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Outlook Blog
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Outlook for Mac adds new authentication flow for Google IMAP in Insider Fast

Sunder Raman's avatar
Sunder Raman
Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
Jan 31, 2018

Last updated: 6/18/2018

 

6/18/2018: This feature is being slowly rolled out to Production beginning in 16.14 (18061302). 

 

Original post:

 

With the release of the Insider Fast version 16.11 (18013000), Outlook for Mac now supports OAuth for authentication for Google Accounts configured via IMAP. This feature will start rolling out slowly to our Insider Fast users.

 

If you have a Google Account added via IMAP, you'll be asked to authenticate using the new workflow. The two key benefits are:

  • No longer need to set “Allow less secure apps” for account
  • No longer need app password when 2-Step Verification is enabled

 

Previous authentication flow:

 

Basic authentication dialog

 

New authentication flow:

 

Sign in to Google via browser

 

Clicking on "Sign in to Google" (above) will launch the web browser to complete authentication.

 

Browser sign in

 

We would love to hear from you, so please provide feedback and report bugs, via Help > Contact Support. If you would like to see enhancements and additions to this feature, (or Outlook for Mac as a whole), please vote for the idea on our UserVoice site (Help > Suggest a Feature).

 

6/18/2018: Please ensure the "User name" field contains the full email address and matches "E-mail address" field in Account preferences for your Google Account configured via IMAP.

 

Updated Jun 18, 2018
Version 11.0
admin
Outlook for Mac
  • Patrick Koerner's avatar
    Patrick Koerner
    Copper Contributor
    Jun 23, 2022

    R_Wortmann and others.

     

    When windows shows up “We have to launch a Browser..”, try to open first a new Browser Window from with the same Google Account you are using for the Outlook Authentication.

    After that switch back to the “launch a “Browser request” and click on the Button.

    A new Tab will open on you last Browser session with the correct Google Account.

    Confirm all, and it should work.

     

    works for me (without signing out from other existing Google Accounts)

     

    Good Luck.

     

    Obs: continues being one of the most annoying issues…

  • R_Wortmann's avatar
    R_Wortmann
    Copper Contributor
    Jun 23, 2022

    I have the same problem. Until two days ago no problem syncing my google accounts for work (3) using outlook. now I can not receive my emails at all. I get popup we need to launch a browser that you can login to... this is for security reasons it says.

     

    However I can not sign in. 

     

    But I can sign in to my google accounts, see docs and access gmail.

  • onoono1735's avatar
    onoono1735
    Copper Contributor
    Apr 06, 2022

    Outlook for Mac app (not web)? Version #, and build suffix? Version of macOS? Are you using a VPN that may be disconnecting and reconnecting through the day (giving a new IP address, socket)? 

     

    I had this issue, but no longer do. I'm not sure what fixed it. I'm on app beta v 16.61 build xxx0301, macOS 12.3.1, use VPN, MacBook Air M1, and do not need to re-authenticate throughout the day, or across many days.

  • Chris_Sheard's avatar
    Chris_Sheard
    Copper Contributor
    Apr 06, 2022

    This has become a nightmare.  I am asked to authenticate (Google <---> Outlook for Mac) via the new mechanism above at least every other day; sometimes more than once a day.  I leave MS Outlook for Mac open 24x7 on my Mac.  I don't know what changes during the course of a day but the constant, ceaseless authentication is ridiculous.

  • ccterry's avatar
    ccterry
    Copper Contributor
    Jun 29, 2020

    I'm glad I found this blog post because I have been going crazy trying to figure this issue out. Our CEO intermittently gets prompted to sign into google. He is using Outlook for Mac on the latest Macbook Pro 16". The microsoft update utility says that Outlook is on the latest version. He will sometimes get prompted multiple times back to back. I have tried all of the following to resolve:
    Delete duplicate keychain entries for gmail and outlook

    Delete and Re-add the account

    Uninstall Office and reinstall
    Change the IMAP and SMTP settings from *.gmail.com to *.googlemail.com

    Finally, today, after finding this post, I locked the keychain and then unlocked it and then deleted and re-added the gmail account to outlook.

     

    Hopefully this resolves the issue but if not , we have a real problem on our hands here.

     

    I also use a Macbook Pro with outlook and connect it to my work gmail account and I do not have this issue. It would be great if Microsoft could provide a definite answer to this problem.

  • Jane_CIPM's avatar
    Jane_CIPM
    Copper Contributor
    May 14, 2020

    I have been experiencing the same issues. 

     

    Google have decided that Microsoft Outlook for Mac is a 'Less secure app' and blocked my access to my Gmail.

     

    You need to go into security settings in your Google account and turn on 'Allow less secure access'

     

     

     

    I have 6 different gmail accounts and had to do this for each one.

     

    Hope this helps.

     

  • lcgonzalez's avatar
    lcgonzalez
    Copper Contributor
    Dec 03, 2019
    I'm having the same issue - i deleted all of my gmail accounts (i have several for separate work accounts), and now i can't even add them back onto OUTLOOK. This is terrible. I'm also being asked to login to every single account (exchange, icloud, etc) every time I launch Outlook on my Mac. About to switch to a new platform - i can't work like this.
  • Tatters21's avatar
    Tatters21
    Copper Contributor
    Sep 10, 2019

    Hi

     

    It appears that i have the same issue as many. My outlook was working fine yesterday until around 3pm then i was logged out asked to enter my password and i just end up getting the same message 'sign in with google browser". Now becoming frustrated. Uninstalled and reinstalled outlook.

     

    Any help?

     

    Thanks.

  • archisgore's avatar
    archisgore
    Copper Contributor
    Jul 01, 2019

    Also for the love of everything that is decent, I clicked on Report Bug on the Outlook Client. Why would you add that button and then not want email? Why add personal email instead of customer support if you don't want feedback? I'm sure the metrics look great though. :-)

     

     

  • archisgore's avatar
    archisgore
    Copper Contributor
    Jul 01, 2019

    I'm facing this still. Happens all the time. Happens at the worst of times. And no I will not go opening my KeyChain app or whatever. This is freakin email. Storing credentials on a Mac shouldn't be some complex Advanced Support and Consulting Vendor Opportunity where Someone Who Truly Understands the Intricacies of Outlook the Email Sending and Receiving Magical client should be necessary. Sorry for the vent. The response I expected is, "We're sorry, we're adding more logs, we'll fix it."