Outlook 2016 repeatedly asking for Password for gmail account

Anonymous
2022-10-03T04:14:03+00:00

Today, I've had to clean re-install Windows 10 and, therefore, also had to re-install Office 2016.

Everything is working fine except that I can't configure Outlook to retrieve emails from my gmail account and have been browsing/searching the subject for hours.

Have had the same problem a few times before and solved it by changing the following gmail settings:

(i) to accept "less secure apps" (which option, by the way, is no longer available),

(ii) turn off "2-step verification".

Those settings have not been changed since, but Outlook is repeatedly asking for a password and I can't set up the account. I get the same result if I let Outlook configure the account or if I do it manually using the settings from the gmail page or via the mail link in Control Panel.

Have also checked that Microsoft apps & services has been given access to gmail.

The only new thing I found was this: https://accounts.google.com/DisplayUnlockCaptcha and I confirmed.

Question: Is this a Microsoft problem or a gmail problem . . . each not trusting the other's security?

Anyway, whichever it is, I would be most grateful for suggestions.

Many thanks in advance.

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For business

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Anonymous
2022-10-03T05:04:36+00:00

Hello JohnTCI

Hi, I'm Karl and will be happy to help you today.

What you need to do is enable 2 factor authentications on your Gmail account and then generate an <App Password> to be used as the password or the email account in Outlook. This is a Google change that took effect June 1, 2022

Recap of steps

#1 - enable 2 factor authentication for the GMail account

Turn on 2-Step Verification

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1858...

#2 - generate a Google <App Password> for this account (do not turn off 2FA fter generating the <App Password>)

Sign in with App Passwords

https://support.google.com/mail/answer/185833?h...

#3 - Change the password in Outlook for the email account to use the <App Password> you generated in step #2 (suggest using copy ;n paste - the <App Password> is a contiguous 16 character string - no spaces)

*** for an account already configured in Outlook, to change the email account password

#4 - press CTRL+ALT+S to bring up the Send / Receive dialog

#5 - Select the <Group> (most people only have one) --> click on ,<Edit>

#6 - Select the GMail account --> click on <Account Properties>

#7 - paste the <App Password> for the email account password

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  1. Karl Timmermans 3,685 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2022-10-03T19:07:56+00:00

    I used to use POP access with Outlook 2010 because it was simpler to configure. When I moved to the later version with the 2 factor authentication the process seemed to force a move to IMAP as I went through re-establishing my account access in Outlook 2019.

    Just for the sake of accuracy for others reading this, the steps I outlined

    #1 - apply to all older versions of Outlook including '2010

    #2 - apply when the account is configured as a POP account in any Outlook version (new and old)

    In reference to being forced to use IMAP, that would happen if the account was configured by simply entering the email address / password for the account. Outlook will use IMAP by default.

    A POP account must be explicitly manually configured in versions of Outlook '2013 or later, Thats done by

    • clicking on <Advanced Options> under the email address box when adding an account
    • checking the box for "Let me set up my account manually"
    • click on <Connect>
    • select POP and proceed accordingly

    A new account can also be added using the Control Panel <Mail> app which will use the old account configuration UI

    ***note: you cannot configure the same email account twice in the same Outlook profile using different protocols (i.e. POP, IMAP) in Outlook '2013 or later

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-10-03T18:50:34+00:00

    John,

    It looks like what Karl suggests. I had similar problems this year when Google forced the 2 factor authentication to access my Gmail.

    Unlike you I only had Outlook 2010 which was not compatible with the changes to Gmail and had to update to Office 2019 Pro and a later Outlook version.

    The only other points I'd suggest you may need advice on depends upon how you access Gmail before with Outlook as you change things.

    I used to use POP access with Outlook 2010 because it was simpler to configure. When I moved to the later version with the 2 factor authentication the process seemed to force a move to IMAP as I went through re-establishing my account access in Outlook 2019. Ever since things have been a total nightmare and I can't get any images that are attached or embedded in in emails that are sent to me. I sincerely hope you fare better than me as that was back in June and still I cannot fix the setup. Of course Google won't help you and for MS there is only this forum and I tried again today to get a solution, but I have to say that I am not hopeful that I'll make it. I even thought of wiping my PC and starting again with a fresh windows 10 install but the lack of clear stepwise help for the likes of oldies like me with both Gmail and MS means I may simply have to quit using a PC and go back to posting letters.

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  3. Karl Timmermans 3,685 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2022-10-03T18:03:10+00:00

    You're welcome - glad to have been able to help

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-10-03T08:38:25+00:00

    Karl, many, many and profuse thanks . . . with fingers crossed it seems to be working, it's downloaded all the headers and is filling in the multitudinous emails.

    What is annoying is that only a short while before posting my problem I had read this: https://support.google.com/mail/answer/185833?hl=en , which says:

    Quote:

    Sign in with App Passwords

    **Tip:**App Passwords aren’t recommended and are unnecessary in most cases. To help keep your account secure, use "Sign in with Google" to connect apps to your Google Account.

    Unquote.

    So had decided not to try.

    Anyway, I can't thank you enough.

    With most kind regards and thanks again,

    John

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