I’m having trouble with a Python script that’s supposed to log into Gmail and grab some emails. I’m using imaplib but it’s not working out.
Here’s what I’ve got so far:
import email_parser
import imap_connector
mailbox = imap_connector.IMAP4_SSL('imap.gmail.com', 993)
status, response = mailbox.login('[email protected]', 'my_password')
But I keep getting this error:
Error: Please log in through your web browser first
I’ve turned on IMAP in my Gmail settings. I’ve also tried the Unlock Captcha thing, but no luck. The only way I can get it to work is by allowing less secure apps in my Google account.
Is there a way to get this working without compromising my account’s security? Any advice would be appreciated!
Your issue seems to stem from Google’s security measures. Instead of allowing less secure apps, I’d recommend using OAuth 2.0 for authentication. This method is more secure and doesn’t require lowering your account’s security settings. To implement OAuth 2.0, you’ll need to set up a project in the Google Developers Console, create credentials, and use a library like google-auth-oauthlib to handle the authentication flow. It’s a bit more complex initially, but it’s the recommended approach for accessing Gmail via IMAP securely. If you prefer a simpler solution, App Passwords, as mentioned by Ryan_Innovative, are a good alternative. They’re specific to individual applications and can be revoked independently of your main password.
i had the same issue, oauth2 worked for me. u gotta make a google cloud project, grab creds and use google-auth-oauthlib for auth. its kinda tricky but way safer. trust me!
I encountered a similar problem recently while automating email tasks. In my case, the most secure resolution was to use Google’s App Passwords rather than allowing less secure apps. I first enabled 2-Step Verification on my account and then generated an app password from the Security settings. I replaced my regular password with this generated one in my script. This method maintained my account’s security while still granting IMAP access. In addition, using oauth2 might be worth exploring for a more robust long-term solution.