IT Error Decoder
Entra ID

How to Fix AADSTS50056: Invalid or null password

Last reviewed

Error message

AADSTS50056: Invalid or null password — credentials are missing in the store.

AADSTS50056 isn't 'wrong password' — it's 'no password to check.' The fix is at the identity sync layer.

What this error means

Entra received a sign-in request that needed a password, but the password slot was empty or unreadable. This usually points to a federated identity provider misconfiguration, not a typed password.

Why this happens

On-prem AD federation hasn't synced the password hash for the user, the IdP isn't sending the right token, or the account just doesn't have a password set in the store Entra is looking at.

Quick fix (for end users)

  • If you're a regular user, contact your IT admin — there's nothing you can change client-side.
  • Try signing in with a different account in incognito to confirm it's a per-account issue.

Admin / engineer fix

  • If using Password Hash Sync, force a delta sync from the Entra Connect server.

    command
    Start-ADSyncSyncCycle -PolicyType Delta

  • Check the user's `passwordPolicies` and `lastPasswordChangeDateTime` in Graph for anomalies.

  • Confirm the user isn't in a state where Pass-through Authentication agents are unhealthy.

Step-by-step fix

  1. Identify whether the tenant uses PHS, PTA, or federation.

  2. Force a sync or check IdP health depending on which.

  3. Have the user retry sign-in.

Affected products

Microsoft Entra ID

Common variations of this error

People also see these phrasings of the same problem:

  • Invalid or null password — credentials missing
  • AADSTS50056

Still broken? Try these

  • Use the Microsoft 365 admin center → Users → Sign-in logs → look at this specific failure.
  • If federated, check ADFS logs for token issuance errors.

Related errors

Related searches

  • aadsts50056 fix
  • entra password hash sync

Frequently asked questions

What does "AADSTS50056: Invalid or null password" mean?

Entra received a sign-in request that needed a password, but the password slot was empty or unreadable. This usually points to a federated identity provider misconfiguration, not a typed password.

What causes "AADSTS50056: Invalid or null password"?

On-prem AD federation hasn't synced the password hash for the user, the IdP isn't sending the right token, or the account just doesn't have a password set in the store Entra is looking at.

How do I fix "AADSTS50056: Invalid or null password"?

1. Identify whether the tenant uses PHS, PTA, or federation. 2. Force a sync or check IdP health depending on which. 3. Have the user retry sign-in. Always test changes in a non-production environment first.

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