Authentication provider disabled SharePoint 2010

While doing some deployments today, there was necessity to check the authentication provider section in central administration but unfortunately this section is greyed out or you can call it as disabled.

Problem description:

1)   Authentication provider is disabled in Central Administration

2)   Authentication provider is greyed out in Central Administration

Error Message:

This control is currently disabled.

Make sure you have right mode of access / the exact credentials by which you can access the Central Administration / login to the server with SharePoint domain admin rights.

Make sure you are trying to open the central administration in IE and not in any other browser.

There are two resolutions are available to access this path:

Resolutions:

Resolution#1:

1)   Login to the server-shift+right click on IE

2)   select ‘Run as a Administrator’

3)   Try opening the CA now and

4)   check the authentication provider section

5)   it should be enabled now.

Resolution#2: This will be workaround- follow these steps:

1)   Open the Central Administration

2)   Security

3)   Specify authentication providers

Product applies to:

-SharePoint Server 2010

-SharePoint Foundation 2010

Reference:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc709691%28WS.10%29.aspx