Gmail and Google Workspace

Status: Supported with a Google app password.
Authentication: Google app password over IMAP and SMTP. Google OAuth is disabled in the current Published build.

The Gmail preset uses Google's standard IMAP and SMTP servers. Your Google account or Workspace administrator must allow the authentication method used by third-party mail clients.

Preset Values

An alternative SMTP configuration is port 465 with SSL/TLS. Both are supported by Google; the preset uses 587 with STARTTLS.

Before you begin

• Confirm IMAP is enabled in Gmail settings (Settings > See all settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP > IMAP access).
• Enable two-step verification on the Google account. App passwords are only available after two-step verification is on.
• For Google Workspace, confirm the administrator allows IMAP access and app passwords for the account.

Generate a Google app password

1. Sign in to your Google account security settings.
2. Make sure two-step verification is turned on.
3. Open the app passwords page and create a password labeled for PressedMail.
4. Copy the 16-character value. Google shows it in four-character groups; PressedMail accepts it with or without spaces.

Setup in PressedMail

1. Open Settings > Email Connections and select Add Account.
2. On Add an Email Account, choose Gmail.
3. On Account Credentials, enter the full Gmail or Workspace email address, display name, and the app password.
4. The Gmail preset fills the server values automatically, so the Server Configuration step is pre-filled.
5. Run Test Connection to validate IMAP and SMTP.
6. Save the account and let the first sync finish.

Gmail Folder Behavior

Gmail uses labels rather than strict folders, and IMAP exposes labels as folders. Because of this:

• The All Mail label can show the same message that also appears in the Inbox, Sent, or a custom label. This can look like duplicated messages.
• Sent, Spam, and Trash are exposed as separate IMAP folders.
• A message with several labels may appear under each matching folder.

PressedMail maps Gmail's special-use folders to standard roles (Inbox, Sent, Drafts, Trash, Junk, Archive). If a message appears in more than one place, that is Gmail label behavior, not a sync error.

Workspace Administrator Restrictions

A Google Workspace administrator can disable IMAP access, disable app passwords, or restrict less-secure sign-in methods for the organization. If the administrator blocks the method PressedMail uses, the connection test returns an authentication error that PressedMail cannot override. Ask the administrator to allow IMAP and app passwords for the account.

Google OAuth status

Google OAuth is not available in the current Published build. Use the app-password setup above. A Google or Workspace account that does not permit app passwords cannot be connected through the Gmail option today.

Troubleshooting

• Confirm IMAP is enabled for the mailbox.
• Use the full Gmail or Workspace email address as the username.
• Generate a fresh app password when normal account password authentication is rejected.
• Ask the Workspace administrator whether IMAP access and app passwords are allowed for the account.
• If Google flags a suspicious login, approve the activity in the Google account security review and retest.

Security Recommendations

• Use a dedicated app password, not your normal Google password.
• Revoke the app password in Google account settings when you remove the account from PressedMail.
• PressedMail encrypts credentials at rest on the WordPress installation. See Security and Privacy.

Related Documentation

• Email Accounts Overview
• Custom IMAP and SMTP
• Email Connection Troubleshooting