# How to add Gmail to Apple Mail on Mac: step by step for macOS 27

> How to add Gmail to Apple Mail on Mac: open Mail > Add Account, sign in with Google, turn on Mail, then fix duplicates and sign-in loops.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/use-gmail-in-apple-mail-in-gmail
Updated: 2026-11-07

To add Gmail to Apple Mail on Mac, open Mail and choose Mail > Add Account. Enter your Gmail address, click Continue, sign in with Google, and turn on Mail for the account.

## Quick answer

- Open Mail and choose Mail > Add Account.
- Enter your Gmail address, click Continue, and sign in with Google.
- Turn on Mail for the account, then check Mail > Settings > Accounts.
- Skip the plain password. Password-only access ended on March 14, 2025.
- Fix duplicate messages through [Gmail]/All Mail, and quit Mail on other devices if you see too many simultaneous connections.

Applies to: macOS 27 Golden Gate and later, Gmail accounts in Apple Mail. Time: 10 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- A Mac running macOS 27 Golden Gate or a recent macOS version
- Your full Gmail address, such as name@gmail.com
- Your Google password, plus your phone if you use 2-Step Verification
- A working internet connection

## How to Add a Gmail account to Apple Mail on Mac in Gmail on a Mac

1. **Open Mail and go to Mail > Add Account.** (Mail > Add Account) Open Mail from the Dock or Spotlight. In the menu bar, click Mail, then choose Add Account. Apple's Mail guide uses this path to add an email account. Tip: The menu bar shows the menus of the app you are using. Click the Mail window first if the menu bar shows another app.
2. **Enter your Gmail address.** Type your full Gmail address, such as name@gmail.com. If you are not sure which provider to pick, click choose from a list and select it there. Then click Continue.
3. **Sign in with Google.** A sign-in window opens. Choose Sign in with Google if you see that option, then finish the login on Google's own page. Google ended password-only access for mail apps on March 14, 2025. Tip: Finish any 2-Step Verification prompt on your phone before you close the sign-in window.
4. **Turn on Mail for the account.** If a dialog lists apps, select the apps you want to use with the account. Turn on Mail. Apple's instructions do not describe Google's screens, so match the wording you see.
5. **Check the account in Mail settings.** (Mail > Settings > Accounts) Shortcut: ⌘,. Open Mail > Settings, then click Accounts. Select your Gmail account. Apple notes that Mail > Accounts opens Internet Accounts, where you confirm Mail is turned on for the account. Tip: A third-party guide lists ⌘, for Mail Settings. Test it on your Mac.
6. **Set Sent, Trash and Archive mailboxes.** (Mail > Settings > Accounts > Mailbox Behaviors) In the account settings, open Mailbox Behaviors. Map Sent, Trash and Archive to the Gmail folders you want Mail to use. Check this once, because a wrong mapping sends messages to the wrong folder.
7. **Or add the account in System Settings.** (Apple menu > System Settings > Internet Accounts > Add Account) On macOS 13 Ventura and later, click Internet Accounts in the sidebar of System Settings. Scroll if needed, click Add Account, and enter your email address or choose from a list.

Apple Mail is the mail app already on your Mac. Connect a Gmail account and your messages show up in Mail. You can read, reply, search and file them without opening a browser tab. Google still holds your mail. Mail is the window you read it through.

- **3 billion** users rely on Gmail, according to Google's January 8, 2026 post ([source](https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/gmail/gmail-is-entering-the-gemini-era/))

The setup is short when your sign-in works the first time. When it fails, the cause is usually an old password, a duplicate account or a menu path from an older macOS. The sections below cover each one.

## What you need before you start

- A Mac running macOS 27 Golden Gate or a recent macOS version.
- Your full Gmail address, such as name@gmail.com.
- Your Google password, plus your phone if you use 2-Step Verification.
- A few minutes of quiet time and a working internet connection.

Apple released macOS 27 Golden Gate on Monday, September 14, 2026. MacRumors reports it runs on all Macs with an M1 chip or newer. Intel Macs are excluded, and macOS 26 Tahoe is the final release for them. If you run an older macOS, check the menus against your version before you click.

## The fastest route: Mail > Add Account

Start inside Mail. Open the app, click Mail in the menu bar, and choose Add Account. Apple's steps ask for an email address. If you are not sure which provider to pick, click choose from a list and select it there. Then click Continue.

![Person reading email on a laptop, the setting for adding Gmail to Apple Mail on Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/use-gmail-in-apple-mail-in-gmail/how-to-add-gmail-to-apple-mail-1-24e457.jpg)

## Sign in with Google, not a plain password

This step is where many setups stall. Google no longer accepts a plain password for mail apps. Password-only access for IMAP, SMTP and POP ended on March 14, 2025. Google's help page says to look for a Sign in with Google option in your email client. Choose it, then finish the login in Google's window.

App passwords are a narrow exception. Google says they are unnecessary in most cases. Use one only when 2-Step Verification is turned on and the normal sign-in still fails. Google's Workspace help says app passwords remain the one exception to the password phase-out.

## Turn on Mail for the account

Some setups show a list of apps after sign-in. Apple says to select the apps you want to use with the account. Turn on Mail. You can change these choices for each account later, from the same settings screen.

Mail cannot use the account until Mail is selected. To check, open Mail > Accounts, which Apple says opens Internet Accounts. Select the Gmail account and make sure Mail is turned on for it.

## Add the account from System Settings instead

On macOS 13 Ventura and later, the account also lives in System Settings. Click the Apple menu, open System Settings, then click Internet Accounts in the sidebar. Scroll if you need to. Click Add Account, enter your email address or choose from a list, and follow the sign-in steps Google shows.

Monterey 12 and earlier used System Preferences > Internet Accounts. Use that path on those versions, and expect the window to look a little different.

| Where | Menu path | Shortcut |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Add an account in Mail | Mail > Add Account | No documented shortcut |
| Mail settings and Accounts | Mail > Settings > Accounts | ⌘, |
| Internet Accounts, macOS 13 and later | System Settings > Internet Accounts | No documented shortcut |
| Internet Accounts, macOS 12 and earlier | System Preferences > Internet Accounts | No documented shortcut |

_Where each setting lives in Apple Mail on Mac._

The ⌘, shortcut opens Mail Settings according to a third-party guide. Apple's pages do not list it, so test it on your Mac before you rely on it.

## Worked example: a personal and a work Gmail account

Say you have a personal Gmail address and a Google Workspace address for work. Add the personal one first, using the steps above. Check that it appears under Mail > Settings > Accounts. Then repeat the same steps for the work address.

The work address may behave differently. Your organization can hide the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab in Gmail, and the admin controls which apps can sign in. If the work sign-in fails with no clear fix, ask your IT or Workspace admin before you try the workarounds in this guide.

## Gmail on the web versus Apple Mail

Gmail's web app and Apple Mail read the same account. Gmail's web settings have a Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab. Reach it through Settings (top right) > See all settings. Google says IMAP access is always turned on in Gmail. Since January 2025, you cannot enable or disable it, so there is no toggle to flip.

Mail is the better window when you want Mac keyboard habits and macOS notifications for mail. The web app is the better window for Gmail's own settings and features. Use both if you like. The account is the same either way.

## Common mistakes when adding Gmail to Apple Mail

- Typing the Google password into Mail when Sign in with Google is offered. Use Google's sign-in window instead.
- Looking for an IMAP switch in Gmail. IMAP has been on since January 2025, and there is no switch.
- Re-entering the same password after Mail keeps asking you to sign in. That does not refresh the sign-in token.
- Leaving Mail open on other devices, which can trigger the too many simultaneous connections error.
- Following System Preferences steps on macOS 13 Ventura or later. Those versions use System Settings.
- Skipping Mailbox Behaviors. It lets you map Sent, Trash and Archive, so check it once after setup.

## Fix duplicates, sign-in loops and connection errors

Duplicate messages often come from Mail treating Gmail's All Mail folder as a regular mailbox. Right-click [Gmail]/All Mail, choose Use This Mailbox For, then choose Archive. A third-party guide reports this fixes the duplicates.

A sign-in loop means the sign-in token was revoked, so Mail asks again and again. Remove the Gmail account in System Settings > Internet Accounts, then add it back. Typing the password a second time does not help, according to the same guide.

If Mail reports too many simultaneous connections, quit Mail on your other devices. Then open Mail > Settings > Accounts > Server Settings and review the idle-timeout options. Window > Connection Doctor is there too if the errors continue.

## Test the account after setup

Send a message from Mail to an address you can open on your phone. Reply to it. Then check that the sent copy appears in Gmail's web app. If a step fails, open Mail > Settings > Accounts and look at the account again before you change anything else.

![Person working on a MacBook at a desk, checking a Gmail inbox in Apple Mail](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/use-gmail-in-apple-mail-in-gmail/how-to-add-gmail-to-apple-mail-2-db3c45.jpg)

## Apple's newer Mail features

Apple's What's new in Mail on Mac page lists Suggestions, Personalised Writing and Expanded Search Results as new. The page does not tie them to a macOS version. Connect the account first, then try them. Search is the easiest one to test, because it runs over messages you already have.

## Next steps after Gmail is connected

Once the account works, tidy it up. [Undo Send in Gmail](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/undo-send-in-gmail) covers steps for both the browser and Apple Mail. Sorting rules are built in Gmail's web app, so read [how to create a filter in Gmail](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/create-a-filter-in-gmail). Labels work differently from folders, so see [how to create a label in Gmail](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/create-a-label-in-gmail).

## Shortcuts

- Open Mail Settings (third-party guide): ⌘,

## If it does not work

- **Mail keeps asking me to sign in to Gmail** The sign-in token was probably revoked. Open System Settings > Internet Accounts, remove the Gmail account, and add it again. A third-party guide says re-entering the same password does not fix this.
- **Every message appears twice** Right-click [Gmail]/All Mail, choose Use This Mailbox For, then choose Archive. A third-party guide reports this fixes duplicate messages.
- **Mail says too many simultaneous connections** Quit Mail on your other devices. Then open Mail > Settings > Accounts > Server Settings and review the idle-timeout options. Window > Connection Doctor is there too.
- **Mail rejects my password** Use Sign in with Google. Password-only access ended on March 14, 2025. Use an app password only when 2-Step Verification is on and the normal sign-in still fails.
- **Gmail shows no Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab** Accounts managed by an organization may not show this tab. IMAP is always on, so there is no setting to change. Ask your admin if Mail still cannot connect.
- **My Mac runs macOS 12 Monterey or earlier** Use System Preferences > Internet Accounts. macOS 13 Ventura and later use System Settings > Internet Accounts.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Walk me through adding my Gmail account.”: Lazur points at each menu or button in turn and waits for your click before it names the next one. You still do the clicking. (Walks you through it)

## FAQ

### Do I need to turn on IMAP in Gmail before adding it to Apple Mail?

No. Google says IMAP access is always turned on in Gmail, and users can no longer enable or disable it since January 2025. If you cannot find an IMAP setting, that is expected.

### Why does Mail ask for my password and then fail?

Google no longer accepts a plain password for mail apps. Password-only access for IMAP, SMTP and POP ended on March 14, 2025. Choose Sign in with Google instead. App passwords are only for troubleshooting when 2-Step Verification is on.

### Can I add more than one Gmail account to Apple Mail?

Yes. Repeat the steps for each address, then open Mail > Settings > Accounts to see the list. Check Mailbox Behaviors for each account, because each one maps its own Sent, Trash and Archive folders.

### Which macOS version do I need for these steps?

These steps follow Apple's macOS 27 Golden Gate guide. Apple released macOS 27 on Monday, September 14, 2026. It supports Macs with an M1 chip or newer, and Intel Macs stop at macOS 26 Tahoe.

### Should I use Mail > Add Account or System Settings?

Both work for the same Google account. Mail > Add Account starts inside the app. System Settings > Internet Accounts keeps every account in one place. On macOS 12 Monterey or earlier, use System Preferences > Internet Accounts.

### Why do my messages show up twice in Mail?

Right-click [Gmail]/All Mail, choose Use This Mailbox For, then choose Archive. A third-party guide reports that this fixes duplicate messages. Check the result by looking at one message in your inbox.

### What if my work Gmail has no Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab?

Google Workspace accounts managed by an organization may not show that tab. Your admin controls the setting, so ask them if Mail still cannot connect.

### Is the ⌘, shortcut the same on every Mac?

A third-party guide says ⌘, opens Mail Settings. Apple's pages do not list that shortcut, so confirm it on your Mac before you depend on it.

## Sources

1. [Add and manage email accounts in Mail on Mac, Apple Support (en-gb)](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mail/mail35803/mac), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
2. [Use your internet accounts on Mac, Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/add-your-email-and-other-accounts-mh35565/mac), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
3. [Set up internet accounts, Apple Mac User Guide (macOS 27)](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-internet-accounts-mchlp2974/mac), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
4. [What's new in Mail on Mac, Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mail/cpmlwn/mac), Apple, checked 2026-11-07
5. [Gmail IMAP and other email clients, Google Help](https://support.google.com/mail/answer/75726?hl=en), Google, checked 2026-11-07
6. [Transition from less secure apps to OAuth, Google Workspace Admin Help](https://knowledge.workspace.google.com/admin/sync/transition-from-less-secure-apps-to-oauth?hl=en), Google, checked 2026-11-07
7. [Gmail is entering the Gemini era](https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/gmail/gmail-is-entering-the-gemini-era/), Google, checked 2026-11-07
8. [macOS 27 Golden Gate Released, MacRumors](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/09/10/macos-27-golden-gate-release-date/), MacRumors, checked 2026-11-07
9. [How to Add Gmail to Apple Mail on Mac (Without Breakage)](https://aiemaily.com/blog/gmail-in-apple-mail-setup-issues), AI Emaily (third-party), checked 2026-11-07