Cannot bulk load because the file could not be opened. The user name or password is incorrect.

Error:

4861: Cannot bulk load because the file could not be opened. Operating system error code 1326 (The user name or password is incorrect.).

Fix:

This error message “Cannot bulk load because the file could not be opened. Operating system error code 1326 (The user name or password is incorrect.)” means that your SQL Server is trying to access a file for bulk import, but it cannot because the username or password you provided to access the file is incorrect, causing an authentication failure on the operating system level. Key points about this error: 

• Incorrect Credentials:The primary reason for this error is that the account used to access the file on the server has an incorrect username or password. 
• File Permissions:Even if the correct username is used, the user might not have sufficient permissions to access the file. 
• Network Issues:If the file is located on a network drive, there could be network connectivity issues causing the authentication failure. 

How to troubleshoot: 

• Check User Credentials: 
  • Verify that the username and password used in the bulk insert command are correct for the account that has access to the file. 
  • Ensure the account is not locked or expired. 
• File Permissions: 
  • Check if the user account has appropriate read permissions on the file. 
  • If necessary, modify file permissions to grant access. 
• Network Connectivity: 
  • Check if the network is functioning properly and the server can reach the file location. 
• Review Bulk Insert Command: 
  • Double-check the file path and ensure it is correctly specified in the bulk insert statement. 
• SQL Server Authentication: 
  • If using SQL Server Authentication, ensure that the account used has the necessary bulk load permissions.