Allow ActiveXperts to use Google's Gmail mail services through SMTP

Problem Description

When an ActiveXperts product uses Google Gmail (smtp.gmail.com) for sending out e-mail messages, the following error may occur:

    Error #37411: Authorization failed

This happens even when the correct credentials are used!

---

What is the reason for this problem?

Google Gmail accepts two different ways of authentication:

• OAUTH authentication (preferred)
• SMTP authentication (alternate)

ActiveXperts authenticates using SMTP authentication ONLY. By default Gmail will block login attempts using SMTP saying:

ERROR #37411: Authorization failed

The log will display something like this:

534-5.7.14 https://accounts.google.com/ContinueSignIn?sarp=1&scc=1&plt=AKgnsbtdp 
534-5.7.14 Please log in via your web browser and 534-5.7.14 then try again. 
534-5.7.14 Learn more at 534 5.7.14 https://support.google.com/mail/answer/78754

Google Gmail prefers OAUTH authentication, which is not part of the SMTP protocol. To allow SMTP authentication, you must change the 'Allow Less Secure Apps' setting in your Google profile, online.

---

Solution

To allow SMTP authentication, you must change the 'Allow Less Secure Apps' setting using the web browser. Google call applications that do not make use of OAUTH 'Less Secure'.

This can be done in the following way:

• Use your browser to visit https://www.google.com/settings/security/lesssecureapps
• Go to 'Allow less secure apps' and choose 'Allow' to let SMTP-login-based apps (like ActiveXperts) access your Google account.

After that, ActiveXperts will be able to authenticate and send out through Google's Gmail.