How to Set Up Gmail in Outlook (IMAP & Manual Config)

Managing multiple email accounts across different apps wastes time. Microsoft Outlook solves that by letting you pull your Gmail directly into your inbox — so you read, send, and organize everything from one place.

Whether you use the new Outlook app, Microsoft 365, or classic Outlook 2021/2024, there is a method that works for you. The auto-setup route takes about two minutes. The manual IMAP route takes five, but gives you full control over server settings and works even if automatic detection fails.

This guide walks through both methods with exact settings, step-by-step instructions, and a troubleshooting table for the most common connection errors.

Key Takeaways

• Auto-setup (new Outlook / Microsoft 365): Add your Gmail address in File > Add Account — Outlook handles the rest via OAuth.
• Manual IMAP (classic Outlook 2021/2024): Use imap.gmail.com:993 (SSL) incoming and smtp.gmail.com:587 (STARTTLS) outgoing. If 2FA is on, you need an App Password — not your regular Gmail password.
• Enable IMAP first: Gmail disables IMAP by default. You must turn it on in Gmail Settings before a manual connection will work.

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How Do I Add Gmail to Outlook?

There are two ways to add Gmail to Microsoft Outlook. The auto-setup method works in New Outlook and Microsoft 365 — Outlook redirects you to Google sign-in and configures everything automatically. The manual IMAP method works in classic Outlook 2021 and 2024 — you enter server addresses, ports, and encryption settings by hand.

Which method you use depends on your Outlook version and whether your Google account has two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled.

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Method 1 — Auto-Setup in New Outlook and Microsoft 365

New Outlook and Microsoft 365 use OAuth (modern authentication) to connect Gmail securely. You never enter a server address — Outlook discovers the settings automatically after you sign in to Google.

Steps:

1. Open Microsoft Outlook.
2. Go to File > Add Account.
3. Type your full Gmail address (e.g., yourname@gmail.com) and click Connect.
4. Outlook opens a browser window and redirects you to the Google sign-in page.
5. Enter your Gmail password and complete any 2FA prompt.
6. Click Allow to authorize Microsoft Outlook to access your Google account.
7. Click Done — Outlook begins syncing your Gmail inbox, calendar, and contacts.

This method automatically syncs mail, Google Calendar events, and Google Contacts into Outlook. No IMAP settings required.

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Method 2 — Manual IMAP Setup in Classic Outlook

Classic Outlook 2021 and Outlook 2024 support manual IMAP configuration. Use this method when auto-setup fails or when you want to control exactly which server settings Outlook uses.

Before you start: Enable IMAP in Gmail

Gmail’s IMAP access is disabled by default. You must turn it on before Outlook can connect.

1. Open Gmail in your browser.
2. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top right > See all settings.
3. Click the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
4. Under IMAP Access, select Enable IMAP.
5. Click Save Changes.

Steps to add the account in Outlook:

1. Open Outlook and go to File > Add Account.
2. Enter your Gmail address, then click Advanced options and check Let me set up my account manually. Click Connect.
3. Select IMAP as the account type.
4. Enter the incoming mail server settings:
5. Server: imap.gmail.com
6. Port: 993
7. Encryption: SSL/TLS
8. Enter the outgoing mail server settings:
9. Server: smtp.gmail.com
10. Port: 587
11. Encryption: STARTTLS
12. Enter your Gmail address as the username.
13. For the password: if your Google account has 2-Step Verification enabled, you must use an App Password (see section below). If 2FA is off, use your regular Gmail password.
14. Click Connect, then Done after the test succeeds.

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What Are the IMAP Settings for Gmail in Outlook?

The exact Gmail IMAP settings you need are listed in the table below. These match the official values published by Google (support.google.com) and Microsoft (support.microsoft.com).

Setting	Incoming Mail (IMAP)	Outgoing Mail (SMTP)
Server	imap.gmail.com	smtp.gmail.com
Port	993	587 (or 465)
Encryption	SSL/TLS	STARTTLS (port 587) or SSL (port 465)
Authentication	Gmail address + App Password (or OAuth)	Same credentials
Requires login	Yes	Yes

Note on port 465 vs. 587: Both ports work for outgoing mail. Port 587 with STARTTLS is the current standard recommended by Google. Port 465 with SSL is an older option that still works in most clients.

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Do I Need an App Password to Connect Gmail to Outlook?

It depends on whether 2-Step Verification is enabled on your Google account.

• If 2FA is enabled: Yes. Google blocks standard password sign-ins from third-party mail clients. You must generate a 16-character App Password and use that instead of your regular Gmail password in Outlook.
• If 2FA is disabled: No. You can use your regular Gmail password with manual IMAP. However, Google may still block the sign-in if “Less secure app access” is not enabled — enabling 2FA and using an App Password is the more reliable path.
• New Outlook / Microsoft 365 with auto-setup: No App Password needed. OAuth handles authentication through Google’s own sign-in page.

How to create a Gmail App Password:

1. Go to myaccount.google.com and sign in.
2. Click Security in the left sidebar.
3. Under How you sign in to Google, click 2-Step Verification.
4. Scroll to the bottom and click App passwords.
5. Under Select app, choose Mail. Under Select device, choose Windows Computer.
6. Click Generate.
7. Copy the 16-character password that appears (shown once — save it).
8. Return to Outlook’s account setup and paste this App Password in the password field.

The App Password works only for Outlook on that device. If you need to connect Gmail on another device, generate a new one.

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Why Won’t Gmail Connect to Outlook?

If Gmail is not connecting to Outlook, one of these common causes is usually responsible. The table below lists each issue with the fix.

Symptom	Likely Cause	Fix
“Password incorrect” error	2FA is on — regular password rejected	Generate and use an App Password
“Cannot connect to server”	IMAP not enabled in Gmail	Enable IMAP: Gmail Settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP
Outlook hangs at “Connecting…”	Wrong port or encryption type	Confirm port 993 / SSL for incoming; 587 / STARTTLS for outgoing
Emails sync but sending fails	Outgoing SMTP settings wrong	Set smtp.gmail.com, port 587, STARTTLS, same Gmail credentials
“550 5.7.0 authentication required” SMTP error	SMTP authentication disabled in Outlook	In account settings, confirm “My outgoing server requires authentication” is checked
Sync stops after a few days	Google revoked access (security event)	Remove account from Outlook and re-add; re-authorize in Google account

If none of these resolve the issue, check your Google account’s Security > Recent security activity for any blocked access events and remove any untrusted app access from Third-party apps with account access.

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Can I Use Gmail and Outlook at the Same Time?

Yes. When you add Gmail to Microsoft Outlook via IMAP, both applications stay in sync. Emails you read in Outlook are marked as read in Gmail. Emails you send from Outlook appear in Gmail’s Sent folder. Emails you delete in Outlook move to Gmail’s Trash.

A few things to know about how Gmail labels work in Outlook:

• Gmail labels appear as folders in Outlook’s folder pane. You can see them under your Gmail account in the navigation panel.
• Outlook’s folder structure and Gmail’s label structure are not identical — nested labels in Gmail may appear as separate folders in Outlook.
• Google Calendar and Contacts sync automatically when you use auto-setup (New Outlook / Microsoft 365). With manual IMAP, only mail syncs — calendar and contacts require a separate setup using Google’s CalDAV/CardDAV addresses.

Using both apps simultaneously is a common setup for people who prefer Gmail’s interface on mobile and Outlook’s interface on desktop. Once Gmail is connected, you can set up a signature in Outlook that applies to emails sent from your Gmail address, and set up automatic replies in Outlook that cover your Gmail account too.

If you do not already have Microsoft Outlook, you can get it as part of a one-time Microsoft Office license. See our Office 2024 lifetime license guide for a full comparison of editions — all versions that include Outlook support adding Gmail via IMAP.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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