If you’ve recently tried to connect your Google Workspace account to Microsoft Outlook and encountered a frustrating “password incorrect” error, you’re not alone. This issue stems from Google’s enhanced security policies, which have tightened authentication requirements for third-party apps like Outlook. As a result, simply entering your Google Workspace password no longer works seamlessly in some cases—especially if you’re using certain versions of Outlook.
Affected Outlook Versions
This problem doesn’t impact all Outlook users equally. Google Workspace accounts integrate smoothly with Office 365 (Microsoft 365), which is the recommended version for compatibility in 2025. However, if you’re running desktop versions of Outlook older than Outlook 2016 (e.g., Outlook 2013 or earlier), you’re likely out of luck—Google’s updated security protocols no longer support these legacy versions. For the best experience, upgrading to Office 365 is the way to go.
The Root Cause: Two-Step Verification
Google’s push for stronger security means that if you’ve enabled 2-Step Verification (2SV) on your Google Workspace account—a feature highly recommended for protecting your data—traditional password entry in Outlook won’t cut it anymore. Instead, you’ll need to use a special workaround: an App Password.
How to Fix It
Here’s the step-by-step solution to get Google Workspace working with Outlook again:
- Enable 2-Step Verification (if not already active):
- Head to accounts.google.com.
- Navigate to the “Security” section and turn on 2-Step Verification. Follow the prompts to set it up (e.g., via text message or an authenticator app).
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- Generate an App Password:
- In the same “Security” section, scroll to “Signing in to Google” and select “App Passwords” (you’ll need to sign in again).
- Choose “Mail” as the app and “Windows Computer” (or your device type) as the device.
- Google will generate a 16-character App Password. Copy it.
- Update Outlook:
- Open Outlook and go to your account settings.
- When prompted for your Google Workspace password, paste the App Password instead of your regular password.
- Save the changes, and Outlook should sync without issues.
A Quick Reply to Common Questions
If user is not getting option for enabling 2 factor in account settings, Super Admin must enable 2 Factor Login for users, Read how to enable 2 factor login for workspace users.
If you’re still seeing a “password incorrect” error when connecting your Google Workspace account to Outlook, the most common fix is to use an App Password generated in your Google Account security settings—especially if 2-Step Verification is enabled. This bridges the gap between Google’s enhanced security and Outlook’s authentication process.
Alternatively use Google Workspace Outlook Sync Tool
You can also use Google Workspace sync for Microsoft Outlook tool for configure Google workspace account in Outlook.
Final Thoughts
While this extra step might feel like a hassle, it’s a small price to pay for the added security of 2-Step Verification. For users on Outlook 2016 or later (or better yet, Office 365), this solution should resolve the issue quickly. If you’re stuck on an older version, it might be time to consider an upgrade to stay compatible with modern security standards.
