How To Setup Email - Gmail with macOS Mail.app

Background

Use the Mail app to send, receive, and manage email. Simply add the account(s) you want to use in Mail.

How-to Setup macOS Mail.app

Step 1: Enable IMAP in your Google account

  1. Login to Gmail.
  2. Click the Gear in the top right.
  3. Select Settings.
  4. Click Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
  5. Select Enable IMAP.
  6. Click Save Changes.

Step 2: Change Google account settings to allow 3rd party mail clients

  1. Login to Gmail.
  2. Click the Gear in the top right.
  3. Select Settings.
  4. Click Accounts and Import.
  5. Click Google Account settings.
  6. Under Sign-in & Security click Signing in to Google.
  7. Scroll to the bottom of the list.
  8. Change Allow less secure apps to On.

Step 3: Configure your Mac Mail

  1. Launch the Mail.app.
  2. On the menu bar click Mail, then click Preferences.
  3. Click on Accounts.
  4. In the bottom-left corner click on the "+" icon.
  5. Mail.app will show you various options, select Google from the list and click Continue.
    Mac Mail.app Select Email Type dialog window
  6. You will be asked to Sign in enter your username@alaska.edu then click Next.
    Mac Mail.app Google Sign in dialog
  7. You will be prompted to Sign in to Google Apps @ UA. Enter your UA username and password. Click Sign in.
    Mac Mail.app Google Apps at UA Sign in dialog window
  8. If you are using two-factor authentication, enter the appropriate code when prompted.
  9. You will be prompted to Select the apps to use with your G Suite for Education account. Select at minimum Mail, Contacts, and Calendar then click the Done button.
    Mac Mail.app Select apps for use with Google dialog window
  10. Mail.app will now connect to your account and begin syncing your content.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why do I need to enable "less secure apps" in Gmail, isn't this a bad thing?

    The short answer, is there is nothing major to worry about.

    The longer answer is with respect to less-secure, Google is referring to the mechanism by which the application authenticates itself to gain access to your Gmail account. Outlook 2016 sends your username and password over an encrypted IMAP connection. There is nothing inherently insecure about that approach. It is used by every other email provider.

    Google would prefer that apps use a different mechanism, called OAuth. An overly simplified description of that mechanism is that the app uses a token to authenticate itself to gmail. Instead of sending your username and password over the encrypted communication channel, it sends the token over the encrypted connection.

    When using properly functioning software from a reputable company, there is essentially no difference between the two approaches. The mechanism used by Outlook is not any more vulnerable to a malicious attack than is Google's preferred mechanism.

 

Known Issues

No outstanding issues have been reported at this time.

 

Need additional help or have issues

For additional assistance contact the IT Services Technical Support Center via phone at (907) 786-4646, toll-free at (877) 633-3888, or email at uaa.techsupport@alaska.edu.