Fixing 'The request to the authentication proxy has failed' Error in Site Kit
Content
If you're encountering the frustrating "The request to the authentication proxy has failed" error while trying to set up or use Site Kit by Google, you're not alone. This common issue typically appears with additional messages like "a site with the given URL already exists" or "site not found." Based on community reports and troubleshooting patterns, here's what causes these errors and the most effective solutions to resolve them.
Why This Error Occurs
This error typically indicates a mismatch between your current WordPress site's configuration and the records stored by the Site Kit service. The most common triggers include:
- Site Migration: Moving your site to a new host or server without properly resetting Site Kit first.
- URL Changes: Modifying your site's domain name, adding/removing "www," or changing the WordPress address.
- Incomplete Reset: A previous installation of Site Kit wasn't fully reset, leaving conflicting records.
- Staging/Development Sites: Cloning a site or working on a staging environment that previously had Site Kit configured.
Most Effective Solutions
1. Perform a Full Site Kit Reset
The most common fix for these proxy errors is a complete reset of the plugin. This clears any local conflicting data and often allows for a fresh start.
- Navigate to Tools > Available Tools > Reset Site Kit in your WordPress dashboard.
- Confirm the reset.
- Attempt to set up Site Kit again.
Note: If the "Reset Site Kit" option is not visible in your menu, you can use the Health Check & Troubleshooting plugin to access it. Enable troubleshooting mode, then navigate to the "Available Plugins" tab to enable Site Kit. The reset option should then appear.
2. Check for URL Consistency
The Site Kit service is sensitive to URL changes. Ensure your site URLs are consistent:
- Go to Settings > General in WordPress.
- Verify that both the "WordPress Address (URL)" and "Site Address (URL)" are identical and correctly use (or do not use) "www".
- If they are inconsistent, update them to match, save the changes, and try setting up Site Kit again.
3. Use a Browser Incognito/Private Window
Browser extensions or cached credentials can sometimes interfere with the authentication process. Try performing the Site Kit setup from a Chrome Incognito window or Firefox Private Window to rule out these issues.
4. When All Else Fails: Request a Records Check
If the error persists after trying the solutions above, the issue may be with the records stored on the Site Kit service itself. This can happen if a site was migrated and the old installation is no longer accessible to perform a reset.
In such cases, the Site Kit by Google team can often check and clear these records for you. To request this, you will typically need to provide your Site Health information privately so they can identify your site's records. You can find forms for this purpose on their official support channels.
Summary of Error Messages and First Steps
- "...a site with the given URL already exists": First, try a Site Kit reset.
- "...site not found": First, check your URL settings in WordPress for consistency.
- "...invalid 'site_id' or 'site_secret'": First, try a Site Kit reset from an incognito window.
By following these structured steps, most users are able to resolve the authentication proxy error and successfully connect Site Kit to their WordPress website.
Related Support Threads Support
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Reset Site Kit on my sitehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/reset-site-kit-on-my-site/
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Site not found errorhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/site-not-found-error-6/
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Site Kit refuses setup even after resethttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/site-kit-refuses-setup-even-after-reset/
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invalid ‘site_id’ or ‘site_secrethttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/invalid-site_id-or-site_secret-4/
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Facing Error :The request to the authentication proxy has failed with an errorhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/facing-error-the-request-to-the-authentication-proxy-has-failed-with-an-error/
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Created a new website on a different enviromenthttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/created-a-new-website-on-a-different-enviroment/
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The request to the authentication proxy has failed with an errorhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-request-to-the-authentication-proxy-has-failed-with-an-error-4/
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cannot set up anylisticshttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-set-up-anylistics/
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Site kit is unreachablehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/site-kit-is-unreachable/
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Failed login to Site KIt – site not foundhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/failed-login-to-site-kit-site-not-found/
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The request to the authentication proxy has failed with an error: site not foundhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-request-to-the-authentication-proxy-has-failed-with-an-error-site-not-found-3/
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The request to the authentication proxy has failed with an error: site not foundhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-request-to-the-authentication-proxy-has-failed-with-an-error-site-not-found/
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Site Kit refuses setup after new websitehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/site-kit-refuses-setup-after-new-website/
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WP – Proxy has failed with an error: site not foundhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/wp-proxy-has-failed-with-an-error-site-not-found/
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invalid ‘site_id’ orhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/invalid-site_id-or/
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Need help setting up SiteKit on a migrated sitehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/need-help-setting-up-sitekit-on-a-migrated-site/
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Site Kit Existing accounts, no longer able to sign inhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/existing-accounts-no-longer-able-to-sign-in/
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The request to the authentication proxy has failed with an error: a site with thhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-request-to-the-authentication-proxy-has-failed-with-an-error-a-site-with-th-3/
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The request to the authentication proxy has failed with an error:https://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-request-to-the-authentication-proxy-has-failed-with-an-error-2/
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Issue with errorhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/issue-with-error/
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a site with the given URL already existshttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/a-site-with-the-given-url-already-exists-3/
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The request to the authentication proxy has failed with an error: a site withttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-request-to-the-authentication-proxy-has-failed-with-an-error-a-site-wit/
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The request to the authentication proxy has failed with an error: site not foundhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-request-to-the-authentication-proxy-has-failed-with-an-error-site-not-found-8/
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get error when trying to connecthttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/get-error-when-trying-to-connect/
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La solicitud al proxy de autenticación ha fallado con un errorhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/la-solicitud-al-proxy-de-autenticacion-ha-fallado-con-un-error/
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Site kit installation Issuehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/site-kit-installation-issue-2/
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Ha fallado la solicitud de identificación del proxy con un errorhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/ha-fallado-la-solicitud-de-identificacion-del-proxy-con-un-error/
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Trying to resolve: The request to the authentication proxy has failedhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/trying-to-resolve-the-request-to-the-authentication-proxy-has-failed-2/
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authentication proxy has failed with an error: a site with the given URL alreadyhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/authentication-proxy-has-failed-with-an-error-a-site-with-the-given-url-already/
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SITE KIT The request to the authentication proxy has failed with an error: a sithttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/site-kit-the-request-to-the-authentication-proxy-has-failed-with-an-error-a-sit/
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error activate plugin after migrationhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-activate-plugin-after-migration/
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invalid ‘site_id’ or ‘site_secrethttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/invalid-site_id-or-site_secret-5/
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a site with the given url already exist : Cannot access old setuphttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/a-site-with-the-given-url-already-exist-cannot-access-old-setup/
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Not able to connect with sitekit pluginhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/not-able-to-connect-with-sitekit-plugin/
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The request to the authentication proxy has failed with an error: a site with thhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-request-to-the-authentication-proxy-has-failed-with-an-error-a-site-with-th-4/
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The request to the authentication proxy has failed with an errorhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-request-to-the-authentication-proxy-has-failed-with-an-error-5/
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The request to the authentication proxy has failedhttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-request-to-the-authentication-proxy-has-failed-4/
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Can’t migratehttps://wordpress.org/support/topic/cant-migrate-4/