Question Authentication error while connecting to your email provider

[Barbarian-CBX]

I keep getting this notification...
Authentication error while connecting to your email provider. I tap on it and get Linked Account Settings. I can't do anything with it. It says it's Gmail but I don't see it anywhere on my Gmail app.

Samsung S22 Ultra
Android Version 15
TIA

 

[B. Diddy]

Are you importing your AOL email directly to your Gmail account? Or do you use your AOL address as your Google account address?

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

Yes. I import my AOL mail directly into my Gmail account. I can still receive AOL mail into my Gmail. So it's connecting. The notifications just stated two days ago.

 

[B. Diddy]

In the Gmail website settings, try removing your AOL email, then add it back again. Make sure you're using an app password, rather than the password you created for AOL -- services like AOL and Yahoo typically require an app password when channeling through another service like Gmail: https://help.aol.com/articles/Create-and-manage-app-password

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

Did what you said. It added my aol mail to Gmail. But it's on as an additional email. Before it was included with my Gmail address. As a result it did a good job filtering out spam. When I tap on the aol Addy in my Gmail it's inundated with spam.

 

[B. Diddy]

I think you might not have used the right option:

1. On the Gmail website on your computer browser (not the Android app),
2. Click the gear icon at the upper right, then "See all settings."
3. Click "Accounts and Import", then "Check mail from other accounts" (not "Import mail and contacts")
4. Use the POP3 server settings here: https://help.aol.com/articles/how-do-i-use-other-email-applications-to-send-and-receive-my-aol-mail

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

I get email or password error. I verified they are correct by logging out of AOL and logging back into AOL.

 

[B. Diddy]

Just to be clear -- are you using the 3rd party app password, or are you using the password you created for your AOL account?

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

Just to be clear -- are you using the 3rd party app password, or are you using the password you created for your AOL account?

Using 3rd party app.

 

[B. Diddy]

Ok, try creating a new app password: https://help.aol.com/articles/Create-and-manage-app-password (I realize now that I forgot to share this link before as well)

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

Ok, try creating a new app password: https://help.aol.com/articles/Create-and-manage-app-password (I realize now that I forgot to share this link before as well)

I created an app password. Tried to add my aol mail to Check Mail in Gmail settings. Still not working.

 

[B. Diddy]

Hmm. Searching on the web, I came up with this, but it's an AI answer, so I can't be sure how accurate it is. Is there an option in your AOL settings to turn on POP access?

• Log in to your AOL Mail account.
• Click on the "Settings" icon (usually a gear icon) in the upper right corner.
• Select "Options" from the dropdown menu.
• Choose "Mail Settings".
• Locate the "POP and IMAP" option and click on it.
• Enable POP access by toggling the appropriate setting.
• Click "Save" or "Save Settings" to apply the changes.

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

I didn't see a drop down menu in settings. Settings showed options for how the aol could be arranged and displayed. It did a a more settings selection. I clicked on it but it didn't have an "Options" in its settings.

 

[B. Diddy]

What if you use the Import Mail and Contacts option in the Gmail website settings?

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

I did that. It added my aol addy to the drop down icon in Gmail app where you select which address mail to see. I have two Gmail accounts and the AOL account to chose from. The only problem is the AOL is not linked to either Gmail accounts like it used to be. The AOL mail is inundated with spam. When it was linked to a Gmail account the spam was filtered out fairly well. I can live with the way it is now as I can see the AOL mail in the Qmail app. Thanks for all your help. It's much appreciated.

 

[B. Diddy]

Ok, sorry we couldn't figure out the Check Mail from Other Accounts option. That still works fine for my Yahoo account, so I know that it still works in general. I wonder if AOL recently did something to bork that, or if they haven't kept up to date with some recent Gmail security update.

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

If it ever starts working, I'll post a follow up. Thanks again.

 

[Barbarian-CBX]

I repeated the same steps again and it linked my AOL mail to my Gmail. I went in Gmail settings, tapped link account, followed instructions and it worked.

 

[B. Diddy]

Awesome! Glad it's working now.