---
"@context": https://schema.org
"@type": TechArticle
"@id": https://www.twilio.com/docs/api/errors/420036#article
headline: "420036: Knowledge source authentication required"
url: https://www.twilio.com/docs/api/errors/420036
inLanguage: en
dateModified: 2026-07-29T18:16:50.000Z
author:
  "@type": Organization
  name: Twilio Developer Education Team
publisher:
  "@type": Organization
  name: Twilio
---

# 420036: Knowledge source authentication required

Log Type: TWILIO

Log Level: ERROR

## Description

The web crawler received a `401 Unauthorized` response when attempting to access the target URL during knowledge ingestion. The target URL requires authentication that the crawler cannot provide.

### Possible causes

* The target URL requires login credentials
* The content is behind a paywall or authentication gate
* The target site requires session-based authentication
* API keys or authentication tokens are required

### Possible solutions

* Ensure the target URL is publicly accessible without authentication
* If the content requires authentication, download it manually and upload as a file instead
* Use the File or Text knowledge source types for authenticated content
* Remove the knowledge source if the content cannot be made publicly accessible
* Review the knowledge source error details in the Twilio Console