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The “four weeks to comply” warning is no longer current. Google originally told Google Workspace users that password-only access from less secure apps would stop on September 30, 2024. Google later paused the rollout, resumed it in January 2025, and completed the final shutdown on May 1, 2025.
The change does not mean Gmail stopped supporting passwords, IMAP, POP, or every type of app password. It means that older third-party apps and devices can no longer authenticate by sending your normal Google username and password. You must use OAuth—usually displayed as Sign in with Google—or use an App Password where the account and application support it.
What the Gmail app-access deadline actually changed
Google retired Less Secure Apps, an authentication method that allowed an external mail client to connect with a regular Google password. The method was considered weaker because the app received and stored the account password instead of using a restricted authorization token.
The retirement mainly affected Google Workspace accounts, including business, school, government, and other organization-managed accounts. It applied to password-only connections such as:
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- Gmail through IMAP or POP
- Calendar through CalDAV
- Contacts through CardDAV
- Google Sync
- Older mail applications, scanners, phones, and other devices that do not support OAuth
It did not shut down Gmail, disable all third-party mail access, or eliminate App Passwords. The supported replacement is OAuth. In a compatible application, OAuth opens a Google sign-in page and grants the application limited access without giving it your normal account password.
Who needs to take action?
| Setup | Likely action |
|---|---|
| Gmail website or official Gmail mobile app | None. These use Google’s own sign-in process. |
| Recent Outlook, Apple Mail, or Samsung Mail | Remove and re-add the account using the Google provider or “Sign in with Google.” |
| Old desktop mail client | Update the application. If it still has no Google sign-in option, use an App Password if permitted or replace the client. |
| Printer, scanner, NAS, alarm system, or script sending mail | Check whether it supports OAuth. If not, configure an App Password or use a dedicated relay supported by your administrator. |
| Google Workspace account | Your administrator may need to allow Gmail protocols and App Passwords. |
If your mail program repeatedly asks for a username and password, or reports that the password is invalid even though it works at mail.google.com, the problem may be the authentication method rather than the password itself.
The preferred fix: reconnect the account with Google sign-in
Use OAuth whenever the application offers it. The labels differ between products, but look for Google, Google Workspace, or Sign in with Google. Do not select a generic setup labeled Other, IMAP, or POP if that route only asks for a password.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11- Confirm that the mail application is updated. Older versions may not support Google’s current authentication requirements.
- Remove the existing Gmail or Workspace account from the application. Leaving the old password-only profile in place can cause the program to keep retrying the failed login.
- Choose Add account.
- Select Google or Sign in with Google, rather than manually entering an IMAP account.
- Complete the Google browser sign-in, two-step verification, and consent screens.
- Allow the application to finish synchronizing before deleting any local mail data.
Current versions of Outlook, Apple Mail, and Samsung Mail generally support OAuth. A very old version may not. In that situation, updating the app is safer than trying repeatedly to bypass the sign-in failure.
When an App Password is the right workaround
An App Password is a separate 16-character passcode generated by Google for an application or device. It is not your normal Google password. It is intended for older software that cannot display Google’s OAuth sign-in page.
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To create one:
- Open Google Account.
- Go to Security & sign-in.
- Under How you sign in to Google, select 2-Step Verification.
- Scroll to App passwords.
- Authenticate if Google requests it.
- Create a password for the relevant app or device.
- Enter the generated code in the mail client’s password field instead of your normal Google password.
You can also open the direct management page at myaccount.google.com/apppasswords. Enter the App Password exactly as generated. If the application rejects spaces, omit them; Google displays the code in grouped characters for readability.
Do not create an App Password when the application already supports Sign in with Google. OAuth provides better control because access can be reviewed and revoked independently from the account’s main password.
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Google does not show App Passwords in every account configuration. Common reasons include:
- Two-Step Verification is configured only with security keys.
- Your company, school, or other Workspace administrator has blocked App Passwords.
- Advanced Protection is enabled.
- The account’s security or organization policy does not permit App Passwords.
Advanced Protection specifically blocks App Password use and revokes existing App Passwords when enrollment occurs. If the account is managed by an organization, an administrator must decide whether to permit the feature; the user cannot override that policy from Gmail.
Important: App Passwords are revoked after a password reset
Google revokes all App Passwords when the user changes the normal Google Account password. A Workspace administrator password reset has the same practical consequence. Every older application or device using one of those codes must be updated with a newly generated App Password.
This often affects equipment that nobody checks regularly. After changing a password, test printers, scanners, backup programs, monitoring systems, and mail clients that send through Gmail.
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IMAP and POP have not disappeared
Google did not eliminate IMAP or POP. They remain usable when the client authenticates with OAuth or, where allowed, an App Password.
For personal @gmail.com accounts, Google began removing the old Enable IMAP and Disable IMAP controls in 2025. IMAP is always enabled for those accounts, so there is no setting to turn on manually. This does not exempt a mail client from Google’s authentication requirements.
For Google Workspace, an administrator may still need to enable the relevant mail protocol in the Admin console. The exact availability depends on the organization’s Gmail settings and security policies.
What common error messages mean
| Error | What it usually indicates |
|---|---|
Username and password not accepted |
The client may be using unsupported password-only authentication. |
Invalid credentials or repeated password prompts |
The saved password may be wrong, or the client may require OAuth or an App Password. |
535 5.7.80 Username and Password not accepted |
Gmail rejected the SMTP login; check the authentication method and credentials. |
534 5.7.90 Application-specific password required |
Use an App Password instead of the normal account password, if the account permits it. |
504 5.7.40 Unrecognized authentication type |
The application is requesting an authentication method Gmail does not accept. |
504 5.7.40 XOAUTH is no longer supported |
The client’s OAuth implementation is obsolete and needs updating or replacement. |
Before changing the Google password, test it by signing in through a browser. If browser sign-in works, remove the old account profile and add it again through the application’s Google sign-in option.
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What Workspace administrators should check
- Confirm that the organization is not relying on the retired Less Secure Apps setting. It cannot be restored as a permanent solution.
- Verify that Gmail access through the required protocols is enabled for the affected users or organizational units.
- Decide whether App Passwords are permitted for legacy devices that genuinely cannot use OAuth.
- Prefer modern applications and OAuth-based connections for new deployments.
- Document which scanners, scripts, and devices use App Passwords so they can be updated after a password reset.
The practical choices are now straightforward: use OAuth, use an App Password for compatible legacy software, or replace software that supports neither method.
Claims to ignore
- “The deadline is September 30, 2024.” That was the original date. Google completed the final disablement on May 1, 2025.
- “Google is shutting down IMAP and POP.” Incorrect. The protocols remain available with supported authentication.
- “App Passwords were eliminated.” Incorrect. Eligible accounts can still use them, although OAuth is preferred.
- “The Gmail mobile app needs an App Password.” Generally false. The official app uses Google’s sign-in flow.
- “Turning on 2-Step Verification fixes every old mail client.” Not necessarily. The client may still need an App Password, or it may need to be replaced.
For the current Google guidance, see Google’s account authentication help, the App Password instructions, and Google’s Gmail mail-client guidance.
FAQ
Is the Gmail app-access deadline still four weeks away?
No. The September 30, 2024 deadline was postponed, and Google completed the final Less Secure Apps shutdown on May 1, 2025.
Do I need an App Password for the official Gmail app?
No. The official Gmail website and mobile app use Google’s own sign-in system. App Passwords are mainly for older third-party apps and devices that cannot use OAuth.
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Yes. IMAP and POP remain available when the client uses OAuth or an allowed App Password. The retirement affected password-only authentication, not the protocols themselves.
Why can’t I see the App Passwords option?
The account may not have the required 2-Step Verification setup, an administrator may have blocked App Passwords, Advanced Protection may be enabled, or the account configuration may not support them.
The Bottom Line
The warning’s original “four weeks” deadline is outdated: Google’s final password-only Less Secure Apps shutdown occurred on May 1, 2025. If a mail client or device has stopped connecting, update it and add the account through Sign in with Google. Use a 16-character App Password only when the application cannot use OAuth and the account administrator allows it.
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