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Connect a Google mailbox with an app password

You connect Gmail and Google Workspace over IMAP. Google doesn't accept your normal password for this, only an app password. Here's how to create one in two minutes.

Why an app password

Since March 14, 2025, Google only lets mail programs into a mailbox with an app password. With your normal Google password, Google rejects the sign-in, even if it's correct.

An app password has 16 characters and only works for this one connection. You can revoke it at any time without changing your actual password.

What you need first

  • 2-Step Verification. Without it, Google doesn't offer app passwords.
  • With Google Workspace: your admin has to allow app passwords. If the option is blocked, only they can enable it.

Create an app password

  1. Open myaccount.google.com → 2-Step Verification and turn it on if it's still off.
  2. Open myaccount.google.com/apppasswords.
  3. Enter a name, for example Alpheris, and click Create.
  4. Copy the 16-character password. The spaces in it don't matter.
Google shows the app password only once. If you close the window first, just create a new one.

Connect it in Alpheris

  1. Open Mail accounts and choose IMAP / SMTP.
  2. Enter your Gmail or Workspace address. Alpheris recognizes Google and fills in the servers itself.
  3. Paste the app password into the App password field and click Connect.

Alpheris checks right away that receiving and sending work. Only then is the mailbox saved.

Server details for manual setup

Only needed if you enter the servers by hand:

  • Incoming (IMAP): imap.gmail.com, port 993, SSL
  • Outgoing (SMTP): smtp.gmail.com, port 465, SSL
  • Username: your full email address

If it doesn't work

  • The sign-in is rejected. Usually the normal Google password is still in the field. Create an app password and enter it.
  • The app passwords option is missing. 2-Step Verification is off, your Workspace admin has blocked app passwords, or your account uses Advanced Protection or security keys only.
  • It worked and suddenly stops. When you change your Google password, Google revokes all app passwords. Create a new one and connect the same address again. The existing mailbox is updated.
  • Too many open connections. Google allows at most 15 at a time. Close other mail programs that keep the same mailbox open.
  • Sending stops working. Gmail allows 500 emails a day. It works again after 24 hours at the latest.

What Alpheris does with the mailbox

Alpheris reads the inbox and the Sent folder. Replies go out through Google, so they also appear in Gmail under Sent. The app password is stored encrypted and used only for this connection.

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