Cannot add Gmail to Outlook: This browser or app may not be secure.

Alex Carlock 156

I'm trying to add my Gmail account into Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise Outlook version 2104 build 13929.20254 Click-to-run 64 bit. I go to File --> Add Account --> enter my gmail.com address and click connect. Another screen pops up with my email address pre-populated and I click Next, which brings me to this screen:
Couldn't sign you in
This browser or app may not be secure. Learn more

Try using a different browser. If you’re already using a supported browser, you can refresh your screen and try again to sign in.

We've modified a lot of Windows Internet Settings, but I can access Gmail through IE and my default Edge Chromium browser. So why doesn't it work when accessed through Outlook? Outlook appears to be using some version of IE instead of my default Edge browser. Does anyone know why that is, or exactly what setting needs to be enabled for this to work?

Thanks.

ArchyinVA 6 Reputation points

2021-05-29T05:29:21.887+00:00

I was able to go here: https://myaccount.google.com/u/0/security and turn on access to less secure apps while I signed in. Once sign in completed and Outlook started populating with data, I closed Outlook, turned off access to less secure apps, and I still had my gmail syncing.
Luke 11 Reputation points

2022-10-31T02:19:55.45+00:00

Was getting the same insecure browser error in Outlook 365 when trying to add a Gmail account. What worked for me was to go to this link which alerts your Google account you're about to add a new device or app to it. Once clicking Continue, go to Outlook and try adding the Gmail account again. This should work.
https://accounts.google.com/DisplayUnlockCaptcha

Edit August 2023 -- That link no longer appears to work. This error still occurs in Outlook 365 for Windows sometimes when trying to add a Gmail account, but I think I've finally found a definitive solution -- just keep trying over and over and eventually you'll get to the Google password screen. I find it takes about 4 or 5 tries, but I can repeat this success if I stick with it. Once you get prompted for your Gmail password, you're in the clear. Enter the password associated with the mail account and hit next. If you have TFA enabled you'll need to authorize the sign-in and then allow Outlook access, and that's it.

Accepted answer

FARHAN HAIDER HAMZA 90 Reputation points

2024-03-04T21:43:53.03+00:00

Hi @Alex Carlock I Have Finally Solved This issue "Couldn't sign you in This browser or app may not be secure. Learn moreTry using a different browser. If you’re already using a supported browser, you can refresh your screen and try again to sign in."

Actually its an issue inside microsoft edge not in your outlook... First you need to go to your computer Settings > Default Apps > Default Browser and then select Microsoft Edge as your default browser,

if you already have Microsoft Edge as your default browser then you can skip this step... After doing this, now go to Microsoft Edge and Type this text below in the address bar....

edge://settings/defaultbrowser

Like in the screenshot below i have attached... ******Now see the option "Allow Sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer Mode (IE MODE)" Select Don't Allow and now Go to Outlook and Add Your Gmail Account, Now it should not give any problem. I Hope this will be helpful
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3 people found this answer helpful.
bob mcmasters 0 Reputation points

2024-05-29T21:24:32.2566667+00:00

This worked for me. Thanks!
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17 additional answers

Jade Liang-MSFT 9,976 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2021-04-28T06:37:08.977+00:00
Hi @Alex Carlock ,

In order to avoid the interference of this Outlook profile, it's suggested to create a new profile and re-add your account to check if you could add it normally there:

enable "prmpt for a profile to be used" : Control Panel > Mail>Show profiles > choose "prompt for a profile to be used "

restart your Outlook>Options>New>type a new profile name and add your gmail account

If the issue still exists there, based on my research, the less secure app access for your gmail account may also affect it, it's recommended to log into your gmail account in browser and turn on the less secure app acess to check if the issue has any difference after that. For more information, please refer to : Less secure apps & your Google Account

Update:

The big question here is why does Outlook use IE instead of the default system browser and is there a way to configure it to do so?

Based on my research, I couldn't find any related information that shows/explain Outlook use IE when configured gmail account as you mentioned. But based on my test on Outlook 365, I could add Gmail account normally in this system:

So for your issue itself, did it occur on your client only? In order to further confirm if your issue is related to Outlook or your account itself, it's suggested to log into your account on Windows Mail or other Outlook client that could work normally to check if you could configure your account normally there.

If you could add the account normally on other client, the issue may be related to your client itself, in order to avoid the interference of corrupted Outlook client, please try to repair your Outlook to check.

If your issue has any update, please feel free to post back.

If the response is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
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1 person found this answer helpful.
Alex Carlock 156 Reputation points

2021-04-28T12:36:03.213+00:00

Using a different Outlook Profile doesn't help. We're not willing to enable "Less Secure apps" as this should work without that. The big question here is why does Outlook use IE instead of the default system browser and is there a way to configure it to do so?

Jade Liang-MSFT 9,976 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2021-05-04T09:19:56.657+00:00

Hi @Alex Carlock ,

Thanks for your update and sorry for delay, I'm still researching for your issue. Due to the word limit in a comment, I have updated my answer above, please kindly check it.

Hope that would be helpful to you.

Jade Liang-MSFT 9,976 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2021-05-07T09:12:49.713+00:00

Hi @Alex Carlock
Has your issue been solved after so long?
If not, please provide me with more information about your issue for further analysis.Thanks!

Carol M. Chisholm 26 Reputation points

2022-02-22T10:36:19.783+00:00

Sorry I missed your questions. Multiple accounts, multiple systems.
This used to work of course. Then one had to turn off MFA in gmail to connect. Now that Google has stopped recognising IE,,
I have rebuilt the system.
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Alex Carlock 156 Reputation points

2021-05-07T13:40:54.397+00:00

No. This issue is not resolved. We cannot add a Gmail account to any Outlook profile on corporate computers, but we can add the same Gmail account to a non-corporate computer, so we know it's related to the IT settings we set and not the Gmail Account. The problem is still that we don't know exactly what setting is causing this issue, why the setting doesn't prevent Gmail login in the Full IE browser but it prevents it in the mini Outlook Authentication browser, or why Outlook even still seems to use the mini IE browser instead of the Computer's default browser (in my case that's Edge Chromium).
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1 person found this answer helpful.
Carol M. Chisholm 26 Reputation points

2022-02-22T10:37:13.547+00:00

I am looking at Azure AD joined systems...
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Carol M. Chisholm 26 Reputation points

2021-08-16T14:22:41.903+00:00

I'd much rather figure out how to eliminate using IE at all.
This seems to be a recent change, and related to O365 security.

I don't want to be using IE for authentication.

Perhaps this link might help

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/31773359/add-new-microsoft-edge-to-web-browser-control

Or this

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/office-365-proplus-outlook-ie-browser-emulation/b1264b5d-93b0-4f49-8c40-752a1f0f563b?auth=1
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Caroline 6 Reputation points

2022-02-11T05:43:19.887+00:00
Search for "Turn Windows features on or off" to open the Windows Features app.

Uncheck Internet Explorer 11.

Restart computer.
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1 person found this answer helpful.
John Martin 1 Reputation point

2022-02-21T23:45:28.267+00:00

Tried that ... didnt work, the only effect this seemed to have was to prevent the ability to open up the "learn more" link.
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Cannot add Gmail to Outlook: This browser or app may not be secure.

17 additional answers