Changing Gmail passwords in Outlook Classic.

Question

I used Outlook Classic for my main email addresses and also the ones that Google has set up using Gmail. Recently one of the Gmail accounts needed a new password, but I can't change it in Outlook.

Clicking on the email address, I select Account Properties, then Account Settings, then Server Settings to get my IMAP Account Settings. This contains my User name, the Server & Port, Encryption method but no entry for password. What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

Hi,

Thank you for sharing your question. I understand how confusing it can be to open the account settings and find that there is no password field anywhere, especially when you simply want to update a password that Google required you to change. This happens because Outlook no longer stores or updates Gmail passwords directly within the IMAP account settings, since Gmail requires secure OAuth authentication instead of a manual password entry. When a Gmail password changes, Outlook must be re‑authenticated through Google’s sign‑in prompt rather than edited through the account’s server settings window.

To resolve this, the simplest approach is to remove the Gmail account from Outlook Classic and then add it back, which prompts the Google sign‑in window where you can enter your new password. During the re‑add process, Google will guide you through signing in with the updated password and granting permission for Outlook to access your mail and calendar. This method securely refreshes your authentication token, which Outlook depends on instead of a locally stored password. If you are using two‑factor authentication or app passwords, Google will also provide the appropriate steps during the sign‑in flow.

Before moving forward, may I ask whether your Gmail account uses two‑step verification or if Outlook ever displayed a Google login window when you originally set it up? I’m here to help you complete the process, so please feel free to follow up with any details or questions as you try these steps.”

 

I hope this helps.

 

Best Regards,

Noel

Answer 2

In classic Outlook the Gmail password is not edited directly in the IMAP Server Settings dialog. The password must first be changed with Google, and then Outlook will prompt for the new password (or app password) when it next connects.

For Gmail accounts specifically, there are two key points:

1. Change the password with Google first
   • Go to the Google account and change or reset the password there. Guidance is in Google’s help: Google Account Help: Change or reset your password.
   • If the account uses 2‑step verification, an app password may be required for Outlook instead of the normal Google password. In that case, generate an app password in the Google account security settings and use that in Outlook.
2. Let Outlook update the stored password
   • After the password (or app password) is changed with Google, start Outlook Classic.
   • Outlook will attempt to connect to Gmail and should prompt for a password.
   • Enter the new Google password or the generated app password when prompted.
   • Outlook then stores the updated password internally; it does not show it in the IMAP Server Settings screen.

If Outlook does not prompt automatically, remove and re-add the Gmail account in classic Outlook using File → Add Account, and when prompted for the password, enter the new password or app password.

If classic Outlook repeatedly prompts for a password, verify that the correct full Gmail address is used as the username and that the password or app password is correct. If the Gmail password was changed recently, ensure it has been updated in Outlook as described above.

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References:

• Change or update your email password in Outlook for Windows
• Troubleshoot Outlook email setup
• Add an email account to Outlook for Windows
• Updating your email account password.
• Change or update email password on Outlook for Mac
• gmail accounts no longer working in outlook classic - Microsoft Q&A
• search for solutions another user has found - Microsoft Q&A