ERROR: [1000] Authentication Failed.

Explanation

In the past, FedEx shipping in SupportSync required only an Account Number and Meter Number, but now FedEx requires that all shippers obtain their own API credentials and also complete a Label Certification process. 

If you have NOT entered an Authorization Key and Password for your FedEx carrier account as shown below, then you SHOULD receive an Authentication error: 

ERROR: [1000] Authentication Failed.

 

Fix

To fix this error, please follow the instructions outlined in the new FedEx Setup Guide:

--- See this article on how to setup FedEx Shipping ---

We're working with FedEx to clarify the procedures of the FedEx Label Certification process so we can provide better support for you. We'll keep providing updates.

Support for FedEx Web Services

If you still get the error even after obtaining API credentials:

ERROR: [1000] Authentication Failed.

Please call FedEx Web Services support and provide them with your Account Number, Meter Number and Contact / Address information. 

They can view your transactions and tell you WHY an error is being generated.

1 [phone] (when prompted, say "web services")

https://www.fedex.com/en-us/api/get-support.html

History of Issue

9/13/2024
A customer received this error when using the TEST KEY issued by FedEx:

"ERROR: [1000] Authentication Failed."

FedEx was UNABLE to fix the error and indicated a NEW KEY was required.

However, it is ONLY possible to obtain a new key as a NEW USER.

FedEx suggested to create a new login for the account under "Administrative Tools," then log in as the new user to create a new key.

In the customer's account, "Administrative Tools" was NOT available, so they were required to register for the service. They then received an error:

"You've exceeded the maximum number of unsuccessful attempts. Please try again at a later time." This error was resolved by waiting for a few days.

A NEW USER was created in the FedEx account.

Logging in to developer.fedex.com as the NEW USER, there was an ERROR on the form to Get Test Key. No information could be added to the fields: First Name, Middle Name and Last Name. The form could not be submitted to get a Test Key. 

Upon further retries the form was able to be submitted to obtain a NEW KEY and credentials as the NEW USER.

The NEW KEY and creds worked and the problem was fixed. 

 

11/4/2022 

We completed changes to support ZPL printing mode for FedEx Label Certification.

We complete changes to support printing Air Waybill for FedEx Label Certification.

 

10/15/2022 

We completed changes required to support 4-Factor Authentication for FedEx.

We updated the instructions for setting up FedEx Shipping here: 

--- See this article on how to setup FedEx Shipping --- 

 

10/12/2022 

We were contacted by a manager at FedEx Web Services support. 

FedEx informed us that a change has been made discontinuing 2-factor identification.

The cause of the error is lack of Label Certification and API Keys for each client shipping. 

 

10/11/2022 

Reports of the error came in again. This time, we could duplicate the error. 

On this date, it looks to have been DOWN from 8:32AM PST to 2:00PM PST. 

Then it was UP for a while, but verified DOWN again at 8:00PM PST. 

We called FedEx Web Services support and spoke to multiple people.

We found that it looks like something is changing in how the FedEx API handles authentication. 

This issue particularly affects us since we are a SaaS company and handle multiple clients.

We verified with FedEx support that authentication credentials failing today did work before. 

This issue was ESCALATED in 2 tickets and FedEx support is supposed to get back to us.

It's possible we may need to change something on our end. If so, we'll do that ASAP.

 

10/10/2022

Reports of this error started coming in on the morning of 10/10/2022. 

By the time we started troubleshooting the error with FedEx, the system was working.