imap.gmail.com is not responding

The IMAP error when authenticating Gmail usually means either Gmail’s IMAP is not enabled or the connection settings/auth flow are blocked.

Follow these steps:

1. Enable IMAP in Gmail
   1. In a browser, sign in to Gmail at Gmail.com.
   2. Select Settings (gear icon) > See all settings.
   3. Open the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
   4. Under IMAP access, select Enable IMAP.
   5. Select Save Changes.
2. Verify IMAP/SMTP settings in Outlook/Hotmail
   In the mail app where the Gmail account is added, make sure these server settings are used:
   • Incoming mail (IMAP) server: imap.gmail.com
     • Requires SSL: Yes
     • Port: 993
   • Outgoing mail (SMTP) server: smtp.gmail.com
     • Requires SSL: Yes
     • Requires TLS: Yes (if available)
     • Requires authentication: Yes
     • Port for SSL: 465
     • Port for TLS/STARTTLS: 587
   • Account name / username: full Gmail address
   • Password: current Gmail password (or app password if using that)
3. If adding Gmail into Outlook.com (connected accounts)
   New third‑party connections like Gmail are no longer supported in Outlook.com, and existing connected accounts no longer sync. In that case, Gmail will not work reliably as a “connected account” in Hotmail/Outlook.com. Use one of these options instead:
   • Add the Gmail account directly in the Outlook app (as a separate account), or
   • Use the Gmail app or web interface for that mailbox.

If IMAP is enabled in Gmail and the above server settings are correct, remove the Gmail account from the app and add it again using the Gmail option (not manual POP) so it can complete the Google sign‑in flow.

References:

• Fix problems connecting your Google account to the Microsoft Cloud
• Connected email accounts like Gmail and Yahoo not working in Outlook.com