Outlook not working with Gmail

Robert Hatton 5 Reputation points
2026-01-23T23:55:48.6433333+00:00

I am so frustrated!

I've been using Outlook at work for YEARS (I was email admin for Exchange server for many years), so when I retired, I wanted to continue using the familiar client with my non-work Gmail account. I set everything up and it was working fine - both email and calendar(s). At some point in 2025, I started getting sync errors for the calendar. I tried deleting and re-adding the calendars with no luck. I tried adding a new profile using the SAME email account AND a different Gmail account, but it keeps failing to authenticate (even with the one that's actually working!). I am afraid to delete the working Gmail account and re-add it, because if it continues to fail, I then have no calendar OR email!

I suspect it has something to do with 2FA in Gmail, so I turned off 2FA, but still no luck.

It's a shame, I paid for Office specifically for Outlook and now I can't properly use it. It was bad enough I could ONLY make calendar changes on the Gmail web calendar, then they would replicate to Outlook. If I tried to make changes on the Outlook client, it said I had no permissions.

Any help would be great!

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For home

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  1. Wouter Vanderheyden 0 Reputation points
    2026-09-09T08:56:47.4633333+00:00

    Hi,

    I just found a solution that worked for me.

    When trying to use the 'Outlook, Hotmail and Live' option authentication kept failing. Probably Microsoft messing up their handshake somewhere.

    SOLUTION:
    Instead of using the outlook or exchange option choose Other and continue like normal. You get prompted for MFA and voila!

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  2. AI answer

    2026-01-23T23:56:00.4433333+00:00

    It sounds like you're experiencing issues with syncing your Gmail account in Outlook, particularly with calendar functionality. Since you've already tried turning off 2FA and creating a new profile without success, here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem:

    1. Use App Passwords: If you have 2FA enabled, you need to generate an app password for Outlook. This password is used instead of your regular Gmail password when connecting Outlook to your Gmail account. You can generate an app password by going to your Google Account settings under Security > App passwords.
    2. Check Gmail Settings: Ensure that IMAP is enabled in your Gmail settings. Go to Gmail > Settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP, and make sure IMAP is enabled.
    3. Remove and Re-add Account: If you feel comfortable, try removing the Gmail account from Outlook and then re-adding it using the app password. Make sure to back up any important data before doing this.
    4. Separate Profiles: Since you mentioned creating separate profiles, ensure that you are not mixing accounts that might have different authentication methods. It’s best to keep your Gmail accounts in separate profiles if they are causing conflicts.
    5. Check for Updates: Make sure that your Outlook application is up to date. Sometimes, updates can resolve compatibility issues with Gmail.
    6. Review Sync Issues: Check the Sync Issues folder in Outlook for any error messages that might give you more insight into what’s going wrong.

    If the problem persists after trying these steps, you may want to consult the official Microsoft documentation or support for further assistance.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  3. Diane Poremsky 8,275 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-01-24T22:51:58.54+00:00

    What is your build number? There was an issue last month but it was fixed. It should only affect email though, not adding the calendar link.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/unable-to-add-a-gmail-account-to-classic-outlook-4d9530c5-3f40-4e6d-9b45-4477f160828f

    When you declined in Outlook, they removed it from the calendar in your data file. if you accept in gmail.com, it would sync over - if syncing is working.

    I am getting "object not found" when I try to sync.

    When you remove and re-add the calendars you get object not found? Did you try getting a new ics link?

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  4. Diane Poremsky 8,275 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-01-24T01:36:46.13+00:00

    How did you add the calendar to outlook? If you subscribed to the Gmail calendar, it's a one way sync - Gmail to outlook. If you want a 2-way sync you need to use gsyncit or other sync app. Or use new outlook.

    What is the error message? It's not uncommon to get sync issues with calendars, but they won't affect email sync. It's usually something Outlook doesn't like in one of the events on the calendar - editing the event or deleting it and recreating may fix it.

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