How To On Less Secure Apps In Gmail

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In this digital era, security is a significant concern for everyone. Google, one of the leading digital giants, is well aware of this. By default, Google blocks less secure apps to protect your account. However, there may be times when you need to enable access for these less secure apps.

Before we proceed, it’s necessary to understand what Google means by “less secure apps”. Essentially, these are the applications that do not use modern security standards, such as OAuth. Enabling these can leave your account vulnerable, so it’s important to understand the risks before proceeding.

How to Enable Less Secure Apps in Gmail

Here are the steps to allow less secure apps in your Gmail account:

  • First, sign in to your Google account.
  • Then, go to the Google Account page by clicking on your profile picture at the top right and selecting Google Account.
  • On the left navigation panel, click Security.
  • Under the section titled “Less secure app access”, click on Turn on access.
  • Toggle the button to ON.

Note: If you don’t see this setting, your administrator might have turned off less secure app account access.

Using App Passwords

If the above steps do not work, Google suggests using App Passwords. This is a 16-digit passcode that gives less secure apps or devices permission to access your Google Account. Here’s how you can generate one:

  • Go to the Google Account page and select Security on the left navigation panel.
  • In the “Signing in to Google” section, select App Passwords.
  • You may need to sign in again.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to generate the App Password.

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Note: If you do not have the option to generate App Passwords, it is likely because:

  • 2-Step Verification is not set up for your account.
  • 2-Step Verification is only set up for security keys.
  • Your account is managed through work, school, or other group.
  • You turned on Advanced Protection.

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Remember, enabling less secure apps to access your Gmail account can expose your account to potential threats. It’s always recommended to keep this setting turned off and use safer methods to access your email.

Stay safe and keep your data secure!