external_authentication_required

The task requires access to an external service (GitHub, Slack, Linear, etc.) that hasn't been authorized. Follow the auth_url to grant access.

The external_authentication_required error occurs when a cloud agent task needs access to an external service that the user hasn't authorized, or when the Warp GitHub App doesn't have access to the required repositories.

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Details

• HTTP Status: 401 Unauthorized

• Retryable: No

• Task State: FAILED

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When does this occur?

This error is returned when:

• GitHub not connected — Your Warp account is not linked to a GitHub account, but the task's environment includes GitHub repositories

• Repository inaccessible — The Warp GitHub App is not installed on, or does not have access to, one or more repositories required by the task's environment

• Account matching failed — A Slack or Linear user who triggered the task cannot be matched to a Warp account

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Additional metadata fields

This error includes extra fields beyond the standard response format:

• provider — The external service name (for example, "github", "slack", "linear")

• auth_url — A URL to complete the authorization flow (when available)

• inaccessible_repos — A list of repository names the agent cannot access (when applicable)

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Example responses

GitHub user not connected

{
  "type": "https://docs.warp.dev/reference/api-and-sdk/troubleshooting/errors/external-authentication-required",
  "title": "User is not connected to GitHub",
  "status": 401,
  "instance": "/api/v1/agent/tasks",
  "error": "User is not connected to GitHub. Authorize access here: https://...",
  "retryable": false,
  "provider": "github",
  "auth_url": "https://github.com/login/oauth/authorize?..."
}

Repository inaccessible

{
  "type": "https://docs.warp.dev/reference/api-and-sdk/troubleshooting/errors/external-authentication-required",
  "title": "User does not have access to the following repositories in the environment: acme/backend",
  "status": 401,
  "detail": "inaccessible repos: acme/backend",
  "instance": "/api/v1/agent/tasks",
  "error": "User does not have access to the following repositories in the environment: acme/backend (inaccessible repos: acme/backend)",
  "retryable": false,
  "provider": "github",
  "auth_url": "https://github.com/apps/warp-dev/installations/new",
  "inaccessible_repos": ["acme/backend"]
}

Account matching failed (Slack/Linear)

{
  "type": "https://docs.warp.dev/reference/api-and-sdk/troubleshooting/errors/external-authentication-required",
  "title": "Unable to locate your Warp account",
  "status": 401,
  "instance": "/api/v1/agent/tasks",
  "error": "Unable to locate your Warp account",
  "retryable": false,
  "provider": "slack"
}

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How to resolve

GitHub not connected

1. Follow the auth_url in the response to connect your GitHub account to Warp.

2. Complete the OAuth authorization flow.

3. Retry the task.

Repository inaccessible

1. Follow the auth_url to install or reconfigure the Warp GitHub App.

2. Ensure the app has access to all repositories listed in inaccessible_repos.

3. Retry the task.

If you are using a team API key (service account), ensure the Warp GitHub App is installed on the organization that owns the repositories.

Account matching failed

1. Ensure your Slack or Linear account is associated with the same email as your Warp account.

2. If using Slack, verify the Warp Slack integration is installed in your workspace.

3. Contact your team admin if the issue persists.

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Related

• Environments — Configuring GitHub repositories for cloud agent environments

• Integrations — Setting up Slack and Linear integrations