High Sierra gmail problem

This problem developed for me after I responded to a Google suggestion to improve my security - and add 2 factor id and not to use insecure apps. Google define 'insecure' to mean the app does not support 2 factor id - apparently Apple Mail does not! So persistent message: "Unable to verify account name or password."

Solution: get into Google, and search for "less secure apps access your account". Google supplies a password to use in Apple Mail - put this password in Mail/Preferences/Account; or in System Preferences/Internet Accounts and select Gmail. Then quit Mail and re-open Mail. (Or Restart your computer).

I found the problem and fix for this.
Apparently, Apple Mail may not be using SSL out of the box, and Gmail sees the login request as originating from "a less secure app" ... I received this email from Google shortly after trying to add my Gmail for business hosted email address to Apple mail.

After clicking on the "allowing access to less secure apps" link I was presented with this option. After selecting "On" I was able to successfully add an account for my Gmail address to my Apple Mac Mail.

Once the profile is established, then you can go into Apple Mail preferences (not Internet Accounts in System Preferences for some reason) and confirm that SSL is indeed on, by turning off "automatically manage connection settings" as documented here:

https://help.dreamhost.com/hc/en-us/articles/222597488-MacMail-How-to-make-chang es-to-an-existing-Mail-account

Even though Apple appears to have TLS/SSL turned on, Gmail sees the initial IMAP login as a "less secure app"

Hope this helps =)

Finally figured it out... After following all of the Apple troubleshooting tips, with Connection Doctor, updating password in server list, restarting, and (almost) deleting/recreating the Gmail account, it turns out that Gmail login/password used by Mail is (ignored) in Mail. You must go elsewhere to confirm your Gmail password.

Open System Preferences. Select Internet Accounts. Select the Gmail account (I know, you're not in Mail, but MacOS ignores the fact that it is just a Mail account)... It should prompt for the password, then Mail works. While they may have a reason to separate Gmail from, well, Gmail, at least make the "it's in System Preferences->Internet Accounts" more obvious, instead of all the historical troubleshooting that doesn't work (except deleting and re-adding your account)...

Your post made the difference for me, ending a lot of frustration. My account was working fine in the browser but kept getting the "Unable to verify account name or password" in Mail. The key when starting a new Gmail account in Mail was to select the Google mail account provider and configure it there as opposed to selecting "Other Mail Account...".

I had this problem too. I uninstalled/reinstalled the gmail account, and that didn't help. Then I went through the settings panels in gmail on the web and noticed that both imap and pop account services were turned off by Google. They must not like me - I'm not a droid phone user. Re-enabled them imap and pop and everything works fine now.

I had this problem too. I removed en reinstalled my gmail-account in the Mail-program, and now it works. Maybe relevant: I also changed the protocol from pop to IMAP, and removed some other inactive gmail-accounts in the accounts overview of Mail. For what it's worth.

It was frustrating me too. What finally worked was to delete All my email accounts. It was scary when they asked if I was sure I wanted to delete the GMail, because all the mail would be lost, but there was something to uncheck and that grayed out the warning. One of the accounts I had to delete was iCloud AND Google and some account for gaming with Apple (didn't know I even had it). THis had to be done in the Internet Accounts System Prefs Panel, but I did it in the Mail application and Mail referred me to that panel and even opened it for me. Very nice Apple. Then I started a new Gmail acct (in MAIL) by selecting Google (after having deleted it earlier, remember) and then I only typed my email address and password, and in came all the mail. Ahh!

I've had the same problem for months and even Apple was not able to fix it. Today i deleted my gmail passwords from my Keychain and everything is working fine. I was able to install Gmail with not problems.

Open Keychain and search for com.apple.account.Google.auth-token. Once you find it make sure you get info and if it is the correct Gmail account that you are having problems with and deleted from the keychain.

After, you can go ahead and install Gmail again.

I've had the same problem for months and even Apple was not able to fix it. Today i deleted my Gmail passwords from my Keychain and everything is working fine. I was able to install Gmail with no problems.

Open Keychain and search for com.apple.account.Google.auth-token. Once you find it make sure you get info and select the correct Gmail account that you are having problems with and deleted from the keychain.

You can go ahead and install Gmail again.

Thank you, that solved my problem! I tried various things and nothing worked, until I turned on "Allow less secure apps" in gmail's webmail. That solved the problem in Mail permanently.

Hi,

I had this and similar problems with Gmail on my Mac after reinstalling High Sierra the other day to get past various bugs I couldn't fix. For what it is worth, here is how I got it to work although I don't know how long I have before it goes down again.

I wasted time trying to configure my Gmail account in Apple Mail. I tried IMAP and POP. You all know how much time this takes with 2-step verification, increasingly complicated passwords etc etc. Irritating to say the least. At one point, I got a message saying Mail was not a trusted App. Obviously trying to get me to install the App on my Mac as on my iPhone. Anyway, I just stopped trying and quit Mail after configuring Gmail via the web to forward my mails. On a hunch, I went into System Preferences––with Mail turned off––and tried setting up Gmail.

It worked. I just opened Mail and my Gmail account is there although it doesn't seem to be recovering all the mails from the web server. But at least I can receive mails to that address on my Mac.

For anyone following this thread and still having this problem, nothing suggested here worked for me but I found my solution here (and I have no affiliation with this site whatsoever): http://simoncox.com/article/how-to-solve-the-apple-mail-unable-to-verify-account -name-or-password-issue

In short, if you re-enter the password on the Internet Accounts window, as opposed to the prompt window or even the Mail Preferences window, it should work. It worked for me anyway, when nothing else did. Fingers crossed that it sticks.

I've just solved this. May have been luck, but this is what I did.

I changed my google password as it was the same as my icloud. Not sure if that affects things but just in case. I then logged out of Google Drive. Removed passwords from keychain. Went into Google in My Account and removed Mac OS. Then I deleted every internet account I had on the Macbook.

Closed it down then I added the account through calendar, just as a calendar. Then when I went into Internet Accounts I could add in mail and so far it's working! I hope for good now!!

I had the same problem with an email account that I had set up through domain.com. The best solution is the one I found i this link:

http://simoncox.com/article/how-to-solve-the-apple-mail-unable-to-verify-account -name-or-password-issue

1. Close mail.

2. Open system settings

3. Click on Internet account

4. If a box pops up asking you to enter your password, click cancel

5. Enter your password in the password field (it will be blank).

That fixed my problem.

Good luck!