Why Am I Getting a 'mysqli_connect Authentication Method Unknown ([caching_sha2_password])' Error?

Authentication Error Resolved: mysqli_connect Authentication Method Unknown ([caching_sha2_password])

When connecting to a MySQL database using PHP's mysqli_connect, you may encounter the following error: "The server requested authentication method unknown to the client [caching_sha2_password]". This issue arises when the MySQL Server is configured to use the caching_sha2_password authentication method, which is not natively supported by certain user accounts or may require additional configuration.

Cause of the Error:

The caching_sha2_password authentication method is a secure method used by MySQL Server for password storage and authentication. It replaces the older mysql_native_password method and enhances security by storing passwords in hashed form. By default, caching_sha2_password becomes the default authentication method when certain conditions are met.

Resolving the Issue:

To resolve this issue, you have two options:

1. Convert User Accounts to mysql_native_password:

• Run the following SQL command to convert user accounts to use the mysql_native_password authentication method:

ALTER USER '<mysqlUsername>'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY '<mysqlUsernamePassword>';

2. Modify MySQL Server Configuration:

• Open the MySQL Server's configuration file (usually named my.cnf) and navigate to the [mysqld] section.
• Change the value of the "default_authentication_plugin" setting from caching_sha2_password to mysql_native_password:

[mysqld]
default_authentication_plugin=mysql_native_password

Note: After making changes to the MySQL Server configuration file, you need to restart the MySQL Server for the changes to take effect.

Creating New Users with mysql_native_password:

When creating new users with mysql_native_password authentication, use the following command:

CREATE USER '<mysqlUsername>'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY '<mysqlUsernamePassword>';

Additional Considerations:

• Ensure that the user you are using to connect to the database has the appropriate permissions.
• Check the MySQL Server's error log for any additional error messages that may provide more context.
• Consider updating the password hashing algorithm on the MySQL Server to enhance security further.

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