How to add gmail to outlook

Question

I've got a client that none of his 3 Gmail accounts can send or receive in his Outlook. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling, and his accounts can't be added back in. He keeps getting an error, and I can't get around it.

Answer 1

For multiple Gmail accounts failing to send/receive and not being able to be added back into Outlook, use these steps depending on whether classic or new Outlook is in use.

1. Confirm Outlook is updated to a fixed build

• For classic Outlook, issues adding Gmail (errors like “browser or app may not be secure” or IMAP setup failures) were fixed in newer builds.
• Update Office/Outlook:
  • Open Outlook (or any Office app) → File → Office Account → Update Options → Update Now.
• For the specific “Sorry, we could not sign you in to Google – IMAP” error, ensure the version is at least Version 2008 Build 13127.20296 or later where this is fixed.

2. Enable optional connected experiences (classic Outlook) If the error is “Sorry, we could not sign you in to Google – IMAP. Please try again later.” when adding Gmail:
3. Open Outlook or another Office app.
4. Go to File → Office Account.
5. Under Account Privacy, select Manage Settings.
6. Check “Enable optional connected experiences”.
7. Restart Outlook and add the Gmail account again.
8. Use the new browser-based sign-in flow (classic Outlook) If seeing errors like “The browser or app may not be secure” or “We weren’t able to set up your Google account with IMAP. You may need to make changes to your Gmail settings.”:

• Make sure Outlook is on a channel/build that includes the fix where sign-in opens in an external browser:
  • Beta Channel: Version 2404 (Build 17531.10000)
  • Current Channel Preview: Version 2404 (Build 17531.10000)
  • Current Channel: Version 2404 (Build 17531.10000)
  • Monthly Enterprise Channel: Version 2407 (Build 17727.10000)
• After updating, remove any broken Gmail account from the profile if present, then add it again so Outlook uses the browser sign-in.
• If IMAP is disabled in the Gmail account, the error can also appear; Gmail’s own article Add Gmail to another email client explains the IMAP setting.

4. Add Gmail in new Outlook for Windows If using new Outlook for Windows, add each Gmail account as follows:
5. On the View tab, select View settings, or from the File tab, select Account info.
6. Select Accounts → Your accounts.
7. Choose Add account.
8. In the Suggested account dropdown, enter the Gmail address and select Continue.
9. Complete the Google sign-in prompts and, when asked, select Allow for Google permissions.
10. Repeat for each of the three Gmail accounts.
11. If accounts were removed and still fail to add

• After applying the fixes above (updates + optional connected experiences + correct channel), re-add each Gmail account:
  • Classic Outlook: File → Add Account → enter Gmail address → follow browser sign-in and ensure “Microsoft apps & services” is checked when granting Google consent.
  • New Outlook: use the Accounts → Your accounts → Add account flow described above.

If all three accounts fail in the same way, focus on:

• Ensuring Outlook is on a fixed build/channel.
• Enabling optional connected experiences (classic Outlook).
• Using the updated browser-based sign-in flow.

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References:

• Add a Gmail account to Outlook for Windows
• Unable to sign in or add a Gmail account to classic Outlook
• Unable to add a Gmail account to Outlook "Could not sign you in to Google"
• Unable to add a Gmail account to classic Outlook

Answer 2

Hello

Many users seem to have this issue recently. Microsoft is still investigating this issue. The current workaround is published here: https://support.microsoft.com/office/users-get-errors-0x800ccc0e-0x800ccc0f-synchronizing-gmail-and-yahoo-accounts-in-classic-outlook-e5a7b684-7c5c-4848-ab2d-d48291451f67