# Ignition validateUser() is not working with Active Directory User Source **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Tags:** ignition83\ **Created:** [September 2, 2026, 10:48am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-validateuser-is-not-working-with-active-directory-user-source/116969 "2026-09-02T10:48:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rohitdas104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rohitdas104](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/rohitdas104)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 10:48am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-validateuser-is-not-working-with-active-directory-user-source/116969/1 "2026-09-02T10:48:41Z")
I’m attempting to authenticate an Active Directory (AD) user using their username and password. I’ve already configured a user source of type _Active Directory_. For testing, I’m calling `system.security.validateUser()` and passing the company username, company password, and the AD user source. However, the method consistently returns `false` even when I’m certain the credentials are correct. My question is: does `system.security.validateUser()` support authentication against an AD user source, given that the method requires the password to be passed directly? Or is this approach inherently incompatible with AD authentication? ---
**Author:** ![dkhayes117](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/dkhayes117/32/68344_2.png) [@dkhayes117](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/dkhayes117)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 12:08pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-validateuser-is-not-working-with-active-directory-user-source/116969/2 "2026-09-02T12:08:54Z")
I tried it, and it works with Active Directory. Maybe check your user profile settings like `schedule restricted`, or maybe the account is locked out? ---
**Author:** ![bkarabinchak.psi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/bkarabinchak.psi/32/83567_2.png) [@bkarabinchak.psi](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/bkarabinchak.psi)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-validateuser-is-not-working-with-active-directory-user-source/116969/3 "2026-09-02T16:35:30Z")
I use switchUser and validateUser a lot with AD Users sources. The `system.user` API works fine with AD. Have you tried other users and they work? If so probably what @dkhayes117 said and something on the AD side. Have you checked your connection is working properly? If you go to Users Sources and the AD User source -\> More -\> Manage Users you should see a list of AD Users, if you do not, your LDAP query is probably wrong and no one will validate. ---
**Author:** ![rohitdas104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rohitdas104](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/rohitdas104)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 6:58am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-validateuser-is-not-working-with-active-directory-user-source/116969/4 "2026-09-03T06:58:17Z")
Thank you for the quick response. The "Automatic Suffix" property was enabled and that was causing the issue. Now, I'm able to authenticate using `system.security.validateUser()` But I'm seeing frequent error logs in gateway like: Error fetching roles- javax.naming.AuthenticationException: [LDAP: error code 49 - 80090308: LdapErr: DSID-0C090532, comment: AcceptSecurityContext error, data 52e, v4f7c] Any idea why this is happening? ---
**Author:** ![JordanCClark](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/jordancclark/32/83362_2.png) [@JordanCClark](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/JordanCClark)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 11:59am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-validateuser-is-not-working-with-active-directory-user-source/116969/5 "2026-09-03T11:59:02Z")
IIRC 49 is invalid credentials. EDIT: Yep. username is valid, but password is not. [LDAPWiki: Common Active Directory Bind Errors](https://ldapwiki.com/wiki/Wiki.jsp?page=Common%20Active%20Directory%20Bind%20Errors) EDIT to the EDIT: This would be in the binding. ---
**Author:** ![rohitdas104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rohitdas104](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/rohitdas104)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 7:58am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-validateuser-is-not-working-with-active-directory-user-source/116969/6 "2026-09-04T07:58:23Z")
Is this error caused by the Active Directory service account used for the connection, or by the username and password passed into `system.security.validateUser()` **?”** ---
**Author:** ![JordanCClark](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/jordancclark/32/83362_2.png) [@JordanCClark](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/JordanCClark)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 9:43am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-validateuser-is-not-working-with-active-directory-user-source/116969/7 "2026-09-04T09:43:54Z")
> [@JordanCClark](#): > > EDIT to the EDIT: This would be in the binding. This would mean the service account. I'm not one to regurgitate AI responses, but Gemini surprisingly did a fair job on this one. > **[Google Search](https://www.google.com/share.google?q=aimode%2FFZ9P6dvONczR0GUfU)** When configuring an **Active Directory** or **AD/Hybrid User Source** in [Inductive Automation Ignition](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ad-internal-hybrid-ldap-error-49/23231), hitting **Error 49 with data 52e** typically points to one of two main scenarios: [1] ## **Scenario 1: The Gateway cannot sync users/roles (Main Service Account Issue)** If you see this error repeatedly in the Ignition Gateway log console (`wrapper.log`), the **Service Account Username** or **Password** configured inside the User Source settings is wrong. [2, 3] - - **The "Automatic Suffix" Trap:** Go to your AD User Source settings in the Ignition Gateway, scroll to the bottom, and check **Show Advanced Properties**. Look for **Automatic Suffix**. If this is checked, Ignition automatically appends your domain to whatever username you typed. If you manually typed `username@domain.com` _and_ Automatic Suffix is on, Ignition sends `username@domain.com@domain.com`, causing a `52e` error. [1] - **Username Format:** Try changing the main Gateway Service Account username format. Switch between standard `sAMAccountName`, `DOMAIN\username`, or the full User Principal Name (`username@domain.com`). - **Special Characters:** If your service account password contains symbols like `&`, `<`, `>`, or trailing spaces, Java/Ignition can sometimes struggle to escape them correctly. Try a temporary service password with just letters and numbers to see if it fixes the issue. [4, 5] - ## **Scenario 2: A single operator/user cannot log into a Vision/Perspective Client** If the User Source syncs fine, but a _specific user_ gets blocked when trying to log into an HMI screen or designer: - - **Stale Credential Cache:** It is remarkably common in Ignition for an operator to change their Windows password, but Ignition continues to throw a `52e` bad password error even when they type the new one correctly. [6, 7] - **The Fix:** Have the user perform a formal **domain password reset** from a standard Windows workstation. Forcing a fresh password reset syncs the underlying Kerberos/AD state back up with the LDAP provider that Ignition is actively reading. [6, 7] - To help target the right setting, let me know: - - Is this happening when you try to **Save/Manage the User Source** in the Gateway web page, or when an **operator tries to log into a client screen**? - What **Ignition version** are you running (e.g., v8.1)? - [1] [https://forum.inductiveautomation.com](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ad-internal-hybrid-ldap-error-49/23231) [2] [https://forum.inductiveautomation.com](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ad-error-fetching-roles-and-users-ad-hybrid-does-it-just-fine/58894) [3] [https://industrialmonitordirect.com](https://industrialmonitordirect.com/blogs/knowledgebase/ignition-ad-authentication-failure-ldap-error-49-fix) [4] [https://industrialmonitordirect.com](https://industrialmonitordirect.com/blogs/knowledgebase/ignition-ldap-error-49-ad-authentication-failure-fix) [5] [https://www.manageengine.com](https://www.manageengine.com/products/self-service-password/kb/active-directory-issues/active-directory-error-code-52e-invalid-credential.html) [6] [https://forum.inductiveautomation.com](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/active-directory-user-authentication-failing/106345) [7] [https://industrialmonitordirect.com](https://industrialmonitordirect.com/blogs/knowledgebase/ignition-ad-authentication-failure-ldap-error-49-fix) ---
**Author:** ![rohitdas104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rohitdas104](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/rohitdas104)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 12:02pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-validateuser-is-not-working-with-active-directory-user-source/116969/8 "2026-09-04T12:02:55Z")
Thanks a lot! I changed the service account username format from {username} to {username@domain.com} and now I'm not getting that error in logs. Also, I see an info log now: LDAP server type detected: MICROSOFT\_ACTIVE\_DIRECTORY