Gmail using Windows Live Mail after May 30, 2022

Anonymous
2022-03-19T13:57:32+00:00

Can someone tell me how to set up to use Windows Live Mail for Gmail after the May 30, 2022 Gmail changes. There is something I have read about "app passwords" which sounds a lot like what Yahoo has done. I have about 75 clients who use WLM. Most of them have Gmail accounts.

I would rather not have to switch to a different mail client.

I would appreciate very much if someone could provide a step by step how to. I suspect there are several millions others like us.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Email and communications

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Anonymous
2022-06-02T16:15:42+00:00

Here's the procedure outlined by Kevin, as an edited quote, derived from several of his messages:

"Came across a work around which I hope will keep working come June 1st.

You need to go into your Google account and it is under Security. Turn on "2 Step Authentication" for each Gmail account and then add an App Password for WLM. You just need to generate the App Password from Google Security and then use that when you update your email ie send/ receive in your WLM. When you update your email ie send/ receive in WLM it will prompt you for this password instead of your Gmail password. The option to turn on/off Less Secure Apps in my security settings disappeared once I turned on 2 Step Authentication."

And here's the link to the YouTube video which provides the same procedure, one that has worked for a lot of us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-SqaEmSjAc

 .

As a matter of fact, one additional YouTube video has also sprung up which provides the same solution. That one is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKLZBNlhrQs

 .

The previous version of this message also linked to a third video which I thought MIGHT also have a good solution but IT DID NOT. Which is why I've removed that third link. Specifically, you can NO LONGER ACCESS GMAIL if you are using the Less Secure Apps option in the Gmail security settings. Sorry about that.

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-05-31T01:25:28+00:00

    I have tried so many time, even reducing the number of folders but it still does not work. I am running WLM 2011 on Windows 7.

    I also have WLM 2012 working on Windows 11 which is where I need to Import my Storage Folders to.

    I am now giving this ago copying All folders. Working so far but I do not need all the folders.

    Will see how I go

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-05-31T01:08:48+00:00

    There is a way to transfer WLM completely from one Win7 installation to another. I do not know if it will work to another OS.

    Go to the storage folder for WLM: C:\Users\GiveM\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail

    1. Copy the entire folder. to a backup
    2. In the new system, once WLM is installed and before you have populated it with anything:
    3. Start WLM and then close it without doing anything
    4. Open the WLM folder that was created on the new machine
    5. Delete the entire contents of that folder. Do not delete the folder itself
    6. Go to your backup copy of that folder
    7. Copy the contents (not the folder itself) into the new installation folder that you just emptied.
    8. Start WLM and about 99% of the time the entire content of your old WLM will be there.

    I have had instances where the Contacts did not get copied but if you are doing a proper backup, you can import from there.

    I have also seen instances where Storage folders did not transfer. Again, if you are doing a proper backup, you can restore those folders from your backup selectively.

    This technique always copied the calendar

    There is no way to backup Categories

    I have been supporting WLM for years on hundreds of PCs. This works.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-05-31T01:07:15+00:00

    Thanks. I'll refer to this when I decide it's time to make the purchase. Still not sure if I'll be going for another laptop or whether I'll for a smaller format, like a Surface Pro or something like that.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-05-31T00:57:28+00:00

    It is quite possible WLM will not be compatible with another Windows OS version.

    WLM has a message export system built in. How to backup WLM

    1. Open Windows Live Mail
    2. On the bottom left of that window, click the third icon, contacts
    3. In the Contacts window, click Export, then Comma Separated Values
    4. Click Browse and find your external drive and the folder for today’s backup.
    5. In the File name box, type yourname contacts today’s date
    6. Click Save
    7. Click Next
    8. Make certain there is a checkmark in every box, select every contact item in the list
    9. Click Finish
    10. Wait for that to finish
    11. Click the first icon on the bottom left – Mail
    12. Click the  on the top left of the window
    13. Select Export mail, email messages, Microsoft Windows Live Mail, Next
    14. Click Browse
    15. Find your external drive and the folder you created for today’s backup
    16. Click Make New Folder
    17. Type yourname backedup mail today’s date
    18. Click OK
    19. Click Next, Next
    20. You will now wait a bit while this copying takes place

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