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Configuration Failed – Failed to connect to the configuration database: Error during decryption. Ensure the passphrase is correct.

Salaudeen Rajack 0 Comments

Problem: Trying to add a server to SharePoint 2013 farm, after a passphrase reset. Got this error message.
Configuration Failed
Failed to connect to the configuration database: 
An exception of type System.ArgumentException was thrown. Additional exception information: Error during decryption. Ensure the passphrase is correct.

Error during decryption. Ensure the passphrase is correct.

Troubleshooting:

  • Double-checked my passphrase is correct. If my passphrase is wrong, I should get this error message: “The passphrase you entered is incorrect. Please try again” – But I didn’t receive any such!The passphrase you entered is incorrect. Please try again
  • Verified the pass-phrase change timer job’s last run time: 
    Get-SPTimerJob -Identity job-admin-passphrase-change | Format-Table -Property DisplayName,Id,LastRunTime,Status
  • Tried restarting SharePoint Timer job and SharePoint Administration services in CA server
  • Made sure the account I logged in is a Farm Admin account with Security Admin, DB Creator roles in SQL Server, and Local administrator in the server I’m trying to add.

Solution Worked for me:

Clear SharePoint Configuration Cache on ALL SharePoint servers! and rerun the configuration wizard in the new server!! Here is how: How to Clear SharePoint Configuration Cache using PowerShell?

Salaudeen Rajack

Information Technology Professional with Two decades of SharePoint Experience.

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