ArcGIS Pro 3.5 Connection Issue to Azure SQL Managed Instance with Microsoft Entra Authentication

[AYUSHYADAV]

Hi,

We are experiencing an issue connecting ArcGIS Pro 3.5 to an Azure SQL Server Managed Instance using Microsoft Entra authentication.

Environment:

• Database: SQL Server Managed Instance on Azure Cloud

• Client Application: ArcGIS Pro 3.5

• Workstation: Both SSMS and ArcGIS Pro are installed on the same machine.

Problem Description:

As per the ArcGIS Pro documentation on database connections (specifically, the section on Microsoft Entra ID authentication options: https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/data/databases/database-connections-in-arcgis-pro.htm#...), we should be able to leverage Microsoft Entra authentication for this connection.

We are successfully able to connect to the SQL Server Managed Instance database via SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) using the Microsoft Entra authentication options (e.g., Azure Active Directory - Universal with MFA, Azure Active Directory - Password).

Furthermore, we are able to successfully connect to the SQL Server database using database authentication (SQL Server Authentication) via ArcGIS Pro.

However, when attempting to connect to the same instance from ArcGIS Pro v3.5 using the same Microsoft Entra authentication method and credentials, we consistently receive the error: "Bad user login."

We have meticulously verified the username and password multiple times to ensure their correctness.

Any help from anyone will be highly appreciated. 

Thank you,

Ayush

[AyanPalit]

@AYUSHYADAV Was the successful connection with different version of Pro?  So it worked before and the only known change is ArcGIS Pro v3.5?

[AYUSHYADAV]

Hi @AyanPalit , 

I have tested this with versions 3.3, 3.4 & 3.5. It is giving me the same error, "Bad user login," for all three versions.

Thanks

Ayush

[AYUSHYADAV · Accepted solution]

ESRI Support has confirmed that this is a bug affecting usernames longer than 31 characters. Here is the enhancement number. - ENH-000121539

[christinazhang2025]

We have been battling the same error in the Azure SQL with MS Entra Authentication. Esri giving the same response on Characters but I am not convinced because same long email user added to SQL login directly (without being in AD) is working fine!!! Characters is not a constrain in this scenario! Only when the users being a member in AD group that added to SQL login wouldn't go through. Short email such as db@domain in AD group works, long email name database.test@ doesn't work. Both being members in an AD group. So I am thinking something in the AD group and ODBC driver cause issue in the MS authentication because using PYODBC script defining the ODBC driver works!

This is the script solution for tool development: use PYODBC script to connect to SQL, but users need to browse the list of layers in the drop-down of Database folder pane! script can't achieve that.