Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix error 1326 Error – SSH connection fails for a Microsoft_account user on Windows 11 "windows authentication failed. error 1326"

Windows authentication failed error 1326 resolved with enabling Kerberos authentication.

Quick Answer: Enable Kerberos authentication in sshd_config to resolve the issue.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 💡 Why You Are Getting This Error
  2. 🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps
  3. 💡 Conclusion

The error 'Windows Authentication Failed. Error 1326' occurs when attempting to establish an SSH connection using a Microsoft account on Windows 11. This issue is frustrating as it prevents users from accessing remote systems, and its resolution requires careful troubleshooting.

Resolving this issue involves identifying the root cause of the problem, which may be related to authentication settings or user account permissions.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that Windows 11 does not support authentication with Microsoft accounts by default. This limitation is due to security restrictions imposed by Microsoft on their accounts.
  • An alternative cause could be incorrect or missing configuration of the SSHD service, which may lead to authentication failures.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Enabling Windows Authentication for Microsoft Accounts

  1. Step 1: Open the Control Panel and navigate to User Accounts. Click on 'Manage another account' and select 'Add a user in PC settings'. Then, click on 'Microsoft account' and follow the prompts to link your Microsoft account to the local user account associated with it.
  2. Step 2: After linking the Microsoft account, open the Command Prompt as an administrator and run the command `netsh http add urlacl url=http://localhost:2222 user=naras` to register the SSH port.
  3. Step 3: Restart the SSHD service by running the command `net stop sshd` followed by `net start sshd` in the Command Prompt.

Alternative Fix Method

  1. Step 1: Check the SSHD configuration file (`C: ext oot older/etc ransport.d orwarding.conf`) for any incorrect settings. Ensure that `PasswordAuthentication yes` is uncommented and that there are no other lines that may interfere with authentication.
  2. Step 2: Verify that the Windows Firewall rule to accept SSH connections is enabled. Go to Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall and ensure that the 'Allow incoming connections' option is enabled for the specified port (usually 2222).

💡 Conclusion

To resolve the 'Windows Authentication Failed. Error 1326' issue, enable Windows authentication for Microsoft accounts by linking your account to a local user account and registering the SSH port. Alternatively, check and correct any incorrect SSHD configuration settings or Windows Firewall rules. By following these steps, you should be able to establish a successful SSH connection using your Microsoft account on Windows 11.

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