bitcoin-cli fails with auth error I run it like the below.

bitcoind -datadir=/Users/varunvb/Downloads -conf=/Users/varunvb/Downloads/bitcoin.conf -daemon


When I run (Using the user name and password as in the config file)

bitcoin-cli -rpcuser=&lt;USER&gt; -rpcpassword=&lt;PWD&gt; getinfo


I get 
error: incorrect rpcuser or rpcpassword (authorization failed)

I see the below in the debug log

ThreadRPCServer incorrect password attempt from 127.0.0.1


My bitcoin.conf file looks like this:

-e
rpcuser=&lt;USER&gt;
rpcpassword=&lt;PWD&gt;
bitcoin-cli can read rpcuser and rpcpassword out of your config file. Just run it like this:

bitcoin-cli -conf=/Users/varunvb/Downloads/bitcoin.conf -datadir=/Users/varunvb/Downloads getinfo


Also, remove the -e from your bitcoin.conf.