[Fixed] Can’t Add Gmail Account to iPhone/iPad

Why can’t you add Gmail account to iPhone or iPad? This guide will explain why for you, as well as five effective ways to help you out.

Demi

By Demi / Updated on June 12, 2023

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I can't add my Google account to my iPhone

I entered my Google email and password but just a grey option. I wouldn’t be able to change any options on it if I wanted to, and then that screen disappeared very quickly back to the add account screen. I’ve turned in on and off countless times, too. I’d appreciate any suggestions, thank you.

- Question from Google Help

You can add your Gmail account to your iPhone or iPad to send and receive emails or sync Google contacts to iPhone. You’re pretty sure that you have entered the correct Google account and password, but the screen seems to get stuck and back to the add account screen.  

Gmail Icon

If you still can’t add Gmail account to iPhone after countless attempts, you may need this guide to help you out.

Why can’t you add Gmail account to iPhone/iPad?

Before troubleshooting the issue, you may wonder why you’re unable to add Gmail account on your iOS devices. Actually, the problem can be result from many aspects, like Google server problems, bugs or corrupted caches in Google service, outdated software, and so on.

Luckily, it’s not a big deal that you can’t add Google account to iPhone since you can fix it with no effort with the methods introduced in the next part.

5 fixes to can’t add Gmail account to iPhone/iPad

The five solutions in this part are nice tries when you are unable to add Gmail account to iPhone or iPad. You can try them one after another until your trouble gets fixed.

Fix 1. Check for Gmail website alerts

The first thing you may need to do is to visit the website of Gmail to figure out what’s going on with your Gmail account so that you can get more detailed information about the issue.

Step 1. Open a web browser and go to gmail.com > Sign in with your account and password.

Step 2. Look for an alert box or email saying something like We blocked a sign-in attempt or Someone has your password prompts.

Step 3. Click on the That Was Me or Review Your Devices Now button and follow the onscreen instructions.

Gmail Alert Message

If you fail to receive the message, then please turn to the next fix.

Fix 2. Review your recent devices on Gmail

When you attempt to sign in Gmail with multiple devices, your account might be blocked temporarily. In that case, you can visit Google’s My account website to check all of the recent devices that tried to sign in to your account and unlock yours.

Step 1. go to https://myaccount.google.com/ > Click Security from the left pane > Click Recent security activity.

Gmail Recent Security Activity

Step 2. If there is an alert under it, click it to check if the device is yours. If it is, click Yes, it was me. Now, you can head to your iPhone and try to add your account again.

Fix 3. Check if IMAP is enabled

If IMAP on your iPhone is disabled, you can’t add Gmail account to iPhone. Sometimes, it will be turned off by default after restarting your iPhone or updating iOS. Just in case, check if IMAP is enabled.

Go to the Settings app on your iPhone > Select Password & Accounts > Choose Add account > Select Google from the next window > Follow the onscreen to finish. Once done, the IMAP protocol can be enabled by default.

Choose Google

 

Fix 4. Redirect Gmail account in Safari

If you can’t add Gmail account to iPhone and receive the error message “Safari cannot open the page because too many redirects occurred”. You may need to redirect Gmail account in Safari. Follow the step below to make it.

Step 1. Go to Settings on your iPhone > Safari > Swipe down to the PRIVACY & SECURITY section, toggle off Block All Cookies.

Block All Cookies

Step 2. Open the Safari app on your iPhone > Go to gmail.com and sign in with your Gmail account and password.

Now, your Google account should be redirected. You can add your Gmail account to iPhone from Settings again.

Fix 5. Perform CAPTCHA reset

A CAPTCHA reset can unlock the security features on your Google account, which is kind of useful and simple for new devices to connect to Gmail. If you are still unable to add Gmail account to iOS devices, you can try to perform CAPTCHA reset.

Here are the steps. Go to Google’s Display Unlock CAPTCHA Page > Click Continue when a security message prompts > Log in with your username and password.

Gmail Captcha Reset

This time, the sign-in attempt should work and you will have no difficulty adding Gmail account to iPhone.

Conclusion

That’s all for the five solutions for you when you can’t add Gmail account to iPhone or iPad. Hope your trouble can be solved with one of them. For more queries, suggestions, or feedback, please feel free to contact us.