Mac mail google authentication failed

The frustration of authentication issues!

When you encounter "Google authentication failed" in Mac Mail, it's usually due to a misconfiguration or a temporary issue. Here are some troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the problem:

  1. Check your Google account settings:
    • Ensure that your Google account is set up correctly in Mac Mail. Go to Mail > Preferences > Accounts > [Your Google Account] > Authentication.
    • Verify that your Google account password is correct and up-to-date.
  2. Enable Less Secure Apps:
    • Go to your Google Account settings (https://myaccount.google.com/) > Security > Less secure app access.
    • Enable "Allow less secure apps: YES" to allow Mac Mail to access your Google account.
  3. Generate an App Password:
    • Go to your Google Account settings (https://myaccount.google.com/) > Security > Signing in to Google > App passwords.
    • Generate a new App Password for Mac Mail.
    • Enter the generated App Password in Mac Mail's Authentication settings (Mail > Preferences > Accounts > [Your Google Account] > Authentication).
  4. Check your Mac Mail settings:
    • Ensure that your Mac Mail is set up to use IMAP or POP3. You can do this by going to Mail > Preferences > Accounts > [Your Google Account] > Account Settings.
    • Verify that your Mac Mail is configured to use the correct server settings (imap.gmail.com or pop.gmail.com).
  5. Disable two-factor authentication (2FA):
    • If you have 2FA enabled on your Google account, try disabling it temporarily to see if it resolves the issue.
  6. Reset your Mac Mail account:
    • Go to Mail > Preferences > Accounts > [Your Google Account] > Advanced.
    • Click "Reset" to reset your account settings.
  7. Check for updates:
    • Ensure that your Mac Mail and Google account are up-to-date.
  8. Try a different email client:
    • If none of the above steps work, try using a different email client, such as Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird, to see if the issue persists.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, you may want to reach out to Google Support or Apple Support for further assistance.