Search Atlas Help Center

🔒 Fix Gmail 'App is Blocked' Error in Campaigns

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Camilo Aponte

Camilo Aponte

Last updated on Sep 30, 2026

🧭 Overview

When connecting a Gmail account to Search Atlas Authority Campaigns, you may see an 'App is Blocked' error or an SMTP/IMAP authentication failure. This happens because Google blocks direct password sign-ins for third-party apps by default. The fix is to generate a Gmail App Password and use it in place of your regular Google account password.

This article walks you through generating an App Password and entering it correctly inside Search Atlas so your campaigns can send and receive emails without interruption.

⚠️ Why This Error Occurs

Google's security policy prevents third-party applications from authenticating with your standard Gmail password. When Search Atlas attempts to connect via SMTP or IMAP using a regular password, Google blocks the request and returns an 'App is Blocked' or 'Username and password not accepted' error. An App Password is a unique 16-character code that Google generates specifically for a single app, bypassing this restriction securely.

Before you begin, confirm the following requirements are met on your Google account:

  • 2-Step Verification is enabled on your Google account — App Passwords are only available when 2-Step Verification is active.
  • You are signed in to the Google account you want to connect to Search Atlas.
  • The Google account is not a Google Workspace account with App Passwords disabled by an administrator. If it is, contact your Workspace admin to enable App Passwords for your account.

🔑 Step 1 — Enable 2-Step Verification on Google

Skip this step if 2-Step Verification is already active on your account.

  1. Go to myaccount.google.com and sign in.
  2. Click Security in the left navigation panel.
  3. Under How you sign in to Google, click 2-Step Verification.
  4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete setup.

🛠️ Step 2 — Generate a Gmail App Password

  1. Go to myaccount.google.com/apppasswords while signed in to your Gmail account. If prompted, re-enter your Google password.
  2. In the App name field, type a recognisable label such as Search Atlas Campaigns.
  3. Click Create.
  4. Google will display a 16-character App Password in a yellow box. Copy this code immediately — Google will not show it again. Store it somewhere safe until you have finished the next step.

📧 Step 3 — Connect Gmail to Search Atlas Authority Campaigns

  1. In Search Atlas, navigate to Left sidebar → Authority → Campaigns.

  2. Open your campaign settings or click Add Email Account (the exact label may vary depending on your campaign setup).

  3. When prompted for your email connection details, enter the following SMTP settings:

    • SMTP Host: smtp.gmail.com
    • SMTP Port: 465 (SSL) or 587 (TLS)
    • Username: your full Gmail address (e.g. yourname@gmail.com)
    • Password: the 16-character App Password you generated in Step 2 — not your regular Gmail password

  4. For IMAP (incoming mail), use these settings:

    • IMAP Host: imap.gmail.com
    • IMAP Port: 993 (SSL)
    • Username: your full Gmail address
    • Password: the same 16-character App Password

  5. Save your settings and test the connection. A successful connection will show a green confirmation status.

✅ Verifying the Connection

After saving, send a test email from within the Campaigns interface. Navigate to Left sidebar → Authority → Sent to confirm the email appears in your sent log. Check Left sidebar → Authority → Inbox to verify incoming mail is being received correctly.

🔍 Common Issues and Fixes

  • App Password option not visible: 2-Step Verification is not yet enabled. Complete Step 1 above and then return to the App Passwords page.
  • Still seeing 'App is Blocked' after entering the App Password: Confirm you copied the full 16 characters and removed any spaces. Re-generate a new App Password and try again.
  • Google Workspace account errors: Your Workspace administrator may have restricted App Passwords. Ask your admin to enable App Passwords at the domain level in the Google Admin Console.
  • Connection times out: Confirm the correct SMTP/IMAP ports are entered. Some networks block port 465; switch to port 587 with TLS.

💬 Need More Help?

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.