all digital technical problems, the solution to MTG Arena’s Unable to Login / Authentication Failed issue isn’t entirely simple. A solution that may work for one user may frustratingly have no effect for another user, for instance. Subsequently, in this article, we’ll run down every solution to this issue that we can find in the hopes that one of them will work. So, without any further ado, let’s get into every available fix for MTG Arena’s Unable to Login Authentication Failed issue!
Solution 1: Check the MTG Arena Server Status
This may seem like an obvious first step. However, it’s always sensible to check first to see if the problem you’re encountering is an isolated issue or not. Websites such as Reddit and Twitter can be a good barometers for this. However, going to the source is typically more effective. Because of this, we recommend that you check the MTG Arena Server Status website first. This website will tell you if Wizards knows of any issues currently affecting the game or if MTG Arena is under maintenance. If there are issues or maintenance is taking place, this is likely the reason you can’t login to MTG Arena. If there aren’t any server problems, worry not, as there are still plenty more solutions that may fix your issue.
Solution 2: Login to a Different MTG Arena Account
Once you’ve identified that the issue is on your end, it’s time to start with the real solutions. While many of these fixed may be fairly mundane, thanks to the MTG community, a new promising solution has been brought to light. Recently highlighted by MTG personality Fireshoes on Twitter, it appears that logging into a different account is a viable fix.
“For people getting the “Unable to Login” message, I get that every update. Logging out, terminating the client, then logging in under a different account works. I’m usually able to get back into my main account after playing a match or two.”
– Robert Taylor (Fireshoes)
While this solution may not be a guaranteed fix, many players seemed to have had great success with this technique. Taking to Reddit, following a recent MTG Arena outage, players such as u/Keikaze and u/FormerPlayer confirmed this trick works. While the exact reasoning behind this method working is unknown, Reddit user u/rileyvace suggested potential reasoning. “Sounds like a local client validation issue. Switching accounts and forcing activity, I guess, triggers this somehow.”
While this solution may be just that, it does require some setup. Primarily, you’ll need two MTG Arena accounts in order to make this trick work. Since MTG Arena is free-to-play, this isn’t an insurmountable hurdle for players to overcome. Due to its track record, should you have the means, we’d highly recommend trying this solution when confronted with the MTG Arena Unable to Login Authentication Failed issue.
Solution 3: Restart Your Modem / Router
If logging into a separate account and playing a few games to reset the system doesn’t work, it’s time to fall back on the tried and tested methods. The first of these we’d recommend is restarting our modem/router in order to reset your connection. While this can occasionally fix the problem and remove some internet gremlins, we know it’s not always an ideal solution. Should multiple users be connected to your internet, restarting, the modem can cause all kinds of hassle, after all. Still, if you’re in a situation where you can easily restart your modem or Router, we’d recommend it as an easy potential fix.
Solution 4: Restart Your Device
If restarting your Router doesn’t cut it, it’s time to take things one step further. There’s a reason that “Have You Tried Turning It Off and On Again?” is so famous, after all. Admittedly, that reason is primarily because of the TV program The IT Crowd. However, it also works. In truth, we’re not entirely sure what computer wizardry goes on when resetting your computer. However, we can’t deny the results. Sometimes restarting your computer can be precisely what it needs to fix an issue you’re facing.
Solution 5: Carefully Disable Antivirus and Firewall Software
While this step can provide some effective results early on, we’re hesitant to recommend outright disabling your antivirus and firewalls. Since they’re valuable pieces of software that keep you safe, we’d suggest only disabling them for a limited time. If disabling these pieces of software doesn’t fix the issue in MTG Arena, we’d recommend turning them back on as soon as possible. If they do fix the problem, however, you may have to whitelist MTG Arena in the software’s settings if possible. Whatever you do, just make sure you don’t leave yourself prone to viruses and malicious software after completing this step.
Solution 6: Reinstall MTG Arena
Sadly, if nothing else is working, it might be time for the nuclear option: completely reinstalling MTG Arena. Given that this process will take time and use up valuable bandwidth, it’s not a decision we take lightly. Nevertheless, this step can provide positive results after exhausting all other options. At the least, reinstalling MTG Arena will ensure that you’re running the latest version of the client.
Solution 7: Contact Wizards of the Coast Support
At this point, unfortunately, the wisdom of the internet has been exhausted. Subsequently, should the issue still persist after trying everything else, you may need to contact Wizards of the Coast Support. MTG Arena support queries and tickets are handled on their own website, which you can find here. While the Wizards of the Coast team should have the most information to help resolve your MTG Arena issue, unfortunately, this process may take some time. Nevertheless, hopefully, this step should provide a solution when all else fails.
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