Generate a Gmail or Google Workspace App Password in 11 easy steps. Required when 2-Step Verification is on and your email app does not support it. Duration: 5 min.
Video Transcript
In this video we show you how to generate a Gmail or Google Workspace App Password in 11 easy steps. This is needed when you have 2-Step Verification turned on for your Google account and are using an email app that does not support it.
An app password is a security feature provided by Google. It lets you sign in to non-Google applications using a special 16-character password instead of your regular Google password. Generating an app password does not change your regular password in any way.
To start, open your browser and go to myaccount.google.com. Sign in to your Gmail or Google Workspace account. In the left navigation, click on Security.
On the Security page, look for the section called How you sign in to Google. Find the 2-Step Verification option and click on it. Make sure it is already turned on. The App passwords option only appears when 2-Step Verification is active.
Scroll to the bottom of the 2-Step Verification page. You will see an option called App passwords. Click on it. Google may ask you to sign in again to confirm your identity.
On the App passwords page, there is a text field that says Select app or give it a name. Type a label for the app you are setting this up for, such as Outlook, Thunderbird or iPhone Mail. Then click Create.
Google immediately generates a 16-character app password and shows it inside a yellow box on screen. Copy this password right now. This is a one-time code and Google will not show it again after you close the screen.
Now open the email app or client on your computer or phone. When it asks for your Gmail or Google Workspace password, paste the 16-character app password instead of your regular Google password. The app will now connect to your account.
Your email app is now signed in to your Gmail or Google Workspace account. You can manage all your app passwords from the App passwords page under Account Security at any time.
What is a Gmail App Password?
A Gmail App Password is a 16-character one-time password generated through your Google Account Security settings. It lets email clients and apps that do not support Google's 2-Step Verification sign in to your Gmail or Google Workspace account without needing your regular password or a verification code. Common examples are older versions of Outlook, Thunderbird and certain iPhone mail configurations. You can create app passwords at myaccount.google.com/apppasswords. Generating one does not change your regular Google password and your main account security is not affected.
11 Steps to Generate Gmail and Google Workspace App Password
- Go to myaccount.google.com and sign in to your Gmail or Google Workspace account.
- In the left navigation, click on Security.
- Under How you sign in to Google, click on 2-Step Verification.
- Confirm that 2-Step Verification is turned on. App passwords are only available when 2-Step Verification is active.
- Scroll to the bottom of the 2-Step Verification page and click App passwords.
- If prompted, sign in again to confirm your identity.
- Type a name for the app, such as Outlook, Thunderbird or iPhone Mail.
- Click the Create button.
- Google shows a 16-character app password in a yellow box. Copy it immediately. You will not see it again.
- Open your email app or client and go to the account sign-in or settings screen.
- When asked for your Gmail password, paste the 16-character app password. Your account is now connected.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Copy the app password as soon as Google shows it. Once you close the yellow box, the password disappears permanently. If you lose it, simply generate a new one.
- App passwords stop working automatically if you change your Google account password, turn off 2-Step Verification or revoke the password manually.
- Generate a separate app password for each app or device. This lets you revoke one without affecting the others. You can create as many as you need.
- For Google Workspace accounts, your administrator must allow app passwords in the Google Workspace Admin console. If the option is missing, contact your administrator.
- Regularly review your active app passwords at myaccount.google.com/apppasswords and remove entries for apps or devices you no longer use.
Tips for Managing Gmail App Passwords
- Label each app password clearly with the app name and device, for example "Outlook on Work Laptop". This makes it easy to identify and revoke the right one later.
- When you get a new device or reinstall an email app, generate a fresh app password rather than reusing an old one.
- If you ever suspect your Gmail account has been accessed without your permission, go to myaccount.google.com/apppasswords and revoke all app passwords immediately. Then change your main Google password.
- For most modern email apps and clients, you do not need app passwords if the app supports OAuth sign-in. Use the Sign in with Google button where available instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Gmail App Password?
A Gmail App Password is a 16-character one-time password generated through your Google Account Security settings. It lets email apps and clients that do not support 2-Step Verification sign in to your Gmail or Google Workspace account without needing your regular password or a verification code.
Why do I need an app password for Gmail?
If you have 2-Step Verification turned on for your Google account, some email apps cannot complete the second verification step and fail to connect. An app password bypasses this by giving the app a separate password that works without the two-step process. Your regular Google password stays unchanged.
How do I generate a Gmail App Password?
Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security, open 2-Step Verification, scroll to App passwords, type a name for the app, click Create, then copy the 16-character password shown. Use this password in your email app instead of your regular Gmail password.
What if I cannot find the App passwords option in my Google Account?
The App passwords option only appears when 2-Step Verification is turned on for your Google account. Go to myaccount.google.com, click Security, enable 2-Step Verification, then scroll to the bottom of the 2-Step Verification page to find the App passwords link.
Does a Gmail app password expire?
Gmail app passwords do not expire automatically. However, they stop working if you change your Google account password, turn off 2-Step Verification or revoke the app password manually from the App passwords page. It is good practice to revoke old app passwords for apps or devices you no longer use.