How to Generate and Use a Gmail App Password

This step-by-step guide will help you generate a Gmail app password and configure our website's SMTP settings for secure email communication.

Step 1: Access Your Google Account Settings

  1. Open Gmail in your web browser and log into your account.
  2. Click on your profile picture at the top-right corner.
  3. Select Manage Your Google Account from the dropdown menu.
Step 1
Figure 1: Accessing Google Account settings from Gmail.

Step 2: Enable Two-Step Verification

  1. Go to the Security tab from the left-hand menu.
  2. Ensure Two-Step Verification is turned on. If it’s not, enable it first.
Step 2
Figure 2: Enabling Two-Step Verification in Google Account settings.

Step 3: Navigate to App Passwords

  1. Use the search bar at the top of your Google Account settings page.
  2. Type App Passwords and press Enter.
  3. Click the link to access the App Passwords configuration page.
Step 3
Figure 3: Accessing the App Passwords page via search.

Step 4: Generate an App Password

  1. In the App Passwords section, select your app type (e.g., Mail or Custom).
  2. Provide a name for the app, such as "My Website".
  3. Click Create to generate the app password.
Step 4
Figure 4: Generating an app password in Google Account settings.

Step 5: Copy the App Password

  1. A 16-character app password will appear on the screen.
  2. Copy the password and save it securely for use in the SMTP configuration.
  3. Remember, this password will not be shown again once you leave this page.
Step 5
Figure 5: Copying the generated app password.

Step 6: Configure SMTP Settings

  1. Go to our website’s SMTP settings page .
  2. Enter your Gmail address and paste the copied app password in the respective fields.
  3. Click Save to store your settings.
Step 6
Figure 6: Configuring SMTP settings with the app password.

Step 7: Activate SMTP Settings

  1. On the same SMTP settings page, click on the Activate button.
Step 7
Figure 7: Clicking the Activate button.

Step 8: Reload the Settings Page

  1. Once activated, click on the Reload button to refresh the settings page.
Step 8
Figure 8: Reloading the settings page to confirm changes.

Congratulations!

Your Gmail app password and SMTP configuration are successfully set up. Your website can now send emails securely using Gmail.

Step 9
Figure 9: Confirmation of successful setup.
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