SQL Server database is a relational database management system, which is used all over the world. And just because SQL is so widely used doesn’t mean it’s immune to bugs. A common error you are facing while logging into SQL server is error 18456 and this is the error message displayed on the screen:
User error. The user is not associated with a trusted SQL Server connection.
When users try to connect to SQL Server through the login authentication system, instead of granting access to the user, the server throws error 18456. Sometimes the error also says that it is state 1, which is almost the same as the main error because all other variations of error 18456 are converted to error state 1 for security reasons.
As you can see, Microsoft isn’t that helpful when it comes to providing details about error messages.
Reasons behind SQL Server error 18456
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Authentication issue: First login from the new system can also be the reason for this error. The good part is that it is nothing important. The error occurs because the server is set to Windows Authentication mode. Please change the mode and try to log in again. The error must be solved
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Incorrect credentials – This is probably the most common reason for error 18456, and yet we like to focus on the minute details. Check if your credentials are correct. If this is your first time logging in, make sure you’ve received the correct credentials from the administrator.
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Disabled User ID – If the user ID does not have access to SQL Server, this error will be generated. Again, if you are trying to log in for the first time, we recommend that you contact your administrator to ensure that access to your user ID has been granted.
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Different error states: As we mentioned there are different error states and once you know what the different states mean, it is easier to solve the problem:
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If the error status is 2 or 5, that means the user ID is invalid and you need to check it.
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Error state 6 means that the user is trying to use a Windows login name for SQL authentication that the server cannot understand.
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An error state of 7 means that login has been disabled or the password does not match
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Error state 8 means password mismatch
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Error state 9 implies an invalid password
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Error states 11 and 12 mean that the login details are correct but there is a failure to access the server.
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Error state 13 implies that the SQL server has been paused
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Error state 18 means that the password has expired and must be changed
If the error status is anything other than this, it is probably an internal error and you should contact your administrator before doing anything.
Last words: SQL Server error 18456 is a login error that can be easily resolved with a few troubleshooting steps. Most of the time, problems can be resolved instantly. Make sure to always verify your credentials before doing anything else.