Apple Mail refuses to accept my password for Gmail account

You don't have to turn off the step 2 verification

Click on the link and it explains further.....

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185833

I had the same problem... Every time I tryed to enter my password it said it was incorrect. I deleted the account tried to add it again still didn't work. Later I realized it started when I set my step 2 verification with google.

So I was about to turn it off when I ran into this.......

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185833

....helped a lot hope it works for some of y'all too :)(:

I tried a million things (maybe just under) and THIS is what finally worked. I did have 2-step verification on. Took it off and PRESTO! THANKS, STEVE!

EDITED slightly 🙂

Log onto Gmail from your browser, go to the "gear" icon, click Settings, click Accounts, click Change account settings, click Change password recovery options, then put in your password again at the resulting verification window, and turn off secondary verification via text in the ensuing windows.

WOW! WOW! WOW! Thank you, thank you, thank you Tim. I have been struggling with this for weeks, scared to try any of the hitech fixes that are out there. This is just like Steve Jobs woulkd have solved the problem...it is always the simplest thing. YES!!!!!!!! Thank you.

First - I am working on my iMac only - no other Apple devices. I suspect some of the discussion on this question may involve other computers, tablets, phones....

I thought my problem was similar to this, but now I'm not certain. Yes, I keep getting requests to enter my password even though I can log directly into my gmail account from my browser using that password. I followed the suggestions to change the two step verification process - although I don't see prompts like that in my version of google. (But then, I am resisting the change to google+ as I can't see what + I would be getting. Not for discussion here, please.)

However, when I check Mail/Preferences/Accounts I find that two of my outgoing servers are offline. Message reads

Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP): xxxgmail (offline)

I can't find any place to put it online.

I've taken all accounts offline and then put them back on line. Those two are still offline.

I've sent myself various test emails from one account to another. Those sent TO the accounts with the servers offline are fine. Those I try to send FROM the accounts with the servers offline offer me a list of the three servers that are associated with my mail app and indicates the two that are offline.

Any ideas?

OK - here's a wierdie. Decided to look for outgoing server problems on the forum as I decided that was really the problem. Checked the forum and found convoluted solutions from 2008 that suggested backing up the entire mail file, deleting everything and starting over as well as a set of instructions from a phone chat with Apple (circa the sam date).

I decided to work that route and also plugged into Google's instructions on how to set up an IMAP account. Everyone said change the port setting. When I did that it just timed out on that port. So, I took my courage in both hands, wrote down all the information there was about the first of the two servers to stop workiing and deleted it.

Once I had re-created the same ??&^%$#!! email account with NO changes and saved it, BOTH servers were back on line.

Anyone who has an explanation for what has been going on that does not include the current snowstorm, visiting aliens or the cat walking on the keyboard will probably get a prize!

But seriously, does anyone have any idea why two accounts that have worked perfectly for over a year should suddenly cease to send? I would really not like to go through this again.

I was away for the weekend and left the computer turned off and unplugged, as I usually do when I'm away. Surge protector extensions do not really protect when there is an electricity junction box about a hundred yards away; a sitting target for a lightning strike. Better safe than sorry. And if that were the cause it should have happened five or six times already.

Well, thanks for any suggestions. And if this helps the next poor soul who has been visited by the same poltergeist then it will not have been in vain.

I kept being prompted for my password and also realized that I had two weeks of important emails that were never sent! They were just sitting in my outbox. After trying everything I have read on the web, Captcha, making sure 2-step verification was not on, checking settings, praying to 1000 different gods, sacrificial slaughter....nothing worked.

Then, on a whim, I changed the outgoing port for my smtp.gmail.com to "custom port" 465, even though 465 is included in the "use default port" list. Then reentered my password. I have no idea why this would work, but it stopped asking for my password and me email was sent! It's worth a try.

This sounds like what I am experiencing! Incoming works on Mac Air and iPad both. Outgoing works on iPad but not of Mac Air. It keeps asking for password - which I've changed so often due to this problem that I can no longer remember it. Says all accounts are offline even though incoming works. EXCEPT sometimes (not always) if I go to the 'Mailboxes' menu to go online, it's not an option. And yes, I had already long ago disabled the 2 step verification.

Wonder why Mac Air (Mountain Lion) has trouble while iPad does not!

Witness (at the same time):

Where do you change the outgoing port to custom port? Or 465? I find a place to change the incoming (although it doesn't say custom) but not for outgoing.

You might want to consider starting a new discussion. Since this one is marked solved, less people are likely to look at it. You can link to this one.

Mail/Preferences/Accounts/Outgoing Mail Server (SMPT)/Edit SMPT Server List - select the account and the Advanced tab.

Thanks, my problem is solved. But for people with similar problems I'd like to share that in my case it was a problem with the key chain file. It was getting plugged up with ex passwords and google was apparently homing in on them. One more thing to check!

I am using OS 10.10.1.

I started getting requests for password, constantly. I deleted my gmail account and tried to reinstall. It will let me add the Internet account, but Mail App will not add a Gmail account. I get the dialog box and complete but on "continue", the empty box returns. I have gone through to make some minor adjustments that I found on the net regarding storing drafts to no effect. Suspect latest OS update, my external drives drop out on "sleep" making back-up difficult. LaCie says Apple working on patch.

I had the same problem and had made some security changes on Google. There is a setting that you can click on that says "access to less secure apps." Make sure that is turned to on or allowed. I tried entering my account in to Mac Mail after that and didn't have a problem.

Oh thank the LORD!!! I turned the security setting "access to less secure apps" to "OFF" and I was finally able to connect my 2nd gmail acct to my apple mail.

In case you need more specific instructions: go to gmail in browser - go to settings - accounts and import tab - change account settings - other Google Account Settings - connected apps and sites

Scroll down to the bottom of page to locate the "access to less secure apps"

Hope this helps! It sure helped me.

Yes! It is a google issue, they are so rapacious in their gobbling up of whatever of yours they can. I'm changing my Apple ID