Easy And Effortless Solutions To Eradicate Gmail Authentication Error

If you are not an internet expert then the Gmail SMTP settings producer can be pretty confusing for you. And if you do not configure it properly, then you may encounter the Gmail Authentication Error while using it. 

The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is an application layer protocol. The client or application through which you want to send a mail needs to set a TCP connection to the SMTP server. Thus, this process allows you to send that email across the connection.

Now, while adding the Gmail account with an application or client, if you are encountering the Authentication Error, then follow this article to the end. Here, we have provided every possible solution to this error. 

But before navigating into the solution section we will suggest you have a look at the main problematic factors of this error

Prominent Causes of the Gmail Authentication Error

The main causes of the SMTP authentication error Gmail are explained below. This will help you to understand the error vividly and will also guide you to apply solutions in an effective way.

 Now, have a look at the provided information to know about the causes.

1. Your Gmail account credentials aren’t correct.
2. Incorrect values are provided in the Server and Port Number area.
3. Deactivated IMAP access.
4. The application in which you want to add your Gmail account is not secure enough for Google services.
5. The 2 step verification is turned On for the Google account.
6. Server related issues in the application and Google.

Now, you must have a brief idea about the causes of the Gmail Authentication Error. Let’s move on to the solution section.

Solutions For the Gmail Authentication Error

In order to solve the SMTP authentication error Gmail, you need to follow some simple and straightforward solutions provided in the section below. Have a look at them and try to execute them as instructed.

Check Your Gmail Credentials

Usually, users encounter the Gmail authentication error, if the account credentials are wrong. It is a very common mistake and many users unknowing misconfigure while connecting their Gmail account with another application. 

Hence, you should verify those things before trying out any major solutions. Now, if all the Gmail account credentials that you are providing in the application is correct, then move on to the next solutions given in this article.

Use the Correct Server and Port Number

The application in which you are trying to add or sync your Gmail account requires Server and Port Number. It might be possible that you have provided incorrect values for those sections and that thing is creating the authentication error.

Now, to fix that incorrect value problem you need to provide the appropriate values into the respective sections and those values are provided below.

• Incoming Mail (IMAP) Server:-
• Server: imap.gmail.com
• Requires SSL Yes
• Port: 993
• Outgoing Mail (SMTP) Server:-
• Server:smtp.gmail.com
• Requires SSL: Yes
• Requires TLS: Yes (if available)
• And, Requires Authentication: Yes
• Port for SSL: 465
• Port for TLS/STARTTLS: 587

Once you have provided these values, click on the Apply, OK or Save button in order to save all the changes that you have made. And then try to sync your Gmail account with the application.

Finally, verify the status of the error. If you are still facing this error while performing the syncing process then try out the next solution given in this article. 

Enable the IMAP Access

By default, the IMAP access is deactivated in the Gmail accounts for the new users. Now, if you have recently created your Gmail account and want to sync it with an application then the turned off IMAP access. It may cause the SMTP authentication error Gmail.

Now, to avoid this error you need to manually enable the IMAP access in your Gmail account and to do that follow the given steps.

1. Open any web browser and visit Gmail’s website. Then, log-in into your account and click on the Setting (Gear shaped) icon.
2. A drop-down menu will appear on the screen. In that menu, you will get the Settings option. Click on it.
3. The Settings page will load up on the screen. There you need to look for the  Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab and then tab on it.
4. Inside that tab, you will get the Enable IMAP option under the IMAP access section. Check the box beside that tab, and then click on the Save Changes option. 

After doing that, try to add your Gmail account into your desired application and look for the existence of SMTP authentication error.

Enable the ‘Less secure apps’ Option in Google Account

Sometimes the application, in which you want to add your Gmail isn’t secured enough for Google standards. For those kinds of applications, you need to enable the ‘Less secure apps’ option to avoid the Gmail authentication error.

Now, to perform that task on your Gmail account follow the given instructions.

1. Open the Gmail website and login into your Gmail account. 
2. Then, open the Google account page and then click on the Security option.
3. The Security menu will load up on the browser. There you need to click on the “Turn on access” option present under the “Less secure app access” section.
4. Now, a box will appear on the window. In that box, you need to turn on the toggle button next to “Allow less secure apps: ON” option. 

After that, close the browser and open up the application to test the synchronization process. If everything is properly set up, then you should be able to add the Gmail with the application without the interference of the Authentication Error.

Turn Off the 2 Steps Verification Option

If the 2 Steps Verification Option is enabled on your Google account, then you may face the SMTP authentication error Gmail while syncing it with an application. Now, to turn off that feature, follow the given steps.

1. Login to your Gmail account and click on the My Account option.
2. This will load the Google Account page on the webpage. In that page, you need to click on the ‘Sign-in & security’ tab.
3. Scroll down and you will get the ‘Password and Sign-in method’ box. In that box, you will get the 2-Step Verification option.
4. Now, if the box beside the 2 -Step Verification option is labeled ON. Then, click on that box and set it in the OFF mode

Once you have done that, your job is accomplished and you can restart the Gmail syncing task.

However, if none of the given solutions work for you then it might be possible that the Authentication Error is triggered due to a server issue. Thus, you need to wait until it gets fixed.

We hope that our article is able to provide you enough information on the Gmail Authentication Error. However, if you have any queries regarding this error, then tell us about it through the comment section.