classic Outlook and Gmail

Question

When I try to add my Gmail account to Classic Outlook it gives me an error message that it can't connect to Gmail. It never asks me for an app password or Gmail password or shows login with Gmail. I have wasted hours trying to fix this.

Answer 1

Follow these steps in order; they target the specific behavior where classic Outlook never shows a Gmail sign‑in or password prompt and just fails to connect.

1. Confirm classic Outlook is on a fixed build

• The Gmail sign‑in issues are fixed starting with Current Channel Version 2404 (Build 17531.10000) and later, and additional fixes exist in Version 2412 (Build 18324.20168) for the Gmail permission prompt.
• In Outlook, go to File > Office Account > About Outlook and confirm the version/build.
• If older, use Update Options > Update Now to get to a current build.

2. Use the built‑in Gmail add flow (not manual IMAP)

• In classic Outlook, select File > Add Account.
• Enter the Gmail address and select Connect.
• Outlook should open a Google sign‑in window in the browser.
• Sign in, then on the Google permissions page select Allow and ensure the permission “Read, compose, send, and permanently delete all your email from Gmail.” is checked for Microsoft apps & services.
• Finish the wizard and select Done.

If Outlook shows a “Something went wrong” error during this flow, select Retry and repeat the sign‑in as prompted.

3. If Outlook still never prompts for Gmail sign‑in: clear old Google auth and retry Use the documented manual workaround to force Outlook to re‑do the browser sign‑in.

Step 1 – Remove Microsoft apps & services access in Google

1. Close Outlook.
2. Sign in to the Google account at google.com.
3. Select the profile picture > Manage your Google Account.
4. Go to Security.
5. Under Your connections to third-party apps & services, select Microsoft apps & services.
6. Under Access you've given to Microsoft apps & services, select Remove all access, then Confirm.

Step 2 – Delete the Google IMAP credentials from Windows Credential Manager

1. Open Credential Manager from the Windows Start menu (or via Control Panel > Credential Manager).
2. Select Windows Credentials.
3. Under Generic Credentials, find entries starting with MicrosoftOffice16_Data:OAUTH2.
4. Expand each and hover over the name until the full name shows tp_google_imap_Oauth2.
5. For each Gmail‑related entry with MicrosoftOffice16_Data:OAUTH2, select Remove (there are typically two per Gmail account).

After these two steps:

• Reopen Outlook.
• If the Gmail account is still in the profile but not syncing, use the Sign in via browser bar in Outlook and, when the Google page opens, sign in and check the Microsoft apps & services Gmail permission box.
• If the Gmail account was removed, go to File > Add Account, enter the Gmail address, and complete the browser sign‑in again with the permission box checked.

4. If Outlook says you need an app password If Outlook ever shows a message like “Please create an app password for Outlook on your email provider's site,” follow the provider’s instructions to generate an app password and use that instead of the normal password when prompted in Outlook. For Gmail‑specific setup, use the guidance in the Gmail add‑account article.
5. If Outlook still never asks for any password at all For IMAP accounts where Outlook never prompts for a password, ensure Require logon using Secure Password Authentication (SPA) is unchecked on the IMAP details page. If that does not help, create the account again from Control Panel > Mail > Email Accounts > New, enter name, email, and password, and let Outlook complete the setup.

These steps reset the broken Gmail/Outlook trust, clear cached OAuth credentials, and force Outlook to use the fixed browser‑based Google sign‑in so the Gmail account can be added successfully.

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References:

• Unable to add a Gmail account to classic Outlook
• Add a Gmail account to Outlook for Windows
• Unable to sign in or add a Gmail account to classic Outlook
• Add an email account to Outlook for Windows
• Troubleshoot Outlook email setup