You can add Gmail to Outlook on your computer or phone, but Gmail requires an extra security step first

Outlook can read and send email from your Gmail account, but Gmail will not let Outlook connect unless you create a special password just for that purpose. This takes about five minutes to set up, and then Outlook works like it does with any other email account. The process is the same whether you use Outlook on Windows, Mac, or the web version at outlook.com.

Gmail calls this special password an App Password. It is different from your regular Gmail password and only works when Outlook tries to sign in. This extra layer keeps your main Gmail account safer because Outlook never learns your real password.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail requires you to create an App Password before Outlook can connect, which takes about five minutes in your Gmail security settings.
  • You must turn on two-factor authentication in Gmail first, or the App Password option will not appear.
  • In Outlook, you add Gmail the same way you add any other email account — by entering your Gmail address and the App Password you just created.
  • After you add Gmail to Outlook, you can send and receive messages from that account without opening Gmail itself.

Turn on two-factor authentication in Gmail

Gmail will only let you create an App Password if two-factor authentication is already on. Two-factor authentication means Gmail asks for a second proof of who you are — usually a code from your phone — when you sign in from a new device.

Go to myaccount.google.com in your web browser and sign in with your Gmail address and password. Click Security in the left menu. Scroll down to the section called "How you sign in to Google" and look for 2-Step Verification. If it says "Off" or "Not set up", click it and follow the steps. Gmail will ask you to choose how you want to receive the second code — usually by text message or through the Google Authenticator app on your phone. Pick whichever method you prefer and complete the setup.

Once two-factor authentication is on, you will see "2-Step Verification is on" on that same page. Now you can create an App Password.

Create an App Password in Gmail

Stay on the Security page at myaccount.google.com. Scroll down again and look for App passwords — it appears below 2-Step Verification. Click it. Gmail will ask you to sign in again to confirm it is really you.

After you sign in, Gmail shows you two dropdown menus. The first says "Select the app" and the second says "Select the device". In the first dropdown, choose Outlook. In the second dropdown, choose the type of device you are using — Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android. Then click Generate.

Gmail will show you a 16-character password in a yellow box. This is your App Password. Copy it exactly — spaces and all — and paste it somewhere you can find it in the next few minutes. Do not share this password with anyone. You will use it only once, when you add Gmail to Outlook.

Add Gmail to Outlook on Windows or Mac

Open Outlook and go to File > Add Account. Type your full Gmail address and click Connect. Outlook will open a Gmail sign-in window. Enter your Gmail address and password, then click Next.

Gmail will ask if you want to let Outlook access your account. Click Allow. Outlook will then ask for a verification code — this is the two-factor authentication you set up earlier. Check your phone for a text message or code from the Google Authenticator app, and type that code into Outlook. Click Verify.

Outlook will return to the account setup screen. You should see your Gmail address listed. Click Done. Outlook will now download your Gmail messages and folders. This can take a few minutes if you have a lot of email. Once it finishes, you can send and receive Gmail messages directly from Outlook.

Add Gmail to Outlook on the web

Go to outlook.com and sign in with your Microsoft account. Click the gear icon in the top right corner and choose View all Outlook settings. Click Mail in the left menu, then Accounts, then Connected accounts.

Click Connect another account. Choose Gmail from the list. Outlook will open a Gmail sign-in window. Enter your Gmail address and password, then click Next. When Gmail asks if you want to let Outlook access your account, click Allow. Enter the verification code from your phone when Gmail asks for it.

Outlook will return to the settings page and show your Gmail address in the connected accounts list. Your Gmail messages will now appear in Outlook.com. You can read and reply to them without leaving the Outlook website.

Add Gmail to Outlook on your phone

Open the Outlook app on your iPhone or Android phone. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner. Tap Settings, then Add Account. Choose Gmail from the list of email providers.

Tap Continue. Outlook will open a Gmail sign-in screen. Enter your Gmail address and tap Next. Enter your Gmail password and tap Next. When Gmail asks for permission, tap Allow. Enter the verification code from your phone when Gmail asks for it.

Outlook will return to the app and begin downloading your Gmail messages. Once it finishes, you can read and send Gmail messages from the Outlook app on your phone. Your Gmail account will appear as a separate folder in your account list.

What to do if Outlook will not connect

The most common reason Outlook cannot connect is that two-factor authentication is not turned on in Gmail. Go back to myaccount.google.com, click Security, and check that 2-Step Verification shows "On". If it does not, turn it on first, then try adding the account to Outlook again.

If you see an error message that says "password incorrect" or "authentication failed", make sure you are using the 16-character App Password you created, not your regular Gmail password. The App Password is the one Gmail showed you in the yellow box. Copy it exactly, including any spaces.

If Outlook asks for the App Password and you cannot find it, go back to myaccount.google.com, click Security, click App passwords, and create a new one. You can create as many App Passwords as you need — one for each device or app you want to use with Gmail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my regular Gmail password instead of an App Password?

No. Gmail will reject your regular password when Outlook tries to connect. You must use the 16-character App Password that Gmail generates in your security settings. This is a safety feature that keeps your main Gmail account more secure.

What happens to my Gmail account when I add it to Outlook?

Your Gmail account stays exactly the same. Adding it to Outlook just lets Outlook read and send messages from that account. You can still sign into Gmail.com anytime, and any messages you send from Outlook will appear in your Gmail "Sent" folder.

Can I add multiple Gmail accounts to Outlook?

Yes. Repeat the process for each Gmail account. Create an App Password for each one in your Gmail security settings, then add each account to Outlook separately. Each Gmail account will appear as its own folder in Outlook.

Do I need to keep two-factor authentication on after I add Gmail to Outlook?

Yes. If you turn off two-factor authentication, Outlook will stop being able to connect to Gmail. Keep it on as long as you want to use Outlook with that Gmail account.

What if I delete the App Password later?

Outlook will stop being able to send and receive Gmail messages. If this happens, create a new App Password in your Gmail security settings and update it in Outlook. Go to Outlook settings, find your Gmail account, and enter the new App Password when prompted.