Mac mail failed to authenticate with google

Frustrating! Don't worry, I'm here to help you troubleshoot the issue. Here are some steps to help you resolve the "Mac Mail failed to authenticate with Google" error:

Step 1: Check your Google account settings

  1. Go to your Google Account settings by clicking on your profile picture in the top right corner of the Google homepage.
  2. Click on "Security" and then "Signing in to Google".
  3. Make sure that "Less secure app access" is turned off. This setting helps prevent unauthorized access to your account.
  4. Also, ensure that "Two-Step Verification" is turned off or set up correctly. If you have 2SV enabled, you may need to generate an App Password (see below).

Step 2: Generate an App Password (if required)

If you have 2-Step Verification (2SV) enabled, you may need to generate an App Password to use with Mac Mail. To do this:

  1. Go to your Google Account settings (as above).
  2. Click on "Security" and then "Signing in to Google".
  3. Click on "App passwords".
  4. Select "Mail" as the app and "Other (Custom name)" as the device.
  5. Enter a name for the app password (e.g., "Mac Mail").
  6. Click "Generate".
  7. Note down the generated App Password.

Step 3: Update your Mac Mail settings

  1. Open Mac Mail on your Mac.
  2. Go to "Mail" > "Preferences" > "Accounts".
  3. Select your Google account from the list of accounts.
  4. Click on the "Account Information" tab.
  5. Enter your Google account email address and password (or App Password if you generated one).
  6. Make sure that the "Authentication" setting is set to "Password" or "App Password" (depending on your 2SV setup).

Step 4: Check your Mac Mail settings

  1. Go to "Mail" > "Preferences" > "Accounts".
  2. Select your Google account from the list of accounts.
  3. Click on the "Advanced" tab.
  4. Ensure that the "Use SSL" and "Use TLS" options are enabled.
  5. Also, check that the "Port" setting is set to 993 (IMAP) or 587 (SMTP).

Step 5: Try to re-authenticate

  1. Close and reopen Mac Mail.
  2. Try to send an email or check your email account to see if the authentication issue is resolved.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, you can try resetting your Mac Mail settings or seeking further assistance from Apple Support or Google Support.