Invalid or missing credentials

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 142 views

Introduction

As a Java developer, publishing a library to the Maven Central Repository is a crucial step in making your project accessible to a wider audience. However, when attempting to publish a library, you may encounter the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error. This error can be frustrating, especially when you have already signed up for a Sonatype account and are ready to publish your library. In this article, we will explore the possible causes of this error and provide a step-by-step guide to resolve it.

Understanding the Error

The HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error typically occurs when the Maven Publish plugin attempts to access the Maven Central Repository. The error message indicates that the content access is protected by a token, which is not provided. This error can be caused by various factors, including:

Invalid or missing credentials: Ensure that you have entered the correct Sonatype credentials, including the username and password.
Token expiration: Verify that the token has not expired. Tokens typically expire after a certain period, and you may need to obtain a new token.
Token not provided: Check if the token is being provided correctly in the Maven Publish configuration.

Resolving the Error

To resolve the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error, follow these steps:

Step 1: Verify Sonatype Credentials

Ensure that you have entered the correct Sonatype credentials, including the username and password. You can verify your credentials by logging in to the Sonatype account.

mvn clean deploy -Dsonatype.username=<your-username> -Dsonatype.password=<your-password>

Step 2: Obtain a New Token

If the token has expired, you can obtain a new token by following these steps:

Log in to the Sonatype account.
Navigate to the Account Settings page.
Click on the API Tokens tab.
Click on the Generate Token button.
Copy the new token and update the Maven Publish configuration.

Step 3: Update Maven Publish Configuration

Update the Maven Publish configuration to include the new token. You can do this by adding the following properties to the pom.xml file:

<properties>
    <sonatype.token>${sonatype.token}</sonatype.token>
</properties>

Then, update the Maven Publish configuration to include the token:

mvn clean deploy -Dsonatype.token=<new-token>

Step 4: Verify Maven Publish Configuration

Verify that the Maven Publish configuration is correct by checking the pom.xml file and the settings.xml file. Ensure that the token is being provided correctly.

<settings>
    <servers>
        <server>
            <id>ossrh</id>
            <username>${sonatype.username}</username>
            <password>${sonatype.password}</password>
            <configuration>
                <httpConfiguration>
                    <all>
                        <params>
                            <property name="http.protocol.expect-continue" value="true"/>
                        </params>
                    </all>
                </httpConfiguration>
            </configuration>
        </server>
    </servers>
</settings>

Step 5: Run Maven Publish

Run the Maven Publish command to deploy the library to the Maven Central Repository:

mvn clean deploy

Conclusion

The HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error can be frustrating, but it is often caused by a simple mistake, such as an invalid or missing token. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can resolve the error and successfully publish your library to the Maven Central Repository.

Troubleshooting Tips

Verify Sonatype credentials: Ensure that you have entered the correct Sonatype credentials, including the username and password.
Check token expiration: Verify that the token has not expired.
Verify Maven Publish configuration: Ensure that the token is being provided correctly in the Maven Publish configuration.
Check Maven Central Repository: Verify that the library is being deployed to the correct repository.

Additional Resources

Sonatype Documentation: Consult the Sonatype documentation for more information on resolving the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error.
Maven Publish Plugin: Consult the Maven Publish plugin documentation for more information on configuring the plugin.
Maven Central Repository: Consult the Maven Central Repository documentation for more information on deploying libraries to the repository.
Maven Publishing: Resolving HTTP/1.1 401 Content Access Protected by Token Error - Q&A ===========================================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the possible causes of the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error when publishing a library to the Maven Central Repository using the Maven Publish plugin. We also provided a step-by-step guide to resolve the error. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to resolving the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error.

Q&A

Q: What is the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error?

A: The HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error is a common error that occurs when the Maven Publish plugin attempts to access the Maven Central Repository. The error message indicates that the content access is protected by a token, which is not provided.

Q: Why do I get the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error?

A: You may get the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error due to various reasons, including:

Invalid or missing credentials: Ensure that you have entered the correct Sonatype credentials, including the username and password.
Token expiration: Verify that the token has not expired.
Token not provided: Check if the token is being provided correctly in the Maven Publish configuration.

Q: How do I resolve the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error?

A: To resolve the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error, follow these steps:

Verify Sonatype credentials: Ensure that you have entered the correct Sonatype credentials, including the username and password.
Obtain a new token: If the token has expired, obtain a new token by following the steps outlined in our previous article.
Update Maven Publish configuration: Update the Maven Publish configuration to include the new token.
Verify Maven Publish configuration: Verify that the token is being provided correctly in the Maven Publish configuration.
Run Maven Publish: Run the Maven Publish command to deploy the library to the Maven Central Repository.

Q: What are the common mistakes that cause the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error?

A: Some common mistakes that cause the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error include:

Invalid or missing credentials: Ensure that you have entered the correct Sonatype credentials, including the username and password.
Token expiration: Verify that the token has not expired.
Token not provided: Check if the token is being provided correctly in the Maven Publish configuration.

Q: How do I troubleshoot the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error?

A: To troubleshoot the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error, follow these steps:

Verify Sonatype credentials: Ensure that you have entered the correct Sonatype credentials, including the username and password.
Check token expiration: Verify that the token has not expired.
Verify Maven Publish configuration: Verify that the token is being provided correctly in the Maven Publish configuration.
Check Maven Central Repository: Verify that the library is being deployed to the correct repository.

Q: What are the additional resources that I can use to resolve the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error?

A: Some additional resources that you can use to resolve the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error include:

Sonatype Documentation: Consult the Sonatype documentation for more information on resolving the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error.
Maven Publish Plugin: Consult the Maven Publish plugin documentation for more information on configuring the plugin.
Maven Central Repository: Consult the Maven Central Repository documentation for more information on deploying libraries to the repository.

Conclusion

The HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error can be frustrating, but it is often caused by a simple mistake, such as an invalid or missing token. By following the steps outlined in this article and consulting the additional resources provided, you can resolve the error and successfully publish your library to the Maven Central Repository.

Additional Resources

Sonatype Documentation: Consult the Sonatype documentation for more information on resolving the HTTP/1.1 401 Content access is protected by token error.
Maven Publish Plugin: Consult the Maven Publish plugin documentation for more information on configuring the plugin.
Maven Central Repository: Consult the Maven Central Repository documentation for more information on deploying libraries to the repository.