When you enable Google Workspace, your email is hosted at Google. However, you can still use any mail client you like (Outlook, Mac Mail, Thunderbird, etc…) to view your mail. This article lists the settings you should use when setting up your mail client.
If you’re setting up a single IMAP account on multiple computers, try taking a break between each setup.
Configuring IMAP
Step 1 — Enable IMAP in Gmail
- On your computer, open Gmail.
- In the top right, click Settings gear icon.
- From the dropdown, click Settings.
- Click the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
- In the IMAP Access section, select Enable IMAP.
- Finally, click the Save Changes button to save.
Step 2 — Configuring SMTP settings in your email client
Use the table below to configure your email client with an IMAP connection.
Incoming Mail (IMAP) Server
| Settings | Value |
|---|---|
| Server name | imap.gmail.com |
| Requires SSL | Yes |
| Port | 993 |
Outgoing Mail (IMAP) Server
| Settings | Value |
|---|---|
| Server name | smtp.gmail.com |
| Requires SSL | Yes |
| Requires TLS | Yes (if available) |
| Requires Authentication | Yes |
| Port for SSL | 465 (recommended) |
| Port for TLS/STARTTLS | 587 |
Port 465 with SSL is recommended, however some email clients are unable to use this port.
If you are unable to use port 465, the next best option is port 587 using STARTTLS.
Name, address, and password
| Settings | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name or Display Name | Your name |
| Account Name, User name, or Email address | Your full email address |
| Password | Your Gmail password |
Bandwidth limits
Google sets specific bandwidth limits on downloads and uploads. Make sure you do not exceed these limits or Google may temporarily lock you out of your account.
| Limit | Per day |
|---|---|
| Download with IMAP | 2500MB |
| Download with POP | 1250MB |
| Upload with IMAP | 500MB |