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

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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
    2022-06-02T13:47:49+00:00

    well... today (june 2) it happened.

    around 8am EDT all 8 of my gmail accounts which i have for many many years (and on purpose, nothing beats WLM for efficiency) retrieved thru WLM have been 'disconnected'. i get the "please enter password for your SMTP server..." message. and obviously the password being correct WLM doesn't connect to gmail anymore.

    i tried thunderbird in the past and hated it; WLM is much simpler, efficient, etc.

    so, should someone, anyone, have a solution now that google carried out it's threat of cutting us of i will be more than DELIGHTED to hear and follow detailed instructions.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-05-30T21:47:10+00:00

    My best guess is that they are having difficulty implementing this, and they are unlikely to publish anything about their problems. The fact that their declaration to stop email programs was so foggy illustrates how difficult this is for them to do.

    Do not draw any conclusions yet. Stay tuned. You have not seen the last of this yet.

    Google's prime motivation is to increase its ability to profile you and be able to increase advertising fees/revenue due to more precise ad placement. Their published rationale will strictly adhere to a security issue, but that is a smoke screen.

    I should add that ALL free email providers have the same motivation.

    This motivation is not going to go away because they are losing money on our use of Email programs.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-05-30T21:23:12+00:00

    Beautiful! Yes... incoming and outgoing same. Why can't someone come up with an email client as good as WLM?

    Cross your toes, please, as well as your fingers!

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-05-30T21:20:06+00:00

    You know what's crazy, CT? That GOOGLE would be so nonchallent about this. You have a business, I have a business... others here do too. We would never treat our clients with such a lack of concern/respect. It's Google. Big. Big money. They can't be more helpful or more forthcoming? Wow.

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