"Too many simultaneous connections" error with Gmail after SP2 update

Anonymous

Ever since updating to SP2, I regularly receive these errors from Outlook:

Mail could not be received at this time.

The server for account "Gmail" returned the error "[ALERT] Too many simultaneous connections. (Failure)." Your username/password or security settings may be incorrect. Would you like to try re-entering your password?

I'm connecting to my Gmail account via IMAP. As you would expect, re-entering my password as suggested by the error doesn't resolve the error and it continues to pop up every 10 seconds until I quit and re-lauch Outlook. I suspect it's something to do with the way this new version of Outlook handles multiple connections to the same IMAP server?

Is anyone else seeing this?

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

from Google

Too many simultaneous connections

If you have multiple users frequently accessing the same account or more than one IMAP client accessing Gmail at the same time, you may reach a connection threshold and receive the error message, 'Too many simultaneous connections.'

Gmail currently has a limit of 15 simultaneous IMAP connections per account.

Please note that your mail client may actually open multiple connections in the background. This means it's possible to reach a connection threshold simply by using only two mail clients to access the same account at the same time.

If you often use multiple mail clients or mobile devices with the same Gmail account, we recommend closing and/or signing out of any mail clients you're not actively using.

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Anonymous

Microsoft appears to have released an update that deals with this problem: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2721015

Specifically, MS says that:

<ul> <li>This update fixes an issue where some users who have IMAP accounts intermittently receive a “Too many simultaneous connections” error. A setting is now available to control the polling interval that Outlook uses with IMAP servers. To adjust this setting, select Tools, select Accounts, and then select Advanced for the IMAP account. The setting defaults to synchronize all lMAP folders every two minutes. </li></ul>

I updated MS Office on both my iMac and MacBook Air, and I didn't change the new default synchronization setting. The iMac only occasionally had this problem, and I cannot tell if the problem has gone away completely yet on that computer.

On my MacBook Air, I had resorted to deleting my Gmail accounts as I could access them via Apple Mail desktop application and I really didn't need Outlook functions with Gmail. I started to add back my Gmail accounts, but I was getting the error message again. I turned off synchronization of IMAP folder while my mail downloaded, and the error message went away. After all my old email was downloaded, I turned IMAP folder synchronization back on (at the default 2 minutes).

It seems to have solved the problem for the most part. If you still get the error message, GMail folders may still be synchronizing, so you might have to keep hitting "No" a while longer until everything is synchronized.

So, with all due respect, it looks like it was a Microsoft problem after all. Fortunately I didn't try that time-consuming, tortuous fix recommended earlier.

I'll post an update on whether this fix has continued to work.

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67 additional answers

Anonymous

2012-07-03T17:35:45+00:00

I'm having the same issue. This thread was started in April. It's July and there still is no solution. What's up with that??

I just received an official response from a Microsoft Senior Support Engineer acknowledging that it is a Microsoft problem. It doesn't mention that the last Service Patch from Microsoft was the culprit (it was), but It says:

Hi Steve,

It was my pleasure to assist you with this case. I am providing you with a summary of the key points of the case for your records. If you have any questions please feel free to call me; my contact information is listed below.

Based on our last communication, it appears that this case is ready to be closed. If this is premature or if you need additional assistance with this case XYZ, please let me know as soon as possible.

Thank you for choosing Microsoft.

Symptom:

Error message in Outlook 2011 “Mail could not be received at this time. The server for account “Gmail” returned the error “[ALERT] Too many simultaneous connections. (Failure).” Your username/password or security settings may be incorrect. Would you like to try re-entering your password?”

Cause:

This error occurs because of an IMAP connection limit imposed from the Gmail servers and the way Outlook 2011 is using IMAP connections to the server.

Resolution:

This is a known issue that Microsoft is currently working on. The anticipated date for release of this fix is the end of July, pending the completion of the fix and the applicable testing.

Since this is a known issue, I will close this case as we agreed with the understanding that you will not be charged for this incident.

Senior Support Engineer, Microsoft Office Support – Outlook | Microsoft Corporation
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Anonymous

2012-07-02T21:59:11+00:00

I'm having the same issue. This thread was started in April. It's July and there still is no solution. What's up with that??
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Anonymous

2012-06-25T20:13:11+00:00

I normally wouldn't chime in with a "me too", but if there is truly a question about how widespread the problem is let me weigh in:

ME TOO!

Started right after the SP2 update. Most of my troubleshooting started on the Gmail side of things but it has become clear that this is Outlook specific. Yes, I check my account with my phone, but one computer and one phone should not cause such chaos.
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