Enable IMAP in Gmail Not Showing? Here’s Why
Last Updated on August 28, 2026 by Shaks George
In short: The Enable IMAP option is missing because Google removed the toggle in January 2025 and IMAP is now always on for personal Gmail. There is nothing to switch on. If your email app still will not connect, the cause is authentication, not the setting. Use Sign in with Google or generate an app password. Gmail no longer accepts your normal password.
Why Enable IMAP is missing from Gmail
If you went looking for the Enable IMAP toggle under Settings, Forwarding and POP/IMAP and could not find it, your account is fine. Google removed that toggle for personal Gmail accounts in January 2025 and switched IMAP on permanently. It can no longer be turned off, so there is nothing to enable and no switch to look for. Every guide that tells you to flip it was written before the change.
The old Less secure app access setting is gone too. Google deleted it, so any advice pointing there also leads nowhere. Knowing both of these saves you hunting for options that no longer exist.
Senior Analyst, Corbett Software
“People spend an hour hunting for a toggle Google deleted, when the thing actually stopping them is the password. Gmail rejects your normal password for mail apps now. Generate an app password, paste it in and the connection that refused to work suddenly does.”
Is Gmail IMAP on by default?
Yes. For every personal Gmail account, IMAP is enabled automatically, which is why your inbox already syncs to phones, tablets and desktops. You can still open the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab on a desktop browser to see the IMAP access section, but for a personal account it simply shows as enabled with no on or off control. The tab only loads on the desktop web version, not the mobile app, which is another reason the option can seem to be missing.
The real fix: an app password or Google sign-in
Once you know IMAP is on, most connection problems come down to one thing: your password. Gmail no longer accepts your normal account password in email apps. You have two ways in.
Best option, Sign in with Google. Modern versions of Outlook, Apple Mail and Thunderbird offer a Sign in with Google button during setup. Use it and Google handles the login securely with no app password needed.
If your app has no Google sign-in, use an app password:
- Turn on 2-Step Verification at your Google Account security page, since app passwords only appear once it is on.
- Go to the App passwords page at myaccount.google.com/apppasswords.
- Type a name you will recognize, such as your mail app, then select Create.
- Copy the 16 character password and enter it in your mail app in place of your normal password.
Setting up 2-Step Verification first is worth it on its own. Here is how to turn on two-factor authentication on Gmail.
Gmail IMAP, SMTP and POP settings
Enter these exactly when adding Gmail by hand. Use your full Gmail address as the username. Enter the app password (or the Google sign-in) in place of your normal password.
| Setting | Incoming (IMAP) | Outgoing (SMTP) |
|---|---|---|
| Server | imap.gmail.com | smtp.gmail.com |
| Port | 993 | 465 (SSL) or 587 (TLS) |
| Security | SSL/TLS required | SSL/TLS required |
| Username | full Gmail address | full Gmail address |
| Password | app password or OAuth | app password or OAuth |
Prefer POP3? Use pop.gmail.com on port 995 with SSL for incoming. Keep the same SMTP settings for sending. IMAP is the better choice for most people, since it keeps every device in sync.
Set up Gmail in Outlook, Thunderbird and Apple Mail
In all three, the smoothest path is the Google sign-in rather than a manual setup.
- Outlook. Go to File then Add Account, enter your Gmail address and follow the Sign in with Google prompt. If an older build cannot show it, add the account as IMAP with the settings above and an app password.
- Apple Mail. Open Mail then Add Account, choose Google and sign in. Apple Mail uses the secure Google login automatically.
- Thunderbird. Add the account and Thunderbird offers the Google sign-in during setup. For the manual route, see how to add Gmail to Thunderbird.
Enable IMAP for a Google Workspace account
There is one case where IMAP really can be off: a Google Workspace account for work or school, where the administrator controls it. If a personal setup works but a Workspace address does not, ask your admin to check it.
- In the admin.google.com console, open Apps then Google Workspace then Gmail then End User Access.
- Turn on Enable IMAP access for everyone or for a chosen organizational unit, then Save.
- Allow up to 24 hours for the change to take effect.
Workspace accounts also require the Google sign-in rather than a plain password, so pair this with the app password or OAuth step above.
Still will not connect?
If IMAP is on, the settings are right and you are still stuck, work through these:
- “imap.gmail.com is not responding” or a rejected password. This is almost always authentication. Remove the account from the app and add it back using Sign in with Google or a fresh app password.
- “Too many simultaneous connections.” Gmail allows about 15 IMAP connections at once. Close mail apps on devices you are not using and wait a few minutes.
- Nothing loads in the browser. Clear the cache or try an incognito window, since a stale session can stop the settings page loading.
Back up your Gmail once IMAP is set
With IMAP working, your mail syncs across devices, but it still lives only in Google’s cloud. A local copy protects you if an account is ever locked, deleted or lost. It is also the safe way to clear space or move on from an address without losing years of email.
The Corbett Gmail Backup Tool connects over IMAP and saves your whole mailbox to your PC as PST, PDF, MBOX or EML, with attachments and labels kept. It previews the mail first, filters by date or label, then a free demo edition runs on every edition of Windows.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there no option to enable IMAP in Gmail?
Google removed the manual toggle for personal Gmail accounts in January 2025 because IMAP is now always on. There is nothing to switch on. Only Google Workspace accounts can still have IMAP controlled, by an administrator.
Is Gmail IMAP enabled by default?
Yes, for every personal Gmail account. That is why your inbox already syncs across devices without you changing anything.
What password do I use for Gmail IMAP?
Not your normal Gmail password, which Gmail no longer accepts in mail apps. Use Sign in with Google where your app supports it, otherwise an app password generated from your Google Account after turning on 2-Step Verification.
What are the correct Gmail IMAP and SMTP settings?
Incoming is imap.gmail.com on port 993 with SSL. Outgoing is smtp.gmail.com on port 465 with SSL or 587 with TLS. The username is your full Gmail address with an app password or the Google sign-in.
Why does Outlook fail to connect to Gmail even though IMAP is on?
Because it is still using your normal password. Sign in with Google if your Outlook build offers it, otherwise generate an app password and enter that during IMAP setup.
How does a Workspace admin turn on IMAP?
In admin.google.com, open Apps, Google Workspace, Gmail, End User Access, enable IMAP access for the users or unit and save. Changes can take up to 24 hours.
