Outlook 2016 Not Functioning with Gmail | Solution Guide

Outlook is one of the world's leading email clients, widely utilized across the globe. Since 1996, Microsoft's Outlook has been a prominent fixture in every Windows release. Among these, the 2016 version stands out as particularly popular and distinguished.

However, users frequently encounter issues with Outlook 2016 not functioning properly with Gmail. This problem can stem from a series of issues, but none of them are insurmountable or irreparably damaging. In this article, we will delve into several solutions that will assist you in getting Outlook 2016 to work seamlessly with Gmail once again. Let's proceed.

There are instances when Microsoft Office 2016 encounters issues. Occasionally, the problem manifests as a straightforward IMAP error, blocking users from accessing their inbox. At other times, users are unable to log in, even after disabling Two-Factor Authentication (TFA). The errors typically appear something like this:

There are instances when users disable or modify IMAP settings to resolve issues with Outlook 2016 not functioning properly with Gmail. However, these setting adjustments do not always prove effective. Therefore, let's proceed to explore the appropriate solution for this problem.

Preparations Before Troubleshooting

The first step we'll take is to prepare before attempting to troubleshoot the problem. It's crucial to avoid losing any important emails if the issue persists. Hence, we'll ensure data safety by creating a backup of your Outlook before proceeding with the troubleshooting process.

Creating a backup of your Outlook 2016 necessitates the use of a third-party application, and a reliable one at that. For this purpose, we recommend using Todo Backup, a professional Outlook backup software, to secure your Outlook emails before proceeding. Here's why this tool is ideal for crafting Outlook backups:

• Ability to backup any system tool(such as Outlook) and its features to a cloud drive
• Effortless backup of Thunderbird profile and emails
• Security zone to safeguard your email backups from virus attacks
• Customizable scheduled backup and restore for convenience
• Seamless cloning or transfer of Outlook to another PC

There are numerous additional features, but these are some of the primary ones you should be aware of when utilizing Todo Backup to create an Outlook backup. Therefore, download the software and employ it to safeguard your Outlook data by creating a backup.

Step 1. Download and install Todo Backup on your computer. Click the "Create Backup" button on the main interface.

Step 2. You need to back up your software applications, so select the "Apps data" option.

Step 3. All the apps that can be backed up are displayed on the screen. (Outlook is currently supported, and we will progressively develop and support more application backups, including game apps and other email clients like Thunderbird, Gmail, Microsoft 365 apps, and so forth.) Scroll down to locate the app you need to back up, then click "OK."

Step 4. Follow the prompts and select a location where you want to save the backup. It is recommended to choose a Cloud service, NAS, or an external hard drive to prevent data loss in case of computer failure or crash.

Step 5. You can set up customized backups by clicking the "Options" button. This enables you to schedule backups on a daily, weekly, monthly basis, or upon specific events. It also lets you choose differential or incremental backup options as per your requirements.

Step 6. After finishing the settings, click "Backup Now" to initiate the backup process. The duration will depend on the size of your source data, but it shouldn't take too much time.

4 Solutions to Fix Outlook 2016 Not Working with Gmail

Before delving into solutions, it's crucial to comprehend the underlying causes. The most apparent issue here could be an incorrect password or username - in other words, your login credentials. Other factors might involve incorrect configurations within Outlook or Gmail settings.

In summary, here are a few possible reasons behind it:

• Outdated Outlook application
• IMAP settings are not enabled in your Gmail account
• Google does not trust Outlook (can be resolved with "less secure app" settings)
• Gmail demands 2-step verification for logging into another client, such as Outlook 2016
• Virus infection or malware on your PC blocking login

These are some of the most frequent issues people encounter when using Outlook 2016 with Gmail. Let's discuss the four potential solutions to these problems.

Solution 1: Enabling IMAP in Gmail Settings

The first step you can take is to activate IMAP in your Google settings. This is one of the primary reasons why Gmail might not be functioning with Outlook 2016, and it could prevent your account from logging in from another source. Here's how to proceed:

Step 1. Go to Gmail and click on Settings.

Step 2. Once you're in All Settings, locate and click on the Forwarding and POP/IMAP section.

Step 3. Under the IMAP access (A) section, locate and Enable IMAP (B).

Step 4. Save changes.

Once this configuration is saved, attempt to log into your Gmail account through Outlook 2016. The issue should likely be resolved, as most problems stem from this specific setting.

Solution 2: Allow Less Secure Apps

Another potential solution to this problem is to enable less secure apps to access your Gmail account. Although Outlook 2016 is certainly not less secure, you need to authorize it to access your Gmail account. Here's how: 1. Go to the Google Account settings page: 2. Sign in using your Gmail credentials. 3. Navigate to the "Security" section. 4. Scroll down and find the "Less secure app access" option. 5. Click on "Turn on" or "Enable" next to "Allow less secure apps." 6. A warning might appear, informing you about the risks; proceed if you trust the app (in this case, Outlook 2016). 7. After enabling it, try to set up or reconnect your Gmail account in Outlook 2016. Please note that enabling less secure app access might expose your account to potential security risks. It's recommended to use an application-specific password or configure OAuth2 authentication for a more secure connection.

Steps: Go to My Accounts on Google, and navigate to the Security (A) tab in the far navigation bar. Under the Less secure app (B) access section, click on Turn on access (C).

Once that's done, log back into your account and make sure you're using the correct credentials. This should most likely resolve the issue if the problem wasn't related to the IMAP configuration.

Solution 3: Two-Step Verification

The next step addresses the potential issue with two-step verification. If you're attempting to sign in without completing a 2-step verification process set up by either yourself or your administrator (in a work context), you will need to complete it. Alternatively, you can disable it in your Google settings. Here's how: 1. Go to the Google Account sign-in page (accounts.google.com). 2. Sign in using your email address and password. 3. Click on your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Google Account." 4. On the left-hand menu, click on "Security." 5. Scroll down until you find the "2-Step Verification" section. 6. If 2-Step Verification is turned on, click on "Turn off 2-Step Verification." 7. Follow the prompts to confirm that you want to turn it off. 8. Once disabled, you should be able to sign in without the additional authentication step. Remember, disabling two-step verification may reduce the security of your account. It's recommended to keep it enabled for added protection.

Step 1. Go back to Google settings, then click on Security (A). In the Signing into Google section, turn 2-step verification off (B).

Step 2. Save settings

Once you attempt to sign in again, you should notice the issue has been resolved if this option was enabled. If not, proceed to the next and final solution.

Solution 4: Incorrect Username or Password

This is a common issue for many Gmail users. If you're using multiple Gmail accounts, it's possible that you only log into one of them on your phone or PC browser, while the others get automatically synced.

However, there's a chance that your admin is the only one who knows the password - especially if your Gmail is provided by your workplace. In that case, you'll need to obtain the credentials from your workplace.

If not, there might be a possibility that your username or password is incorrect, which would require you to recover your login credentials.

Conclusion

Here are some potential solutions to try to get Gmail working with Outlook 2016. After attempting all these fixes, you should be able to access Gmail through your Outlook 2016 again. It's crucial to ensure that you update Outlook 2016 as well, since it might be an older version.

But before proceeding with that, ensure you create a backup of your Outlook emails using Todo Backup. This ensures that you won't lose any data when you proceed with recovering or reinstalling Outlook.

Outlook 2016 Not Working with Gmail Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why isn't Gmail functioning through Outlook?

Gmail features a configuration called IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) that enables it to retrieve emails and download them to your personal computer. If this setting is not activated, Gmail will only function with Google's applications and services, and not with any other email clients. Hence, if the IMAP setting is disabled, that could be the reason it's not working properly.

2. Is Outlook 2016 still supported by Gmail?

Yes, that's correct. Even though Google has announced that support for Outlook 2016 will end in May 2022, many users are still utilizing it. However, it's advisable to upgrade to Outlook 2019 for better performance and continued support.

3. How do I synchronize my Outlook 2016 with Gmail?

Once you enable IMAP in your Google settings, it will permit your Gmail to synchronize with the Outlook app; however, it may take a few minutes for emails to start appearing in your inbox.