Title: “ERROR Webhook verification failed” Authorization error
Last modified: October 9, 2023

---

# “ERROR Webhook verification failed” Authorization error

 *  Resolved [alexliii](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alexliii/)
 * (@alexliii)
 * [2 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-webhook-verification-failed-authorization-error/)
 * Hello,
 * We found this error persist, here are what we did:
 * 1# Disconnect then onboard again, and Resubscribe webhooks.
 * 2# then, Webhook simulation is fine.
 * 3# But, when the “ERROR Webhook verification failed”, Authorization error persist,
   Same error in Sanbox mode.
 * 4# Here are Event logs in Paypal Developer Dashboard:
 * **Request**:
 * Screenshot: [https://prnt.sc/CoZiw0Nq_gvR](https://prnt.sc/CoZiw0Nq_gvR)
 *     ```wp-block-code
       {
   
       "additional_properties": "xxxxxx",
   
       "body": {
   
       "description": "Checking if reference transactions are enabled",
   
       "payer": {
   
       "payment_method": "PAYPAL"
   
       },
   
       "plan": {
   
       "merchant_preferences": {
   
       "cancel_url": "https://example.com/cancel",
   
       "return_url": "https://example.com/return",
   
       "skip_shipping_address": true
   
       },
   
       "type": "MERCHANT_INITIATED_BILLING"
   
       }
       ```
   
 * I** am quite curious why there are urls of [https://example.com/cancel](https://example.com/cancel),
   [https://example.com/return](https://example.com/return)**
 * **Response**:
 * Screenshot:
 * [https://prnt.sc/cj2eRZQkKX6m](https://prnt.sc/cj2eRZQkKX6m)
 *     ```wp-block-code
       "additional_properties": "xxxxxx",
   
       "body": {
   
       "debug_id": "24d97089fe3a9",
   
       "details": [
   
       {
   
       "message": "This merchant account is not permitted to create Merchant Initiated Billing Agreement",
   
       "name": "REFUSED_MARK_REF_TXN_NOT_ENABLED"
   
       }
   
       ],
   
       "information_link": "https://developer.paypal.com/webapps/developer/docs/api/#AUTHORIZATION_ERROR",
   
       "message": "Authorization error",
   
       "name": "AUTHORIZATION_ERROR"
       ```
   
 * Could you please let us know how to resolve the issue?
 * Thanks

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  Plugin Support [Syde Joost](https://wordpress.org/support/users/joostvandevijver/)
 * (@joostvandevijver)
 * [2 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-webhook-verification-failed-authorization-error/#post-17121553)
 * Hello [@alexliii](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alexliii/)
 * if both the live and sandbox accounts are showing the same behavior, I would 
   expect that there is a conflict with the plugins or an issue on the hosting platform.
 * You may want to perform a full conflict test to rule out eventual issues with
   the theme or a different plugin. We recommend temporarily activating the [default theme Storefront](https://wordpress.org/themes/storefront/)
   and disabling all other plugins except for WooCommerce and PayPal Payments to
   see if the behavior persists. Here’s a guide that explains the steps in more 
   detail: [How to test for conflicts](https://woocommerce.com/document/how-to-test-for-conflicts/).
 * For the hosting platform, you might want to ask the hosting provider to review
   their logs and see if they might be blocking the PayPal JSON webhooks.
 * If this issue is related to the sale of subscriptions, make sure the account 
   has got [Reference Transactions](https://woocommerce.com/document/paypal-reference-transactions/)
   activated. If that is not the case, it makes sense that these payments fail. 
   However, the error you shared, is common and does not always indicate the cause
   of a failure.
 * Kind regards,
   Joost
 *  Plugin Support [Syde Joost](https://wordpress.org/support/users/joostvandevijver/)
 * (@joostvandevijver)
 * [2 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-webhook-verification-failed-authorization-error/#post-17202901)
 * Hello,
 * Since we did not receive any response or follow-up questions from you, we will
   assume you got this working to your requirements. If you still have any more 
   questions for us, please open a new thread, because we will mark this one as 
   resolved.
 * Kind regards,
   Joost

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

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 * 2 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Syde Joost](https://wordpress.org/support/users/joostvandevijver/)
 * Last activity: [2 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-webhook-verification-failed-authorization-error/#post-17202901)
 * Status: resolved