How To Fix Gmail not working Mac

To fix Gmail not working on your Mac, follow this clear and effective step-by-step guide designed to get your Gmail syncing and running smoothly again.

Step 1: Confirm a Stable Internet Connection

Ensure your Mac is connected to a strong and stable network. A poor or intermittent connection can prevent Gmail from syncing properly on your Mac. Check your network status in the Apple Menu under System Settings > Network and look for a green status indicator[4][8].

Step 2: Verify Gmail IMAP Settings

Make sure IMAP is enabled in your Gmail account settings to allow syncing across devices.

• Go to mail.google.com in a web browser.
• Click the gear icon > See All Settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
• Confirm that IMAP is enabled and POP is disabled.
  On your Mac, open Apple Mail > Mail menu > Preferences > Accounts, select your Gmail account, and make sure the incoming mail server is set to imap.gmail.com and outgoing mail server to smtp.gmail.com with SSL enabled[1][2][8].

Step 3: Restart Apple Mail and Your Mac

Quit the Mail app and restart it. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, restart your Mac entirely. This helps clear temporary glitches or stalled processes affecting Gmail syncing[6].

Step 4: Update Apple Mail and macOS

Keep your Mac’s software up to date. Open the App Store and check for updates to Apple Mail and macOS. Software upgrades often fix bugs and improve compatibility with Gmail[1][8].

Step 5: Remove and Re-add Your Gmail Account

Sometimes, Gmail syncing issues stem from account authentication glitches.

• Open Apple Mail > Mail menu > Accounts.
• Select your Gmail account and click “Remove”.
• Then, add it again by selecting “Add Account” > Google, and follow the login prompts carefully to reauthorize access[2][5].

Step 6: Use an App Password if Needed

If you use two-factor authentication on your Google account or if Apple Mail isn’t accepting your password, generate an App Password at myaccount.google.com/security under App Passwords and use that for your Gmail login on Mac[2].

Step 7: Check Google Security Alerts

Google sometimes blocks sign-in attempts it considers suspicious, which can interrupt Gmail on your Mac. Check your Gmail inbox (or recovery email) for any security alerts about blocked sign-ins and confirm that the login attempt was you to unblock access[3].

Step 8: Disable Interfering Security Software

If you have third-party antivirus or firewall software running, temporarily disable it to see if it’s blocking Gmail syncing. Adjust the settings to whitelist Apple Mail if needed[8].

Following these steps methodically will resolve the majority of Gmail issues on your Mac, restoring seamless email synchronization and access. If problems persist, consider consulting Apple Support or Google’s Help Center for advanced support.