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ESPN APP: “Unable to Play Video, Error: User not Authenticated”
Posted on 9/1/22 at 3:20 pm
Posted on 9/1/22 at 3:20 pm
I was halfway expecting this as I ran into it last weekend, but didn’t care enough about the games to mess with it. Just checked again to make sure I’m ready for tonight and the rest of the weekend’s games and same thing. I have ESPN through my cable provider and pay my $6.99/month for ESPN+. I seem to recall this being an issue for some during baseball season and there being a fix. Anybody nice enough to help me out before I start calling and chewing arse? TIA 

Posted on 9/1/22 at 3:23 pm to Hot Carl
You have to make sure you're logged in both through your cable provider and through your espn+ subscription. It may take logging out and logging back in but I wouldn't try that immediately. Go to settings and check on which accounts you're logged in through first.
Sometimes that particular error isn't related to your subscriptions though and can be solved by just restarting the app.
Sometimes that particular error isn't related to your subscriptions though and can be solved by just restarting the app.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 3:23 pm to Hot Carl
I'm having a similar issue. Have the disney package, been to the homepage umpteen times to confirm that i have access, but it still won't let me stream.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 3:24 pm to ProjectP2294
quote:
You have to make sure you're logged in both through your cable provider and through your espn+ subscription. It may take logging out and logging back in but I wouldn't try that immediately. Go to settings and check on which accounts you're logged in through first.
Sometimes that particular error isn't related to your subscriptions though and can be solved by just restarting the app.
pretty much this. had that happen last weekend. logged into the espn+ app again which prompted the cable provider login and i was good to go.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 3:31 pm to Hot Carl
The app sucks, I constantly have to re-authenticate even when just switching between games. Usually logging out and back in (provider AND ESPN account) does it.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 3:33 pm to ProjectP2294
quote:
You have to make sure you're logged in both through your cable provider and through your espn+ subscription. It may take logging out and logging back in but I wouldn't try that immediately. Go to settings and check on which accounts you're logged in through first.
Sometimes that particular error isn't related to your subscriptions though and can be solved by just restarting the app.

Posted on 9/1/22 at 3:39 pm to Hot Carl
This happens to me almost every time. Normally, I log out and then log in again, and it works.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 3:42 pm to Hot Carl
quote:
Thanks for the quick reply. How do I restart the app on my tv? Delete it and add it back?
I'm not sure, I think I've fixed an error by restarting my TV before. It's a samsung and I just held down the power button until it restarted. I always look at deleting the app as a last resort.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 3:49 pm to Hot Carl
Sometimes you have to unplug the TV… kind like rebooting a computer
Posted on 9/1/22 at 3:49 pm to ProjectP2294
quote:
I'm not sure, I think I've fixed an error by restarting my TV before. It's a samsung and I just held down the power button until it restarted. I always look at deleting the app as a last resort.
With Samsung TVs if an App is acting up and you have tried "everything" to fix it, un-plug the TV for at least a full minute, plug back in and try.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 3:52 pm to Elle a shoe
It is a Samsung, so I’ll start there with the powering off. I’ll update for the the appreciation and what worked (knock on wood) for those in my same situation. 

Posted on 9/1/22 at 3:58 pm to Hot Carl
The app is finicky like that. I have the ABC app downloaded just for football season. Praying to god it doesn’t decide to frick me over 5 minutes before the game Sunday
Posted on 9/1/22 at 3:58 pm to Hot Carl
Started getting this last week. Called Optimum and said it was ESPNs problem. Called ESPN and they put it back on Optimum. Same on my laptop, TV, IPad and phone. Tried all the normal stuff… cleared cache, rebooted etc etc. Screw ESPN and Optimum (formerly Suddenlink)
Posted on 9/1/22 at 4:08 pm to Elle a shoe
quote:
With Samsung TVs if an App is acting up and you have tried "everything" to fix it, un-plug the TV for at least a full minute, plug back in and try.
With a Samsung Smart TV and original remote, hold down the power button and it will flash rapidly, then go solid. once solid, release.
This is how I "refresh/reboot" the apps on the smart hub when mine are acting dumb.
and also check in the general settings that you are connected to the network.
I cannot tell you how many times I have to reset my network settings and log back into my wi-fi to get everything working again. its a pain in the arse. ATT Fiber
Posted on 9/1/22 at 4:11 pm to Hot Carl
Try deleting your app and then download again. This worked for me one time I was having the same issues as you. It fixed mine
Posted on 9/1/22 at 4:15 pm to TheFitfulFire
Had a similar issue after I moved from cable to streaming. As mentioned above, be sure it is using the proper account for your login. Maybe try deleting and reinstalling the ESPN app.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 4:34 pm to Hot Carl
Unplugged tv and cable box—same thing
Logged out of ESPN app
Logged back in with email, but didn’t take 3 different passwords
Selected “forgot password”
Sent email, verified it was me watching on my Samsung—success logging into ESPN app without having to reset password
Still getting same error
Logged out of cable provider on tv
Tried to log back in—rejected 3 passwords and locked me out
Went to provider app on my phone—tried to log in—made me reset password
Thought I would have to re-log on ESPN app via provider, but was given verification code and prompted to go to ESPN verification site on phone/iPad
Texted a separate verification code sent by text—entered it, then prompted to enter original code displayed on tv app into website—did
Success!!!!
Good to go now without having to enter password (why’d I have to change it then?)
Basically, as long as you know your user ID/email address for both ESPN and cable provider and have correct phone number/email to be texted/emailed verification code(s) and a little patience, you can stumble upon the correct steps eventually. On the one hand, it was a pain in the arse, but not as big a one as I expected it to be. I would advise checking it if you haven’t lately and giving yourself enough time to frick around with it before kickoff of a game you really want to watch.
Thanks to all for your assistance. Much appreciated.
ETA—I may have left out a step or gotten a couple out of order. But like I said, as long as you know your email/user IDs, you should be able to frick around long enough stumble your way into it. From the time I unplugged my tv to the time I was watching something on ESPN+ was around 10 minutes.
Logged out of ESPN app
Logged back in with email, but didn’t take 3 different passwords
Selected “forgot password”
Sent email, verified it was me watching on my Samsung—success logging into ESPN app without having to reset password
Still getting same error
Logged out of cable provider on tv
Tried to log back in—rejected 3 passwords and locked me out
Went to provider app on my phone—tried to log in—made me reset password
Thought I would have to re-log on ESPN app via provider, but was given verification code and prompted to go to ESPN verification site on phone/iPad
Texted a separate verification code sent by text—entered it, then prompted to enter original code displayed on tv app into website—did
Success!!!!
Good to go now without having to enter password (why’d I have to change it then?)
Basically, as long as you know your user ID/email address for both ESPN and cable provider and have correct phone number/email to be texted/emailed verification code(s) and a little patience, you can stumble upon the correct steps eventually. On the one hand, it was a pain in the arse, but not as big a one as I expected it to be. I would advise checking it if you haven’t lately and giving yourself enough time to frick around with it before kickoff of a game you really want to watch.
Thanks to all for your assistance. Much appreciated.


ETA—I may have left out a step or gotten a couple out of order. But like I said, as long as you know your email/user IDs, you should be able to frick around long enough stumble your way into it. From the time I unplugged my tv to the time I was watching something on ESPN+ was around 10 minutes.

This post was edited on 9/1/22 at 4:38 pm
Posted on 9/1/22 at 4:46 pm to Miketheseventh
quote:
Try deleting your app and then download again. This worked for me one time I was having the same issues as you. It fixed mine
I remembered that being a solution for some during baseball season, but didn’t want to bring a Samsung login into play if it were required to re-download ESPN app. (I haven’t downloaded an app on the tv in over a year and can’t remember what info—if any—is required). I downloaded the ESPN app and purchased ESPN+ a couple of years ago for Masters coverage, I think, and it got me through that, a baseball season, a football season, and another baseball season before giving me problems. Hopefully I won’t have to do this again for a while.
Posted on 9/1/22 at 4:48 pm to Hot Carl
Whenever people always ask me why I have dish network in 2022 , I’ll show them your post
Posted on 9/1/22 at 5:55 pm to Hot Carl
Has happened to me a few times. Inside the espn app I signed out of espn and provider. Then logged back in to both (all on the espn app). Access restored.
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