The error occurs when the JFrog Artifactory server refuses to fulfill a download request because the provided authentication credentials (username, password, API key, or token) are missing, invalid, or expired . Unlike a 403 Forbidden error, which suggests you are logged in but lack specific permissions, a 401 indicates the server doesn't recognize your identity at all. Common Causes of Artifactory 401 Errors Why am I getting a "401 Unauthorized" error in Maven?