An app password is a 16-digit passcode that gives a less secure app or device permission to access your Google Account. App passwords can only be used with accounts that have 2-Step Verification turned on.
When to use app passwords
Tip: iPhones and iPads with iOS 11 or up don’t require app passwords. Instead use “Sign in with Google.”
If the app doesn’t offer “Sign in with Google,” you can either:
- Use app passwords
- Switch to a more secure app or device
Create & use app passwords
Important: To create an app password, you need 2-Step Verification on your Google Account.
If you use 2-Step-Verification and get a "password incorrect" error when you sign in, you can try to use an app password.
Create and manage your app passwords. You may need to sign in to your Google Account.
If you’ve set up 2-Step Verification but can’t find the option to add an app password, it might be because:
- Your Google Account has 2-Step Verification set up only for security keys.
- You’re logged into a work, school, or another organization account.
- Your Google Account has Advanced Protection.
Tip: Usually, you’ll need to enter an app password once per app or device.
Why you may need an app passwordTip: Don’t create an app password unless the app or device you want to connect to your account doesn’t have “Sign in with Google.”
To help protect your account, we revoke your app passwords when you change your Google Account password. To continue to use an app with your Google Account, create a new app password.
Tip: If the app offers "Sign in with Google," we recommend you use that feature to connect the app to your Google Account.
Every app password can only be checked once. You can generate a new app password anytime.
If you lost a device that uses app passwords:
- Go to your Google Account.
- At the top, tap Security.
- Tap App passwords and revoke the app passwords from your lost device. You may need to sign in again.
If you use a non-Google app and can't sign in, the app's sign-in process might not be secure. Try to update to the latest version of the app and use "Sign in with Google," if it’s an option.
Tip: You can also switch to a more secure app.
If you lose a device or no longer use an app that was authorized with an App Password, we recommend that you revoke its App Password. This helps ensure that no one can access your Google Account from that device or app.
To remove an App Password:
- Visit your App Passwords.
- In the list of apps with App Passwords, find the one whose password you want to revoke.
- To remove access from the app, click Remove
.
Tip:
- If you're an Android 4.0+ user, we recommend that you remove "Android" from the apps with access to your account.
- Once you revoke the App Password, the app can't access your Google Account again.
- Use "Sign in with Google":
- Try to sign in to Outlook with your Google Account user name. Make sure you have the latest version of the Outlook app or program.
- Use an app password:
- If your Google Account has 2-Step Verification turned on and you can’t use "Sign in with Google," you can use an app password.