In our video gaming lives, we have explored the farthest reaches of the most dangerous worlds, we have defeated the most fearsome beasts around, and we have discovered and obtained the rarest treasures ever, but if there is one enemy that we can’t seem to defeat are game errors. They always pop out when least expected, and prevent us from saving the world or, in the case of Pokemon Go, venturing out in search of Pokemon to collect and opponents to defeat.

The Unable to authenticate error in Pokemon Go is quite common, and it prevents you from starting the game. Here’s how you can fix it.

How to Fix ‘Unable to Authenticate’ Error in Pokemon Go

The Unable to authenticate error in Pokemon Go is caused by your device being unable to communicate properly with the Pokemon Go servers, which need to authenticate your account to allow you to play.

This error is usually caused by a bad internet connection, so, more often than not, you only need to wait for a few minutes to fix the error. If this doesn’t happen, try closing and reopening the Pokemon Go app.

To close the Pokemon Go app you will have to:

• On Android, tap Settings, Apps, Pokemon Go, and then Force Stop
• On iOS, double tap the Home Button or swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see the most recently used apps, then swipe up on Pokemon Go to close it.

If you’re on Android, sometimes, you may have to remove and then add your Google account to your device again. To do so, you will have to:

1. Open the Settings app
2. Tap the Accounts option
3. Select your account
4. Tap Remove account

To add the account back to your device you have to:

1. Open the Settings app
2. Tap the Accounts option
3. Tap Add Account
4. Select Google
5. Insert the required information