--- title: "Resolving the \"Login failed for user 'sa'...\" error." description: If you're getting this error when using Acctivate, take these steps. --- [Skip to content](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/login-failed-for-user-sa#main-content) [Go to Customer Portal](https://hub.acctivate.com/tickets?hsLang=en) ![Acctivate - A CAI Solution](https://hub.acctivate.com/hubfs/Images/Logos/acctivate-cai-logo-svg.svg) - [Knowledge Base](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Knowledge Base](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles) - [Go to Customer Portal](https://hub.acctivate.com/tickets) - [Support Resources / Create Ticket](https://acctivate.com/support) [Support Resources / Create Ticket](https://acctivate.com/support) Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Knowledge Base](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles?hsLang=en) 2. [Troubleshoot](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en) 3. [General](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/troubleshoot?hsLang=en#general) January 27, 2026 # Resolving the "Login failed for user 'sa'..." error. ## If you're getting this error when using Acctivate, take these steps. One of the following issues can cause the "Login failed for user 'sa'... error message: **1. User Account Lockout** If nothing on your database server has changed, it's possible that the SQL Server user account has been "locked out" after too many failed attempts. First, make sure that's the not the case and refer to the following article. [SQL Server User Account Locked Out](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/sql-server-user-account-locked-out?hsLang=en) **2. Changed Password** Did someone change the SQL Server user account password? 1. Run **SQL Server Management Studio** on the computer running SQL Server (Check [this article](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/learn/database/what-is-microsoft-sql-server-management-studio?hsLang=en) if you don't see it on your server.) 2. Make sure the Server name is correct (ie COMPUTERNAME\\ACCTIVATE) 3. Select **Windows Authentication** from the Authentication drop-down, then click **Connect to** log in to SQL Server 4. In the **Object Explorer** (usually on the left), expand the **Security** folder, then **Logins** folder. 5. Right-click on the **sa** account and select **Properties**. 6. On the **General** page, enter a new password in the **Password** and **Confirm password** fields. 7. Go to the **Status** page, ensure that **Login** is set to **Enabled** and Click **OK**. **3. Windows Authentication** If the error mentions a "trusted" connection, the database server may be configured to require Windows Authentication: > *Login failed for user ‘sa’. The user is not associated with a trusted SQL Server connection* The following instructions are for SQL Server 2022, but are very similar in other versions: 1. Run SQL Server Management Studio on the computer running SQL Server (Check [this article](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/learn/database/what-is-microsoft-sql-server-management-studio?hsLang=en) if you don't see it on your server.) 2. Make sure the Server name is correct (ie COMPUTERNAME\\ACCTIVATE) 3. Select **Windows Authentication** from the Authentication drop-down, then click **Connect to** log in to SQL Server 4. **Right-click on the server's name** (ie COMPUTERNAME\\ACCTIVATE) and choose **Properties.** 5. Click **Security** in the list on the left. 6. Select **SQL Server and Windows Authentication mode** on the right and click OK. 7. 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