Can't access password protected posts

Can you provide the address of the site (and a few protected posts) you’re having issues with? Moreover, are you really talking about protected posts (i.e., Publish > Password protected > Password > OK) or are you talking about htaccess protection for the whole site? The reason I ask is because you say the system prompts for both a username and a password. Where Password protected posts only ask for Passwords.

But, in regards to setting passwords, have you tried using different passwords? AND really simply ones (i.e., alphanumeric characters only) to rule out the underlying system not being able to handle special characters?

Yep, try this: https://www.alessandroavenali.com/portfolios/prima-comunione-2015-elisa/
Password: gattomatto

I’m talking about Publish > Password protected > Password > OK

Thank you!

I can only access it if I am logged in as an administrator.

Oh yes, I see what you mean.

Steps to reproduce:
1. Go to https://www.alessandroavenali.com/portfolios/prima-comunione-2015-elisa/
2. For Password, enter gattomatto
3. Click Submit

Result:
System prompts user with popup stating:

A username and password are being requested by https://www.alessandroavenali.com. The site says: "Limited!"

Expected Result:
User to see protected post.

Reproducible?
Always

Occurs:
– Mac Firefox 38.0.5 (cache cleared)

NOTES:
I’ll Google around a bit and see what I can find. The “Limited!” part is a really good clue!

You most certainly have a reproducible case. If possible, it would be a great idea to deactivate all your plugins and also, at the same time, switch to the default Twenty Fifteen (unmodified of course!) and try to reproduce the issue again.

I’ve done as you said.
All plugins off, switched to Twenty Fifteen, I also created a password-protected *page* instead of a portfolio (because 2015 doesn’t support my existing portfolios), but… nothing. I still get the authentication required message.
Honestly, yes, I thought it was a theme compatibility problem, but it seems this is not that case. ??

If you are truly dealing with a near default install of WordPress 4.2.2 with no active plugins and an unmodified Twenty Fifteen theme and still reproducing the issue then it’s time to look at your server setup. Most likely the best way to go is talk to your hosting provider. There could be some kind of incompatibility between WordPress and your server setup.

P.S., Have you reviewed your htaccess file and made sure something odd isn’t going on there? Oh, and have you ever been able to Password protect a WordPress post or page while using your current hosting provider? And, if so, what version of WordPress were you running at the time?

Good tips… maybe the last time it happened a couple of years ago.
I will look into the server.

Ok, I spotted the issue.
I forgot I am using a “security option” in my .htaccess file to prevent spamming.
Basically I am password-protecting the use of “wp-login.php”, so that spammers cannot authenticate themselves. The problem is that the same file is used by the posts/pages password-protection feature.
Unfortunately.