MacBook Pro with El Capitan 10.11.6 Apple mail cannot connect to my accounts

Question

Gadsy Author

Level 1

4 points

MacBook Pro with El Capitan 10.11.6 Apple mail cannot connect to my accounts

I have El Capitan 10.11.6

I suddenly find that my apple mail no longer has any connected account, and I cannot re-connect to Google for Gmail.

Authorisation Error

Error 400: invalid_request

You can't sign in to this app because it doesn't comply with Google's OAuth 2.0 policy for keeping apps secure.

Are there things to try to rectify this easily or is my computer too old (I can't update any more than El Capitan).

The message popped up after I attempted to send a reply to an Email. (Could it be a bug?)

Any help appreciated. I've spent ages looking in Library at Mail folders.

Thanks

Gadsy

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 15″, OS X 10.11

Posted on Aug 30, 2023 9:22 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 31, 2023 2:33 AM in response to Gadsy

Google tightened up their security requirements. Now they won't let you use a "less secure" mail client (like those in old versions of macOS) unless you turn on two-step verification (stronger security) on your Google account, and then generate a dedicated app password for use by the "less secure" mail client.

There must be a dozen threads on the Apple Community boards about people who have run into OAuth errors when trying to use Mail in old versions of macOS, but they all seem to lead back to this.

Google Account Help – Less secure apps & your Google Account

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Answer 2

Gadsy Author

Level 1

4 points

Aug 31, 2023 12:10 PM in response to Servant of Cats

Thank you Servant of Cats.

Don't we all get fed up when these computers throw up issues which everyone has, and no real help is offered by the creators of these problems. I have read all of the suggestions posted and can't make head or tail of most of them.

Life was easier before computers, less stressful, and problems easily rectified by talking to another human. Today we are all stuck, glued to screens, taking days to deal with the everyday official needs which can no longer be dealt with by a simple phone call.

I give up on this issue. Can anyone tell me, in simple words, how to remove Gmail from my computer without removing it from my Iphone?

Sincere thanks

Gadsy

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Answer 3

Aug 31, 2023 4:47 PM in response to Gadsy

If you had g-mail working on more than one device (and it did not behave badly) then you were using IMAP protocol. With IMAP protocol, the master copy of each email is on the IMAP Server, until you ask for a copy to read, or tell the server to dispose of it.

The punch-line is that you dan't have 1700 emails on your computer, even if you have that many showing in your inbox.All are safely on the Server.

So the solution is:

write down the password for your gmail account. if you don't remember it, you may need to use a browser and log in and use their 'forgot my password' routine.

delete your gmail account

add your gmail account using the "Google" method shown in Internet accounts:

this'll do some weird tricks with a Browser window, and eventually you should end up logging in using google's Approved method.

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