How to Access Gmail with Outlook for Mac

Configure Gmail in Outlook for Mac

Man reads email at desk
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by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated September 03, 2019

Setting up Outlook for Mac to work with Gmail isn't complicated and gives you all the best features of both the app and the service. The process below allows Outlook to synchronize with Gmail, including all mail and labels.

Instructions in this article apply to Outlook 2019 for Mac, Outlook 2016 for Mac, Outlook for Office 365 for Mac, and Outlook for Mac 2011.

How to Access Gmail With Outlook for Mac

Set up as an IMAP account, Gmail in Outlook for Mac not only receives and sends mail; it also accesses all your old Gmail messages.

Accessing Gmail with Outlook for Mac is a two-step process. First, you'll enable IMAP in Gmail. Then, you'll set up Outlook for Mac to download your Gmail messages.

Enable IMAP in Gmail

To enable IMAP in Gmail, sign in to your Gmail account, open Gmail, and follow these steps:

  1. Select the Settings icon and then Settings.

    Screenshot of Gmail settings

  2. Go to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab and select Enable IMAP.

    Screenshot of Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab in Gmail

  3. Exit Gmail.

Set Up Gmail in Outlook

After Gmail has been set up to enable IMAP, open Outlook for Mac and follow these steps:

  1. Select Outlook > Preferences > Accounts. In Outlook for Mac 2011, go to Tools > Accounts.

    Screenshot of Outlook menu showing Preferences

  2. On the Accounts screen, select the plus sign (+) in the lower-left corner, and then New Account.

  3. Enter your Gmail address and password where prompted.

    ​If you have 2-step authentication enabled for Gmail, create and use an application password specific for Outlook for Mac.

    Outlook for Mac Gmail setup

  4. Select Allow.

    Click Allow to permit Microsoft to access your Google account

  5. Select Open Microsoft Outlook in the popup window that appears.

    Open Microsoft Outlook to complete the account addition process

  6. Wait as Outlook completes the process. Then, click or tap Done.

What Gmail in Outlook for Mac Lets You Do and Access

Messages that have been assigned a label (or more than one) in Gmail on the web appear in folders in Outlook for Mac. Likewise, if you copy a message in Outlook to a folder, it appears under the corresponding label in Gmail; if you move a message, it is removed from the corresponding label (or the inbox) in Gmail.

Under Junk E-mail, you have access to your Gmail Spam label; drafts, deleted, and sent messages are in the Outlook for Mac Drafts, Deleted Items, and Sent Items folders, respectively.