Stripe · Decline codes
What does the Stripe payment_intent_authentication_failure error mean?
Checked
The Stripe error code payment_intent_authentication_failure means the provided payment method has failed authentication, for example a 3-D Secure check the cardholder did not complete or did not pass. Stripe says to provide a new payment method to attempt the payment again. The shopper can retry and finish the bank's verification step, or use another card.
- Type
- Authentication failed
- Who declined
- The card's bank, at the verification step
- Retry
- Only with the customer present to authenticate
- Shopper action
- Retry and complete the bank's check, or use another card
- Merchant action
- Bring the customer back to confirm the payment
- PlatformDTC renewal
- No blind retry; customer asked to confirm with their bank
What PlatformDTC does
At checkout PlatformDTC keeps payment_intent_authentication_failure on the same processor so the shopper can complete verification; it is not rerouted. On renewals, on the fixed schedule or with Smart retry, it is not retried off-session, because no 3-D Secure prompt can reach an absent customer: the subscription is held past due and the customer gets the action-required email asking them to confirm the payment with their bank.
Why it happens
The bank asked the cardholder to prove it was them, usually with a code or an app confirmation, and that step failed, timed out or was cancelled.
What the shopper can do
Try again and complete the verification screen from your bank. If you can't, use a different card or wallet.
What the store can do
For saved-card charges, send the customer a link to confirm the payment themselves. Retrying in the background will fail the same way.
For developers
error.code = payment_intent_authentication_failure. Stripe's guidance is to provide a new payment method to attempt to fulfil the PaymentIntent again. For off-session renewals, bring the customer on-session to authenticate.
Frequently asked questions
- Is payment_intent_authentication_failure a decline for insufficient funds?
- No. It means the verification step failed, not that the card lacked funds.
- Can a subscription renewal be retried after authentication fails?
- Not automatically. The customer has to be present to authenticate, so ask them to confirm the payment.
Sources
- Error codes — Stripe
- Stripe decline codes — Stripe
- Card declines — Stripe
Related
- authentication_required — The bank wants the cardholder to verify the payment, usually with 3D Secure.
- authentication_not_handled — Verification was required, the shopper skipped it, and the bank declined again.
- mobile_device_authentication_required — The payment needs authentication; the customer should tap their phone again.
- card_declined — Stripe's error code for any declined card; the decline_code says why.
- approve_with_id — The bank could not authorize the payment as sent; one more try may work.
- call_issuer — The bank declined without a reason and wants the cardholder to contact it.
- card_not_supported — The card can't be used for this kind of purchase.
- card_velocity_exceeded — The card's balance, credit limit or amount limit has been reached.