Quick answer
- Classic Outlook: select File, then Add Account, enter your Gmail address and sign in through Google's window.
- New Outlook: open Settings, Accounts, Email accounts, then Add Account and choose Gmail.
- Offline copy or many accounts: Corbett Gmail Backup Tool saves Gmail to a PST file that Outlook opens.
You want to add Gmail to Outlook so you can read, search and reply from one inbox. It takes about two minutes when sign in works. When it fails, Outlook shows "Something went wrong", asks for your password again or shows no IMAP option. Below are four ways to add Gmail to Outlook, with exact settings and fixes for errors people hit most.
How to add Gmail to Outlook with Google sign in?
To add Gmail to Outlook in classic Windows Outlook, use Microsoft's own sign in flow. Outlook opens a Google window, so you approve access there and no app password is needed. Microsoft's help page lists matching steps for Outlook for Microsoft 365 and older builds.
- Open classic Outlook to add Gmail to Outlook and select File, then Add Account.
- Enter your Gmail address and select Connect.
- In Google's window, confirm your address and select Next.
- Enter your password and finish any two step prompt.
- Select Allow on Google's permissions window.
- Select Done. Once you add Gmail to Outlook, your Gmail folders appear in Outlook's folder pane.
Limits: your mail stays on Google servers, so it mirrors Gmail and is not a backup. Outlook 2010 and 2007 do not support that sign in, so use app password steps below. Gmail may also send a "new logon detected" warning after you connect, which Microsoft says is expected.
How to add Gmail to new Outlook and Outlook for Mac?
To add Gmail to new Outlook for Windows, add an account from settings. It also signs in through a Google page in your browser.
- Open new Outlook to add Gmail to Outlook and select View, View settings, Accounts, then Email accounts.
- Select Add account, choose your Gmail address in Suggested account and select Continue.
- On your sync screen, select Continue.
- Sign in with Google in your browser tab and finish any two step prompt.
- Select Allow, then Open in your browser pop up.
- Return to Outlook and select Done to add Gmail to Outlook.
For Outlook for Mac, Microsoft lists Outlook, Preferences, Accounts, then your plus button and New Account. Enter your Gmail address and select Continue. Newer builds sign in through your browser, where you select Allow and then Open Microsoft Outlook. Menu names can change between builds, so check them in your version.
How to add Gmail to Outlook with an app password?
To add Gmail to Outlook when Google's sign in window fails or your build is old, use an app password and manual IMAP settings. Google no longer lets apps sign in with only your normal password. In a Microsoft Q&A answer from May 2023, an Outlook user was told that Google stopped that on 30 May 2022 and that an app password fixes it.
- Before you add Gmail to Outlook, open your Google Account, go to Security and turn on 2-Step Verification.
- Open App passwords, set app to Mail and device to Windows Computer, then select Generate.
- Copy your 16 character password and remove spaces.
- In Outlook, select File, then Add Account, enter your Gmail address and select Connect.
- If a "Something went wrong" box shows, select Retry, then Change Account Type and choose IMAP.
- Enter your app password when Outlook asks for a password, then select OK and Finish to add Gmail to Outlook.
Microsoft's page for that error says to confirm incoming server imap.gmail.com on port 993 with SSL/TLS and outgoing server smtp.gmail.com on port 465 with SSL/TLS. A follow up comment on that Microsoft thread, dated March 2026, says App passwords did not show under 2-Step Verification for that user. Google may hide it on some accounts, such as Workspace accounts with admin limits, so ask your admin if that option is missing.
How to add Gmail to Outlook as a PST file?
Use Corbett Gmail Backup Tool to add Gmail to Outlook as a local PST copy. It downloads a personal @gmail.com account to Windows as PST, MBOX, EML, MSG, PDF, HTML, CSV or TXT. Labels become folders, attachments stay attached and several Google accounts can run in one batch. Filters apply before anything is saved, by label, date range, sender, subject, content, attachment and size. It runs on Windows 11 to 7 and Windows Server 2025 to 2008, with no Mac version. Free demo saves 10 emails per folder.
Steps to add Gmail to Outlook with software
- Install Corbett Gmail Backup Tool on your Windows PC and run it as administrator.
- Choose Gmail and enter your address with your 16 character app password from steps above. Software loads
imap.gmail.comitself. - Tick labels you want. Select All Mail for one copy of everything.
- Preview a few messages in four preview tabs, then add filters if you need less mail.
- Choose PST as output format and select a destination folder.
- Start export, then open your PST file in Outlook to add Gmail to Outlook offline.
To open your file, use File, Open & Export, then Open Outlook Data File in classic Outlook, or follow our guide to import PST to Outlook. Those menu names are general Outlook behavior, so check them in your version. A message with two labels can appear twice in a folder tree, and Gmail's All Mail label gives one copy with no repeats. Gmail inbox categories, filters, Drive files and chat history are not included. Test one label on free demo first. Licence is lifetime from $99 with a 30-day money-back window.
To copy Gmail into a live Outlook.com or Microsoft 365 mailbox instead of a file, use Corbett Email Migration Tool. Its page lists Gmail, Microsoft 365 and Outlook.com on either side and keeps folders, dates and read status. Your Gmail contacts are separate, so see how to import Gmail contacts to Outlook.
What are Gmail IMAP settings for Outlook?
You only need these values to add Gmail to Outlook by hand. Microsoft's help lists them for IMAP setup.
- Incoming mail server:
imap.gmail.com, port 993, SSL/TLS. - Outgoing mail server:
smtp.gmail.com, port 465, SSL/TLS. - Username: your full Gmail address to add Gmail to Outlook.
- Password: your 16 character app password, not your normal password.
Gmail used to have an IMAP on and off switch under Forwarding and POP/IMAP. Corbett's Gmail page says Google removed it, and a how to guide from Ablebits says Google is making IMAP always on. If your account still shows that switch, select Enable IMAP and save.
Which way to add Gmail to Outlook is best?
To add Gmail to Outlook for daily reading, use Google sign in. Use app password steps for old builds or when sign in fails. Use software for an offline copy, filters or many accounts.
| Way to add Gmail to Outlook | Sign in | Offline copy | Filters | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Outlook to add Gmail to Outlook | Google window | No | No | Free |
| New Outlook or Outlook for Mac to add Gmail to Outlook | Google page in browser | No | No | Free |
| App password and IMAP to add Gmail to Outlook | 16 character app password | No | No | Free |
| Corbett Gmail Backup Tool PST to add Gmail to Outlook | App password | Yes | Label, date, sender, subject, size | Free demo, then from $99 |
Need mail moving back? See how to move Office 365 email to Gmail or migrate IMAP to Gmail. To save one message, see how to save a Gmail email as a PDF file.
Why can you not add Gmail to Outlook?
Outlook asks for your password again after you add Gmail to Outlook
Microsoft's page says Gmail needs a separate app password for Outlook in that case, and your normal password will not work. Turn on 2-Step Verification, create an app password and enter that.
Could not sign you in to Google when you add Gmail to Outlook
Microsoft lists that error for Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2021 and Outlook 2019. Its workaround is to select File, Office Account, then Manage Settings under Account Privacy and tick Enable optional connected experiences. Restart Outlook and add Gmail again. Microsoft says a fix shipped in version 2008, build 13127.20296, so update Outlook first.
Cannot add Gmail account to Outlook
A Microsoft Q&A user reported in February 2023 that sign in, consent and two step all passed and then Outlook failed at last step. A reply in May 2023 said to use an app password. Another user wrote in March 2026 that App passwords was missing for them and no fix was posted.
No IMAP option in Gmail settings
A Microsoft Q&A post from March 2026 asked why Gmail shows no IMAP option. An AI generated answer suggested Forwarding and POP/IMAP, then Enable IMAP, and said a missing tab may mean Google restricts that account. No answer was confirmed as a fix, and a Microsoft advisor asked which Outlook edition that user had.
Gmail folders look empty after you add Gmail to Outlook
Let Outlook finish its first sync. If mail is still missing, move your Outlook sync slider to All under Account Settings. Our guide to download IMAP emails from server shows where that setting lives.
What to do after you add Gmail to Outlook?
After you add Gmail to Outlook, send a test message and check that labels show as folders. Remember that Outlook only mirrors Gmail, so a delete in Outlook deletes mail on Google too. Keep a local PST copy as a backup.
Our view
Current Outlook signs in with Google's window, so skip app passwords unless your build is old. We add software only for offline PST copies. Update Outlook first when sign in fails.
Key takeaways
- To add Gmail to Outlook, use File, Add Account in classic Outlook or Settings, Accounts in new Outlook.
- Outlook signs in through a Google window, so an app password is only a fallback.
- Use imap.gmail.com on port 993 and smtp.gmail.com on port 465, both with SSL/TLS.
- Adding Gmail to Outlook mirrors your mail and is not a backup.
- Corbett Gmail Backup Tool saves Gmail to PST for Outlook, and its free demo saves 10 emails per folder.
Questions about add Gmail to Outlook
How do I add Gmail to Outlook?
To add Gmail to Outlook, select File, Add Account, enter your Gmail address and sign in through Google's window. New Outlook uses Settings, Accounts, Email accounts.
Do I need an app password to add Gmail to Outlook?
No, not for current builds. Current builds sign in through a Google window. You need an app password when Outlook rejects your correct password or your build is old.
What are Gmail IMAP settings for Outlook?
Incoming is imap.gmail.com on port 993 with SSL/TLS. Outgoing is smtp.gmail.com on port 465 with SSL/TLS.
Why does Outlook say Something went wrong when I add Gmail?
Microsoft says to select Retry, then Change Account Type, choose IMAP and enter an app password. Check that your server settings match.
Will Gmail labels show in Outlook?
Labels appear as folders once you add Gmail to Outlook over IMAP. Corbett Gmail Backup Tool also turns labels into folders in a PST.
Does adding Gmail to Outlook back up my email?
No. Outlook mirrors mail that stays on Google servers. Save a PST copy for a backup.
Can I add Gmail to Outlook for Mac?
Yes. Microsoft lists Outlook, Preferences, Accounts, then New Account. Corbett Gmail Backup Tool has no Mac version.
How do I add Gmail to Outlook as a PST file?
Use Corbett Gmail Backup Tool to save Gmail as PST, then open that file in Outlook. Its free demo saves 10 emails per folder.
Can I add several Gmail accounts to Outlook?
Yes. Repeat File, Add Account for every address you want to add Gmail to Outlook for. Corbett Gmail Backup Tool can queue several Google accounts in one run.
Will Gmail contacts come across too?
Contacts are separate from mail. Export them from Google Contacts and import them into Outlook.
