🔍 Overview
When connecting a Gmail account to Authority's Digital PR outreach features, some customers see an SMTP authentication failed error even after generating a Google App Password. This article explains why this happens and walks you through the steps to resolve it.
⚙️ Why This Error Occurs
Google no longer allows standard password-based login for third-party apps. To connect Gmail to Authority, you must meet all three of the following requirements:
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) must be enabled on your Google account.
- You must generate a dedicated Google App Password — your regular Gmail password will not work.
- The App Password must be entered exactly as Google displays it, with no extra spaces.
If any one of these conditions is not met, SMTP authentication will fail.
🛠️ Step-by-Step Fix
- Enable 2-Step Verification on your Google account. Go to myaccount.google.com → Security → 2-Step Verification and follow the prompts to turn it on. App Passwords are only available after this step is complete.
- Generate a Google App Password. Go to myaccount.google.com → Security → App Passwords (you may need to search "App Passwords" in the search bar at the top). Select Mail as the app and Other (Custom name) as the device — name it something like "Search Atlas". Click Generate.
- Copy the 16-character password exactly. Google will display a 16-character code. Copy it carefully. Do not add spaces, even though Google displays it in groups of four.
- Navigate to the email connection settings in Authority. Locate the option within Authority to connect or edit your email account for outreach.
- Enter your Gmail address and the App Password. In the password field for your email connection, paste the 16-character App Password you generated — not your regular Gmail password. Save your settings.
If the connection succeeds, you will see a confirmation and your Gmail account will be active for outreach.
🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using your regular Gmail password: This will always fail. Only App Passwords work for third-party SMTP connections.
- Skipping 2FA: Google hides the App Passwords section entirely if 2-Step Verification is not enabled.
- Pasting the password with spaces: The 16-character code must be entered without spaces, even though Google shows it as four groups of four characters.
- Using a Google Workspace account without admin approval: If your account is managed by an organisation, your admin may need to enable App Passwords at the domain level before you can generate one.
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.