Question

Why did my DavisMail email client suddenly stop working?

Overview

Google is continually updating their security measures and now class the way some applications and devices access your Google account as less secure then newer access methods.

Google have increased security measures to block access to your account if the app uses a basic authentication method.  This will result in an authentication error in the app, even though your username and password are correct.

Some examples of devices or applications affected by this setting:

• Accessing your email via desktop mail clients like Microsoft Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird
• Setting up Google Sync for iPhone/iPad
• The Mail app on your iPhone or iPad with iOS 6 or below
• The Mail app on your Windows phone preceding the 8.1 release

Grant access to these apps by enabling "less secure apps" by following the instructions below.

Answer

1. Login to the web interface for DavisMail via the web interface (http://mail.google.com/a/ucdavis.edu)
   
2. Click on your profile picture/icon in the upper right-hand corner of your browser screen.
3. Click the My Account button. A new tab/window will load the Google "My Account" portal page.
   
   
   
   
4. Click the Sign-in & Security heading.
   
   
   
5. Scroll to the bottom of this page and you'll see the Allow less secure apps option. Toggle the choice to ON.

• Selecting ON will allow applications such as smartphones, Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, to access your DavisMail account.
• Selecting OFF will prevent those applications from accessing your DavisMail

Note: Allowing less secure apps to access your DavisMail account could leave your account vulnerable in the event your computer is compromised.