Adobe Acrobat Reader Error "Client Application failed to provide authentication token for HTTP request"

Adobe Acrobat Error When Opening Protected PDFs

Adobe Acrobat error dialog stating “Client application failed to provide authentication token for HTTP request” with OK button

Users may receive the error "Client Application failed to provide authentication token for HTTP request" in Adobe Acrobat Reader if your Microsoft sign-in session expires.

 

Adobe may not automatically prompt you to sign back in, so you need to follow these steps to manually refresh the token:

  1. In Adobe Acrobat Reader, click Menu(☰), then Preferences
  2. Click Security
    Adobe Acrobat Preferences window with Security selected and “Microsoft Purview Information Protection” section showing “Clear remembered account information” button
     
  3. Under Microsoft Purview Information Protection, click Clear remembered account information...
    Adobe Acrobat confirmation dialog asking to clear saved account information with OK and Cancel buttons
     
  4. Click OK
  5. Completely close Adobe Acrobat Reader
  6. Reopen the protected PDF that is labeled (encrypted)
  7. When prompted, sign in with your BSU email address
    Microsoft sign-in window for Microsoft Purview Information Protection prompting for email address with Next and Cancel buttons
     
  8. When it asks if you're trying to sign into Adobe Acrobat Reader, click Continue
    BSU-branded sign-in confirmation asking “Are you trying to sign in to Adobe Acrobat Reader?” with Continue and Cancel buttons


 

If you are not prompted to sign in:

  • Make sure the PDF is actually labeled/encrypted
  • Try opening a different protected PDF
  • Restart your computer

 

Still having issues?

  • Contact the IT Security Office (security@bridgew.edu)
  • As a workaround, you can open the PDF with Microsoft Edge
    • Right-click the PDF file
    • Hover over Open with
    • Click Microsoft Edge

Screenshot of the Windows context menu for a PDF file with Open with expanded. A list of apps is shown, including Microsoft Edge, which is highlighted/selected to demonstrate the workaround of opening the PDF in Edge.

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