Google e-mail OAuth2 authorisation - "remove and re-add your account" question

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Level 1

4 points

Google e-mail OAuth2 authorisation - "remove and re-add your account" question

Hello all.

Dumb question time, I'm afraid...bear with me!

I'e had a few messages from Google that they are updating their security protocols to OAuth2, and my two Google accounts are currently on Apple Mail using IMAP, which they say will not work from the end of September. Their advice is to "remove and re-add your account."

I'm running OS 10.14.6 on a late 2012 iMac 27", and running Mail 12.4. I've got e-mails on the iMac dating back to the beginning of the century (yes, I know) on my two Google accounts.

It's been a while since I did anything e-mail related (late 2012, as it happens) so I'm a bit in the dark. Can I export the relevant accounts' various mailboxes on my iMac (inbox, sent etc) as mbox files, remove the accounts, re-add the accounts to Mail with the OAuth2 authorisation and then re-import the various mbox files so I keep all my messages on my iMac?

Thanks, Simon

Earlier Mac models

Posted on Jul 29, 2024 10:51 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

BDAqua

Level 10

250,619 points

Jul 29, 2024 3:57 PM in response to Whalton

Yes, but if they're IMAP accounts no need to export, just have a backup or two as always.

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

250,619 points

Jul 30, 2024 8:34 AM in response to Whalton

Auth2 would only work if you upgraded to like Sonoma I think, other than that Auth2 is with an App PW...

Mail and Google's OAuth 2.0 policy

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254696428?answerId=260216019022&sortBy=oldest_first#260216019022

Fix…

https://code2care.org/macos/fix-mail-authorization-error-400-invalid-request/

Mac's Mail App is not as modern as iOS's Mail app, Many eMail providers now require a separate App Password different from your eMail password…

If it's an IMAP account, delete it in Sys Prefs Internet Accounts then use "Other" instead of gMail choice to add it.

Most likely biggest factor is using Other in Mail setup, then using a Browser that doesn’t have gMail PW stored init to get the App PW.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255332568?answerId=259925986022&sortBy=oldest_first#259925986022

But are you getting & sending eMail OK?

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Answer 3

Whalton Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 30, 2024 8:17 AM in response to Whalton

Okay, faint heart never won fair lady as the saying goes, so I just gave it a go.

It's re-imported all my Inbox, Sent, Junk and Trash folders okay.

Under Mail's Preferences it has *****@**********.co.uk with a Google logo and IMAP under it.

Under Account Info it has:

Incoming Mail Server: imap.gmail.com

SSL: On

Outgoing Mail Server: smtp.gmail.com

SSL: On

Has it worked properly and upgraded to OAuth2, and how would I be able to tell?

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Answer 4

Whalton Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 30, 2024 8:52 AM in response to BDAqua

The e-mail's working fine, and has been, but I wanted to get ahead of the September 30th cut-off so thought I'd get it done sooner rather than later. I did think about waiting until a couple of days before that to do it - glad I didn't!

Thanks for the link, by the way. Looks like a fix, but I'll read carefully through it and leave it for a couple of days while I get some other stuff out of the way first.

I've been looking at upgrading to a Mac Mini M2, so maybe this may help me make my mind up!

Thank you once more for your help with this - it's very much appreciated.

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