Google is slowly rolling out changes to how their products integrate with third-parties. Many apps now require users to "Sign In With Google" in order to get access to their own data via a separate application or service. You may have noticed we had to implement something similar to that with Google Drive integration in our Cloud Storage Connections. Now, when adding Google Drive, you have to actually log in to Drive to add it, and when linking Google Drive files in an email, you actually have to use Google's Picker.
This is really the first step in changing Google integration across the board. Other areas will need to be addressed in the future, most notably POP/IMAP Retrieval, SMTP Accounts, and migrations from Google to SmarterMail. Until Google forces changes to these areas, customers can currently use App Passwords.
An "App Password" is really just that: a passcode that's generated by Google for use in a specific app that replaces your actual Google password when integrating with a third-party service. App passwords can be generated directly from your Google account, and then they can be managed as well. (I.e., removed, edited, etc.) It's important to note, however, that in order to create an app password, you MUST have 2-Step Verification set up for your Google Account.
To generate app passwords, do the following:
- Log in to your Google Account.
- Use the Search Google Account window and type in App passwords.
- Select it from the available search results.
- On the App passwords page, type in the App name. For example, "SmarterMail IMAP Retrieval"
- Click the Create button.
Once you do this, a modal will appear that displays the app password that's created. BE SURE TO COPY THAT CODE! You won't be able to retrieve it once you close the modal.
Moving forward, you can head back to the App passwords page to view the codes you've created, and delete any that are no longer needed.