## **📋 Before You Begin**

Connecting Gmail to Search Atlas requires three things to be in place: **2-Step Verification** enabled on your Google account, **IMAP access** turned on inside Gmail settings, and a **Google App Password** generated for this integration. Browser troubleshooting such as hard refresh or incognito mode will not resolve connection errors — the fix lies entirely within Gmail and Search Atlas settings.  


## **🔧 Step 1: Enable IMAP in Gmail**

IMAP must be active in Gmail before Search Atlas can communicate with your inbox.

1. Open **Gmail** and click the gear icon in the top-right corner, then select **See all settings**.
2. Go to the **Forwarding and POP/IMAP** tab.
3. Under **IMAP Access**, select **Enable IMAP**.
4. Under **Auto-Expunge**, confirm that **Auto-Expunge on** is selected.
5. Click **Save Changes**.

## 🔑 Step 2: Generate a Google App Password

An App Password is a 16-character code that lets Search Atlas access your Gmail securely without using your main Google password. 2-Step Verification must already be enabled on your account before this option appears.

1. Go to **myaccount.google.com** and select **Security** from the left-hand menu.
2. Under **How you sign in to Google**, click **2-Step Verification**.
3. Scroll to the bottom and click **App passwords**.
4. Enter a name such as **Search Atlas** and click **Create**.
5. Copy the 16-character password shown on screen. **Do not close this window** until you have saved it — Google will not display this code again.

**Google Workspace users:** If you do not see the App passwords option, your account is managed by an administrator. Contact your admin to enable App Passwords or generate one at the domain level.  


## **📬 Step 3: Configure SMTP/IMAP in Search Atlas**

With IMAP enabled and your App Password ready, link your Gmail account inside the platform.

1. In Search Atlas, go to **Authority Building** in the left-hand navigation.
2. Open **Campaigns** and click **Manage connected emails**.
3. Click **Add email account** or the **+** icon.
4. Select **Configure SMTP/IMAP** as the connection method.
5. Fill in the connection details as follows:

- **Email address:** your full Gmail address (e.g. [name@gmail.com](mailto:name@gmail.com))
- **Password:** paste the 16-character App Password — not your regular Gmail password
- **IMAP Host:** imap.gmail.com | **Port:** 993 | **Encryption:** SSL/TLS
- **SMTP Host:** smtp.gmail.com | **Port:** 465 | **Encryption:** SSL/TLS

Click **Save** or **Test connection**. A successful test confirms your Gmail is connected and ready for outreach.

## **⚠️ Common Errors and How to Fix Them**

- **Authentication failed / Invalid credentials:** Confirm you entered the App Password, not your regular Gmail password. If unsure, delete the existing App Password in Google and generate a new one.
- **IMAP not enabled:** Return to Gmail settings and verify IMAP is toggled on and that changes were saved.
- **Auto-Expunge warning:** If Search Atlas reports a mailbox configuration issue, revisit Step 1 and ensure Auto-Expunge is set to **on**.
- **Connection timed out:** Double-check the host addresses and port numbers listed above for typos.

## **💬 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.