Cannot link gmail account to iMac

I am trying to solve a problem that has just occurred on a mac that was running ok previously.

my partner has a 2011 iMac running High Sierra 10.13.6

she was accessing her gmail account via the mail app quite happily until a couple of days ago when no emails were coming through. A check on gmail via browser showed that the account was working ok.

i deleted the account from mail app and then tried to reinstall via add account firstly as a google account and then as an other mail account. Each time I got the message 'unable to verify account name or password. in order to check that the problem was not with the google end of things I successfully added her gmail account to a MacBook Pro. In order to test the iMac I successfully added my gmail account to the mac. I have run disk utility and first aid ( or equivalent) I have restarted the router and the iMac. I am running out of ideas and all on line advice tends to suggest following procedure will solve problem!

had this been a first installation i possible could understand teething troubles however it has been running fine for many years. Any ideas? Thanks

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Sep 5, 2019 1:39 AM

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Posted on Sep 5, 2019 9:02 AM

Open Keychain Access in Utilities, then either check the Password under that item, change it, or delete it and start over.


Enter the part after the @sign in the search bar.


You may have duplicate or more entries in Keychain Access.


If using a browser to login via WebMail works it's not Name or Password, but likely old passwords interfering.


There''ll be at least 2 entries, maybe more.


The trouble is that Mac Mail almost always chooses the old Passwords if you don't change or get rid of the old ones.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 5, 2019 9:02 AM in response to parko58

Open Keychain Access in Utilities, then either check the Password under that item, change it, or delete it and start over.


Enter the part after the @sign in the search bar.


You may have duplicate or more entries in Keychain Access.


If using a browser to login via WebMail works it's not Name or Password, but likely old passwords interfering.


There''ll be at least 2 entries, maybe more.


The trouble is that Mac Mail almost always chooses the old Passwords if you don't change or get rid of the old ones.

Oct 5, 2019 1:27 PM in response to parko58

The mail app on my iMac (OS 10.14.6) seems to be faulty. First, I cannot install G-mail as a new account. Second, the mail jumps for about 45 seconds when I switch to it from another app. I thought another mail account caused the problem and I deleted it but the mail app still jumps and flutters. Can I delete the mail app and re-install it? Would that help? Any good ideas? John

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Cannot link gmail account to iMac

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