Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-06-03

How to Fix: kubectl error You must be logged in to the server (Unauthorized) when accessing EKS cluster

Quick Answer: Check if your AWS credentials are configured correctly in the config file. Ensure that the 'aws' user has the necessary permissions to access the EKS cluster.

To resolve the 'You must be logged in to the server (Unauthorized)' error when accessing an EKS cluster with kubectl, follow these steps:

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The most common root cause of this error is that the AWS CLI or kubectl command is not configured with the correct credentials.

🔧 Proven Troubleshooting Steps

Method 1: Update AWS CLI Configuration

  1. Step 1: Install and update the AWS CLI tool to ensure it is using the correct credentials.

Method 2: Configure kubectl with AWS Credentials

  1. Step 1: Run the command `aws configure` to set up your AWS credentials.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'You must be logged in to the server (Unauthorized)' error and access your EKS cluster successfully.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions