Enable IMAP and Outlook access in Google
In order to connect Outlook to Gmail, you’ll need to first enable the IMAP connection that Outlook will use.
- Log in to your Google Apps account at Gmail.com, and click the gear button to access your settings
- Click “Settings”
- Go to the “Forwarding and POP/IMAP” tab
- Click the radio button to “Enable IMAP”. You can leave the default settings for the additional options that appear, unless you specifically want to change them.
- Save your changes
- Now, you’ll need to click this link to allow Outlook to log in to your account: https://www.google.com/settings/security/lesssecureappsIf you’re unable to complete this step, you’ll need to have your admin log into http://admin.google.com and change a setting. The admin will need to do a search for less secure and click on the less secure apps result. Then just change the setting to the middle option
- Next, make sure your account is unlocked by visiting this link and clicking “Continue”: https://accounts.google.com/b/0/DisplayUnlockCaptcha
Now you’re ready to set up the account in Outlook!
Add a new IMAP account in Outlook
These instructions assume you are starting from scratch to set up an new email account in Outlook. If you are switching to Gmail but are keeping an email address that you already have set up as POP3, you will still need to create a new one, since Outlook won’t let you modify the account type.
Settings Quick Reference:
| Type | IMAP |
| Full Name or Account Name | [your name] |
| Email address | full email address for Google Apps ([email protected]) |
| Username | full email address for Google Apps ([email protected]) |
| Password | your Google Apps account password |
| Require authentication (SPA) | checked |
| Incoming server | imap.gmail.com |
| Port | 993 |
| Encryption Type | SSL |
| Outgoing server | smtp.gmail.com |
| Port | 587 (or 465) |
| Encryption type | TLS (or SSL) |
| Use the same settings as incoming server | checked |
Setup Steps:
- Open Outlook and go to File >> Account Settings and click New to add an account (or Change an existing IMAP account)
- Choose “Manual Setup” and then choose “POP or IMAP”
- Enter the settings as summarized in the table above
- Click “More Settings” and continue entering the information:
- Click “OK” and then “Next” and correct any errors, then “Finish”