# SQLITE\_AUTH (23) Error when using SQLCipher

**URL:** <https://discuss.zetetic.net/t/sqlite-auth-23-error-when-using-sqlcipher/6097>\
**Category:** SQLCipher FAQ\
**Created:** [September 19, 2023, 12:55am UTC](https://discuss.zetetic.net/t/sqlite-auth-23-error-when-using-sqlcipher/6097 "2023-09-19T00:55:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sjlombardo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.zetetic.net/sjlombardo/32/3_2.png) [@sjlombardo](https://discuss.zetetic.net/u/sjlombardo)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2023, 12:55am UTC](https://discuss.zetetic.net/t/sqlite-auth-23-error-when-using-sqlcipher/6097/1 "2023-09-19T00:55:49Z")

</div>

When using Commercial or Enterprise packages you must call `PRAGMA cipher_license` with a valid license code prior to executing cryptographic operations on an encrypted database.

Failure to provide a license code, or use of an expired trial code, will result in an `SQLITE_AUTH (23)` error code reported from the SQLite API (or an equivalent exception from the wrapping library). The general syntax follows:

```auto
PRAGMA cipher_license = 'OmNpZDowMDFHMDA...';

```

When you log into the customer [fulfillment site](https://license.zetetic.net/request-account/) as a customer, you will see your license license key at the top of the page, something like this:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/zetetic/original/2X/8/8df0a3f93e0476662a04ad224291c712d0dac908.png)

Trial licenses, [available prior to purchase](https://www.zetetic.net/sqlcipher/trial/), are valid for 15 days of testing.