Error Handling - Auth0 Next.js SDK

The Auth0 Next.js SDK uses a hierarchical error class system for consistent error handling. All errors extend from the base SdkError class and include a code property for programmatic error identification.

Error Handling Pattern

Use error codes, not instanceof:

import { AccessTokenError, AccessTokenErrorCode } from "@auth0/nextjs-auth0/errors";

try {
  const { token } = await auth0.getAccessToken();
} catch (error) {
  if (error.code === AccessTokenErrorCode.MISSING_SESSION) {
    // User is not authenticated
    redirect("/auth/login");
  } else if (error.code === AccessTokenErrorCode.MISSING_REFRESH_TOKEN) {
    // No refresh token available
    console.error("Cannot refresh token - user must re-authenticate");
  }
}

Base Error Class

SdkError

Base class for all SDK errors.

abstract class SdkError extends Error {
  public abstract code: string;
}

Properties:

code: Unique error code for programmatic identification
message: Human-readable error description
name: Error class name

OAuth and Authorization Errors

OAuth2Error

Errors from Auth0 in the redirect_uri callback that may contain reflected user input.

Security: Do not render error or error_description properties without properly escaping them to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.

try {
  await auth0.handleCallback(request);
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof OAuth2Error) {
    // Sanitize before displaying to users
    console.error(`OAuth error [${error.code}]:`, error.message);
  }
}

Properties:

code: OAuth error code from Auth0
message: Error description

DiscoveryError

Code: discovery_error Thrown when OpenID Connect discovery fails.

try {
  const auth0 = new Auth0Client({ domain: "invalid-domain" });
} catch (error) {
  if (error.code === "discovery_error") {
    console.error("Failed to discover OIDC configuration");
  }
}

MissingStateError

Code: missing_state The state parameter is missing from the callback.

InvalidStateError

Code: invalid_state The state parameter in the callback is invalid or doesn’t match.

InvalidConfigurationError

Code: invalid_configuration The SDK configuration is invalid or incomplete.

try {
  const auth0 = new Auth0Client({}); // Missing required config
} catch (error) {
  if (error.code === "invalid_configuration") {
    console.error("Invalid SDK configuration:", error.message);
  }
}

AuthorizationError

Code: authorization_error An error occurred during the authorization flow. Properties:

cause: The underlying OAuth2Error

try {
  await auth0.handleCallback(request);
} catch (error) {
  if (error.code === "authorization_error") {
    console.error("Authorization failed:", error.cause?.message);
  }
}

AuthorizationCodeGrantRequestError

Code: authorization_code_grant_request_error Error occurred while preparing or performing the authorization code grant request.

AuthorizationCodeGrantError

Code: authorization_code_grant_error Error occurred while exchanging the authorization code for tokens. Properties:

cause: The underlying OAuth2Error

BackchannelLogoutError

Code: backchannel_logout_error Error occurred during backchannel logout request processing.

BackchannelAuthenticationNotSupportedError

Code: backchannel_authentication_not_supported_error The authorization server does not support backchannel authentication.

try {
  await auth0.backchannelAuthentication(params);
} catch (error) {
  if (error.code === "backchannel_authentication_not_supported_error") {
    console.error("Enable CIBA in Auth0 Dashboard:", error.message);
  }
}

BackchannelAuthenticationError

Code: backchannel_authentication_error Error when using Client-Initiated Backchannel Authentication. Properties:

cause: The underlying OAuth2Error (optional)

Access Token Errors

AccessTokenError

Errors related to access token retrieval or refresh. Error codes:

Code	Value	Description
`MISSING_SESSION`	`missing_session`	User session not found
`MISSING_REFRESH_TOKEN`	`missing_refresh_token`	No refresh token available for refresh
`FAILED_TO_REFRESH_TOKEN`	`failed_to_refresh_token`	Token refresh request failed

import { AccessTokenError, AccessTokenErrorCode } from "@auth0/nextjs-auth0/errors";

try {
  const { token } = await auth0.getAccessToken();
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof AccessTokenError) {
    switch (error.code) {
      case AccessTokenErrorCode.MISSING_SESSION:
        redirect("/auth/login");
        break;
      case AccessTokenErrorCode.MISSING_REFRESH_TOKEN:
        console.error("Re-authentication required");
        break;
      case AccessTokenErrorCode.FAILED_TO_REFRESH_TOKEN:
        console.error("Token refresh failed:", error.cause);
        break;
    }
  }
}

Properties:

code: Error code from AccessTokenErrorCode
cause: The underlying OAuth2Error (optional)

AccessTokenForConnectionError

Errors related to access tokens for specific connections. Error codes:

Code	Value	Description
`MISSING_SESSION`	`missing_session`	User session not found
`MISSING_REFRESH_TOKEN`	`missing_refresh_token`	No refresh token for connection
`FAILED_TO_EXCHANGE`	`failed_to_exchange_refresh_token`	Failed to exchange refresh token

import { AccessTokenForConnectionError, AccessTokenForConnectionErrorCode } from "@auth0/nextjs-auth0/errors";

try {
  const token = await auth0.getAccessTokenForConnection("google-oauth2");
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof AccessTokenForConnectionError) {
    console.error(`Connection token error [${error.code}]:`, error.message);
  }
}

Properties:

code: Error code from AccessTokenForConnectionErrorCode
cause: The underlying OAuth2Error (optional)

CustomTokenExchangeError

Errors during custom token exchange operations. Error codes:

Code	Value	Description
`MISSING_SUBJECT_TOKEN`	`missing_subject_token`	Subject token is missing or empty
`INVALID_SUBJECT_TOKEN_TYPE`	`invalid_subject_token_type`	Invalid subject token type URI
`MISSING_ACTOR_TOKEN_TYPE`	`missing_actor_token_type`	Actor token provided without type
`EXCHANGE_FAILED`	`exchange_failed`	Token exchange request failed

import { CustomTokenExchangeError, CustomTokenExchangeErrorCode } from "@auth0/nextjs-auth0/errors";

try {
  await auth0.customTokenExchange(params);
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof CustomTokenExchangeError) {
    console.error(`Token exchange error [${error.code}]:`, error.message);
  }
}

Properties:

code: Error code from CustomTokenExchangeErrorCode
cause: The underlying OAuth2Error (optional)

DPoP Errors

DPoPError

Errors during DPoP (Demonstrating Proof-of-Possession) operations. Error codes:

Code	Value	Description
`DPOP_JKT_CALCULATION_FAILED`	`dpop_jkt_calculation_failed`	Failed to calculate JWK thumbprint
`DPOP_KEY_EXPORT_FAILED`	`dpop_key_export_failed`	Failed to export public key to JWK
`DPOP_CONFIGURATION_ERROR`	`dpop_configuration_error`	Invalid DPoP configuration

import { DPoPError, DPoPErrorCode } from "@auth0/nextjs-auth0/errors";

try {
  const auth0 = new Auth0Client({
    useDPoP: true,
    dpopKeyPair: invalidKeyPair
  });
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof DPoPError) {
    switch (error.code) {
      case DPoPErrorCode.DPOP_KEY_EXPORT_FAILED:
        console.error("Invalid key format:", error.cause);
        break;
      case DPoPErrorCode.DPOP_JKT_CALCULATION_FAILED:
        console.error("JWK thumbprint calculation failed:", error.cause);
        break;
      case DPoPErrorCode.DPOP_CONFIGURATION_ERROR:
        console.error("Invalid DPoP configuration:", error.message);
        break;
    }
  }
}

Properties:

code: Error code from DPoPErrorCode
cause: The underlying error (optional)

MFA Errors

MfaRequiredError

Code: mfa_required Thrown when getAccessToken() requires MFA step-up authentication.

import { MfaRequiredError } from "@auth0/nextjs-auth0/errors";

try {
  const { token } = await auth0.getAccessToken({ audience: "https://api.example.com" });
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof MfaRequiredError) {
    // Redirect to MFA challenge page with encrypted token
    redirect(`/mfa?token=${error.mfa_token}`);
  }
}

Properties:

code: mfa_required
error: mfa_required
error_description: Error description from Auth0
mfa_token: Encrypted MFA token for use with MFA API methods
mfa_requirements: Available challenge/enrollment methods (optional)
cause: Underlying error (optional)

JSON serialization:

// Automatically serializes for HTTP responses
return Response.json(error, { status: 401 });
// Returns: { error: "mfa_required", error_description: "...", mfa_token: "..." }

InvalidRequestError

Code: invalid_request Request validation failed (missing or invalid parameters).

try {
  await mfa.verify({ mfaToken: "", otp: "123456" });
} catch (error) {
  if (error.code === "invalid_request") {
    return Response.json(error, { status: 400 });
  }
}

MfaGetAuthenticatorsError

Failed to list MFA authenticators.

import { MfaGetAuthenticatorsError } from "@auth0/nextjs-auth0/errors";

try {
  const authenticators = await mfa.getAuthenticators({ mfaToken });
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof MfaGetAuthenticatorsError) {
    console.error(error.error); // 'invalid_token', 'expired_token', etc.
    console.error(error.error_description);
    if (error.cause) {
      console.error("Auth0 API error:", error.cause);
    }
  }
}

Properties:

error: Auth0 error code
error_description: Error description
cause: Original Auth0 API error response (optional)

MfaChallengeError

Failed to initiate an MFA challenge.

import { MfaChallengeError } from "@auth0/nextjs-auth0/errors";

try {
  await mfa.challenge({
    mfaToken,
    challengeType: "oob",
    authenticatorId: "sms|dev_abc123"
  });
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof MfaChallengeError) {
    if (error.cause?.error === "invalid_authenticator_id") {
      console.error("Authenticator not found or not active");
    }
  }
}

Properties:

error: Auth0 error code
error_description: Error description
cause: Original Auth0 API error response (optional)

MfaVerifyError

MFA verification failed.

import { MfaVerifyError } from "@auth0/nextjs-auth0/errors";

try {
  await mfa.verify({ mfaToken, otp: "123456" });
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof MfaVerifyError) {
    if (error.cause?.error === "invalid_grant") {
      console.error("Invalid or expired verification code");
    }
  }
}

Properties:

error: Auth0 error code
error_description: Error description
cause: Original Auth0 API error response (optional)

MfaEnrollmentError

MFA enrollment failed.

import { MfaEnrollmentError } from "@auth0/nextjs-auth0/errors";

try {
  await mfa.enroll({ mfaToken, authenticatorTypes: ["otp"] });
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof MfaEnrollmentError) {
    if (error.cause?.error === "unsupported_challenge_type") {
      console.error("Tenant does not support OTP enrollment");
    }
  }
}

Properties:

error: Auth0 error code
error_description: Error description
cause: Original Auth0 API error response (optional)

MfaNoAvailableFactorsError

Code: mfa_no_available_factors No MFA factors are available for challenge. This is an SDK-generated error with no Auth0 API equivalent.

MfaTokenExpiredError

Code: mfa_token_expired The MFA token has expired. The user must restart the MFA flow.

try {
  await auth0.completeMfaChallenge(mfaToken, code);
} catch (error) {
  if (error.code === "mfa_token_expired") {
    redirect("/auth/login?prompt=mfa");
  }
}

MfaTokenInvalidError

Code: mfa_token_invalid The encrypted MFA token is invalid or has been tampered with.

My Account API Errors

MyAccountApiError

Code: my_account_api_error Error from Auth0’s My Account API.

import { MyAccountApiError } from "@auth0/nextjs-auth0/errors";

try {
  await fetch("/me/v1/profile");
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof MyAccountApiError) {
    console.error(`${error.title}: ${error.detail}`);
    console.error(`Status: ${error.status}`);
    if (error.validationErrors) {
      error.validationErrors.forEach(e => {
        console.error(`  - ${e.field}: ${e.detail}`);
      });
    }
  }
}

Properties:

code: my_account_api_error
type: Error type
title: Error title
detail: Error detail
status: HTTP status code
validationErrors: Array of validation errors (optional)

ConnectAccountError

Error during account linking flow. Error codes:

Code	Value	Description
`MISSING_SESSION`	`missing_session`	User session not found
`FAILED_TO_INITIATE`	`failed_to_initiate`	Failed to initiate connect flow
`FAILED_TO_COMPLETE`	`failed_to_complete`	Failed to complete connect flow

import { ConnectAccountError, ConnectAccountErrorCodes } from "@auth0/nextjs-auth0/errors";

try {
  await auth0.connectAccount(connection);
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof ConnectAccountError) {
    console.error(`Connect error [${error.code}]:`, error.message);
    if (error.cause) {
      console.error("API error:", error.cause);
    }
  }
}

Properties:

code: Error code from ConnectAccountErrorCodes
cause: The underlying MyAccountApiError (optional)

Error Response Format

Many errors implement toJSON() for consistent HTTP response formatting:

try {
  await auth0.getAccessToken();
} catch (error) {
  if (error instanceof MfaRequiredError) {
    // Response.json() automatically calls toJSON()
    return Response.json(error, { status: 401 });
    // Returns:
    // {
    //   "error": "mfa_required",
    //   "error_description": "Multi-factor authentication required",
    //   "mfa_token": "encrypted-token",
    //   "mfa_requirements": { ... }
    // }
  }
}

Importing Errors

// Import from /errors path
import {
  SdkError,
  AccessTokenError,
  AccessTokenErrorCode,
  MfaRequiredError,
  InvalidConfigurationError,
  DPoPError,
  DPoPErrorCode
} from "@auth0/nextjs-auth0/errors";

Best Practices

Use error codes, not instanceof

Error codes are more reliable and work across module boundaries.

// Good
if (error.code === AccessTokenErrorCode.MISSING_SESSION) { ... }

// Avoid
if (error instanceof AccessTokenError) { ... }

Always sanitize OAuth2Error messages

OAuth errors may contain user input. Never render them directly.

if (error instanceof OAuth2Error) {
  // Sanitize before displaying
  const safe = escapeHtml(error.message);
}

Check error.cause for details

Many errors include a cause property with the underlying error.

if (error.code === AccessTokenErrorCode.FAILED_TO_REFRESH_TOKEN) {
  console.error("OAuth error:", error.cause?.message);
}

Use toJSON() for API responses

Errors with toJSON() are designed for HTTP responses.

return Response.json(error, { status: 400 });

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Resources

Documentation Index

​Error Handling Pattern

​Base Error Class

​SdkError

​OAuth and Authorization Errors

​OAuth2Error

​DiscoveryError

​MissingStateError

​InvalidStateError

​InvalidConfigurationError

​AuthorizationError

​AuthorizationCodeGrantRequestError

​AuthorizationCodeGrantError

​BackchannelLogoutError

​BackchannelAuthenticationNotSupportedError

​BackchannelAuthenticationError

​Access Token Errors

​AccessTokenError

​AccessTokenForConnectionError

​CustomTokenExchangeError

​DPoP Errors

​DPoPError

​MFA Errors

​MfaRequiredError

​InvalidRequestError

​MfaGetAuthenticatorsError

​MfaChallengeError

​MfaVerifyError

​MfaEnrollmentError

​MfaNoAvailableFactorsError

​MfaTokenExpiredError

​MfaTokenInvalidError

​My Account API Errors

​MyAccountApiError

​ConnectAccountError

​Error Response Format

​Importing Errors

​Best Practices

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Error Handling Pattern

Base Error Class

SdkError

OAuth and Authorization Errors

OAuth2Error

DiscoveryError

MissingStateError

InvalidStateError

InvalidConfigurationError

AuthorizationError

AuthorizationCodeGrantRequestError

AuthorizationCodeGrantError

BackchannelLogoutError

BackchannelAuthenticationNotSupportedError

BackchannelAuthenticationError

Access Token Errors

AccessTokenError

AccessTokenForConnectionError

CustomTokenExchangeError

DPoP Errors

DPoPError

MFA Errors

MfaRequiredError

InvalidRequestError

MfaGetAuthenticatorsError

MfaChallengeError

MfaVerifyError

MfaEnrollmentError

MfaNoAvailableFactorsError

MfaTokenExpiredError

MfaTokenInvalidError

My Account API Errors

MyAccountApiError

ConnectAccountError

Error Response Format

Importing Errors

Best Practices