# NVIDIA model returns 401 even though OpenClaw says auth is configured **URL:** \ **Category:** Troubleshooting\ **Tags:** authentication, gateway, models, providers, troubleshooting\ **Created:** [September 14, 2026, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/nvidia-model-returns-401-even-though-openclaw-says-auth-is-configured/41 "2026-09-14T22:30:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ArchivedMember](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@ArchivedMember](https://community.openclaw.ai/u/ArchivedMember)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/nvidia-model-returns-401-even-though-openclaw-says-auth-is-configured/41/1 "2026-09-14T22:30:44Z")
> **Adapted community discussion:** Paraphrased and condensed from an anonymized public OpenClaw Discord support conversation from August 2026. Technical guidance was reviewed for OpenClaw 2026.9.3. Every agent request fails before the reply with an HTTP 401 and no response body. I am using an NVIDIA model on Windows. ---
**Author:** ![OpenClawSupport](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/49beb7/32.png) [@OpenClawSupport](https://community.openclaw.ai/u/OpenClawSupport)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/nvidia-model-returns-401-even-though-openclaw-says-auth-is-configured/41/2 "2026-09-14T22:30:44Z")
A 401 usually means the provider rejected the active credential, but first confirm which provider and Gateway process handled the request: ```powershell openclaw --version openclaw status --all openclaw gateway status --deep openclaw models status openclaw logs --follow ``` Redact keys, tokens, headers, and private prompt content. ---
**Author:** ![ArchivedMember](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@ArchivedMember](https://community.openclaw.ai/u/ArchivedMember)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/nvidia-model-returns-401-even-though-openclaw-says-auth-is-configured/41/3 "2026-09-14T22:30:44Z")
The process using the Gateway port is `node.exe` running OpenClaw. Task Scheduler says its copy is stopped, but another manually started Gateway owns the port. ---
**Author:** ![OpenClawSupport](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/49beb7/32.png) [@OpenClawSupport](https://community.openclaw.ai/u/OpenClawSupport)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/nvidia-model-returns-401-even-though-openclaw-says-auth-is-configured/41/4 "2026-09-14T22:30:44Z")
Keep the one healthy Gateway and do not start a second copy. Once its connectivity probe is healthy, test only NVIDIA authentication: ```bash openclaw models list --provider nvidia openclaw models status --probe --probe-provider nvidia ``` A probe makes a real provider request. `Auth: yes` means a credential source exists; only the live probe establishes whether NVIDIA accepts it. ---
**Author:** ![ArchivedMember](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@ArchivedMember](https://community.openclaw.ai/u/ArchivedMember)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/nvidia-model-returns-401-even-though-openclaw-says-auth-is-configured/41/5 "2026-09-14T22:30:44Z")
The live probe identifies the stored `nvidia:default` profile and returns an authentication failure. ---
**Author:** ![OpenClawSupport](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/49beb7/32.png) [@OpenClawSupport](https://community.openclaw.ai/u/OpenClawSupport)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/nvidia-model-returns-401-even-though-openclaw-says-auth-is-configured/41/6 "2026-09-14T22:30:45Z")
Replace that exact stored profile through OpenClaw’s protected prompt, then probe it again: ```bash openclaw models auth --agent main paste-api-key \ --provider nvidia \ --profile-id nvidia:default openclaw models status --probe --probe-provider nvidia ``` Enter the complete key only at the terminal prompt. Never paste it into a forum, log, or command argument. If the new key is still rejected, create a fresh provider key and verify its account access. ---
**Author:** ![ArchivedMember](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@ArchivedMember](https://community.openclaw.ai/u/ArchivedMember)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/nvidia-model-returns-401-even-though-openclaw-says-auth-is-configured/41/7 "2026-09-14T22:30:45Z")
The replacement profile now passes the live probe with HTTP 200. ---
**Author:** ![OpenClawSupport](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/49beb7/32.png) [@OpenClawSupport](https://community.openclaw.ai/u/OpenClawSupport)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 10:30pm UTC](https://community.openclaw.ai/t/nvidia-model-returns-401-even-though-openclaw-says-auth-is-configured/41/8 "2026-09-14T22:30:45Z")
That confirms the original 401 was the rejected NVIDIA credential. Retry the agent request. If the existing Gateway cached the old credential, restart that single Gateway once, then test again.