How to Enable Less Secure App Access for Gmail Account?

Enable Less Secure App Access for Gmail

As per the current Google security standards, you cannot login to your Gmail account on third-party apps and devices until you grant permission from your account. So in this article, you will find out how you can enable a less secure app option for your Gmail account to login to other apps and devices.

Gmail account is part of your Google account service. The Google account controls its services.

By default, the less secure app option is disabled by Google on every account because of user account security.

For instance, suppose you have just now configured your Gmail on Microsoft outlook, but it keeps prompting you for a username and password window after you configure it. Even though you are sure that the username and password you entered is correct.

However, this is happening due to the less secure app option being disabled in your Google account settings.

An example of the same scenario in the image below:

[Read: How to Configure Gmail on Microsoft Outlook?]

Less Secure App Access Settings

In order to access your Gmail/Google account on other apps and devices, you must enable less secure app access option. Follow the steps below to do this:

Note: Given instructions will only work with general Google/Gmail accounts. If you are using an official G Suite account then you may need to contact the domain administrator.

Step 1. First, you need to sign-in to your Google account settings. Visit this link: Google My Account and login with your username and password. If you are already logged-in, that’s fine too.

Step 2. From the left pane, click on the Security option

Step 3. Now from the right side, you need to scroll down the page and locate Less secure app access option.

In order to enable a less secure app option, you need to click on Turn on access (not recommended)

Step 4. Finally, we are at the last step. There is a toggle switch for Allow less secure apps, you just need to slide to the right and make it ON to enable less secure app access for your Gmail account.

Important Note: Less secure app access options may not be available to you as shown above Step 3 if you are already using or have enabled 2 factor authentication (2FA) or 2-step verification in your Gmail/Google account.

In this situation, it’s completely your choice if you want to disable the 2-step verification option (which is not recommended) or generate a key-code from App passwords option and use that key-code on a particular app (for example: Microsoft Outlook), instead of using an account password.

[Read: How to Generate Gmail App Password?]

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