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UMN Google Apps: Less Secure Apps Setting

Your UMN email account is a Gmail account. Google has now established a system that blocks access to Google Apps for 'Less Secure Apps,' potentially causing problems connecting email to devices and migrating UMN email accounts between domains. This article provides steps to "Turn on" access for these apps until a better workaround is established. 

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There are two main scenarios where Google's Less Secure Apps setting may cause issues: Syncing UMN email to mobile devices and changing from one UMN campus domain to another

Password/Server Connection Errors When Syncing Email

Google currently considers most email clients using IMAP protocols (e.g. Thunderbird, Outlook, Apple Mail for iOS, Email for Android, etc.) 'Less Secure Apps.' Common errors involve IMAP password authentication failures and server unable to communicate errors after entering username and password for IMAP in the client. 

Domain Changes

Users who have Google accounts through other domains (e.g. UMN Duluth, Twin Cities, Crookston) may experience delays in the migration of their email account if 'Less Secure Apps' access is turned off. In order for Technology Help to migrate a user's Email, Calendars, and account settings, users may be asked to "turn on" access for less secure apps to finish domain migrations.
 

"Turn on" Access for Less Secure Apps

  1. Log out of all Google Apps/account sessions in your browser
  2. Visit https://www.google.com/settings/security/lesssecureapps
  3. Type your full UMN email address when prompted
    Google Domain Log In Page
  4. Click Next
  5. Log in to your UMN account with your Internet ID and password at the UMN Sign In page
    UMN Sign In page
  6. Click Sign In
  7. Select "Turn on" (users do not need to click "save changes" for this change to be saved)
    Less Secure Apps setting page; the active Turn on option is highlighted

DOMAIN MIGRATION NOTE: If making this change for a domain migration, notify Technology Help that you have modified the ‘Access for Less Secure Apps’ setting so the domain migration can be completed.

Additional Information

We are working with Google to find a solution that does not require user interaction. Once that is in place, this process will no longer be necessary.

Users should feel free to revert this setting back to "Turn off" after completing the Google Domain Migration (migrations are typically completed in 3 days. This may take longer for accounts with high volumes of email and large attachments).

ServiceNow Article ID

KB0019629