I can't add gmail account to the Mail app, yet Safari web access works

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Level 1

19 points

I can't add gmail account to the Mail app, yet Safari web access works

I reset my gmail password when I was notified of a suspicious connection attempt to my account.

Safari access to gmail works fine but suddenly the mail app can no longer access. So I deleted the gmail account from mail and tried to re-add it ... then the real misery started.

When adding via "System Pref", "Internet Accounts", "Google" I get a Safari pop-up for google authentication. This fails with the message "Google couldn't verify that this account belongs to you.

Try again later or go to https://g.co/recover for help."

Tried account recovery, safe mode boot, gmail password change via Safari access to google account.

This happens on macosx monterey 12.3.1 and the same behaviour on my iPhone IOS 15.4.1

So google has no problem with me accessing gmail by web but refuses access for the mail app on the same device.

Are there any hidden files somewhere that i can purge or hints to help me out?

Thanks

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Apr 26, 2022 1:18 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

ceraz Author

Level 1

19 points

Apr 27, 2022 5:50 AM in response to PRP_53

Thanks I tried all the points in that resource with no luck.

+ I don't use 2-step verification,

+ Working with a new password configured on google account using web access,

+ Tested webmail access from the iphone and Mac,

+ Removed google account from Mac and Iphone and tried to re-add

So on the iphone and Mac, I can sign into gmail via safari webaccess but not with the Mail app. It keeps looping with a failed verification and the recovery process brings me back to the same page.

Not sure if this is an Apple device or google issue

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Answer 2

PRP_53

Level 10

91,453 points

Apr 26, 2022 1:39 PM in response to ceraz

If Mail on your Mac keeps asking for your password

Specifically this portion from that link above

Why is Mail asking for your password?

Mail asks for your password when it is connecting to your email provider, but can't connect to your email account because your email provider isn't accepting your email password.

Your email provider may reject your password for several reasons, including:

You're not using your current email password. If you updated the password on another device, make sure that you're using the same password on your Mac.
Your email provider needs you to update or reset your password for security reasons. For example, if you're using Google’s two-step verification, your Gmail account in Mail requires the appropriate app-specific password.
Your email provider deactivated or suspended your account. Contact your email provider for help.

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Answer 3

ceraz Author

Level 1

19 points

May 11, 2022 3:07 AM in response to ceraz

It seems that I simply had to wait a while before being able to reconfigure the Mail app with the gmail account. I read a post whereby someone referred to a 7-day period for the google authentication procedure to fully reset itself.

I had something similar last year when Apple support had to recover my Apple Id and I had to wait a few days.

So I'm guessing, I faced a google constraint rather than an Apple mail app issue.

My curent status is that on iOS, I was able to reconfigure the mail app to access my gmail account. On the mac, I'm still having problems. When I add the account under settings, a safari pop-up window to launch google authentication remains empty with a spinning wheel.

So if you ever get stuck with google authentication when using the mail app and the tips in the apple support pages don't work ... a bit of patience might do the trick.

Cheers

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Answer 4

PRP_53

Level 10

91,453 points

Apr 27, 2022 6:23 AM in response to ceraz

Check in Keychain for Older Google Passwords and if there - remove.

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I can't add gmail account to the Mail app, yet Safari web access works

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