What You Should Do When Mojave 10.14.4 Fails to Authenticate Your Gmail Account

Mojave 10.14.4 update came with new features but also some issues that users encountered. Among the notorious problems that come with the recent update are OneDrive problems, Logic app not detecting, and being unable to authenticate Gmail accounts.

Google Requires Completing Authentication in Safari

According to some users, the recent Mojave update caused a few changes in how they use Google.

While accessing their Gmail accounts in the Mail app, the “Google requires completing authentication in Safari” message displays. When they open Safari and try to sign into their accounts, they are left out in the cold since they are unable to process anything.

Google only sends them back to the Mail app, leaving users in an endless loop where they just bounce between Safari and Mail.

Today, more and more Mojave 10.14.4 users are looking into support forums in an effort to find solutions to their problems. Unfortunately, there seems to be nobody capable of providing answers.

Now, they are left with doubts and hesitations whether or not there is a way to fix the problem with Mojave 10.14.4 failing to authenticate Gmail accounts.

The Issue Does Not Affect All Gmail Accounts

Strangely, it appears that not all Gmail accounts are affected by the problem. Some users who reported the problem said that they were still able to log into their other Gmail accounts.

Apple hasn’t said a word about the problem, hence there’s no definite fix as of this writing. But then again, other users were able to get past the issue by trying a few things.

How to Authenticate Your Gmail Account After Mojave 10.14.4

According to Google, some apps and devices are very easy to break into. That is probably why they felt the need to authenticate Gmail accounts to keep them safer.

Although this authentication process is a good security measure, it has been a huge problem for many Gmail users who need to use the Mail app. That is because Google is now blocking sign-in attempts that seem to pose a threat to account security.

Now, unless you are happy with receiving notifications from Google about login attempts that have been blocked, you should probably allow less secure apps, including the Mail app, to access your Gmail account. You can do this by authenticating your Gmail account.

So how do you authenticate your Gmail account after the recent Mojave 10.14.4 update?

Allow Less Secure Apps to Access Your Account

1. Go to your Google account Settings.
2. Select Sign-in & Security.
3. Scroll down to Allow less secure apps. Enable this option by toggling the switch on next to it.
4. Now, you are all set. There should be no more notifications and no more annoying emails.

It is worth noting, though, that if you enabled 2-step verification, the Allow less secure apps access to your account option will not be available. However, you need not worry because your Gmail account is more secure.

Signing In from a New Device or Location

Google knows that other people will attempt to access your account, no matter how hard you try to protect it. So to give users protection against these attempts, signing in from new devices or new locations will require more information before complete access is granted.

If you are using the Mail app and you receive the message that your password is incorrect, try to visit this page. After providing your details and answering some questions, you will be able to temporarily access your account. Once it’s activated, you can go back to the Mail app and try to sign in again.

Mail App Does Not Support 2-Step Verification

We’ve mentioned 2-step verification above, but what is it?

2-step verification is a verification process that literally requires two steps. When you sign-in, you will be asked for your password. After that, a code will be sent to your registered mobile device. It may take a bit longer to sign in if you are using an unrecognized device, but having this added layer of security to protect your account must not be missed.

So what should you do if your Mail app does not support this verification process? Simply make an app-specific password. This password is a 16-digit code that gives other devices and apps authority to access your Gmail account.

To create an app-specific password, follow the steps below:

1. Visit the App Passwords page.
2. Sign in by providing your Google account credentials.
3. Go to Select App and click Mail.
4. Next, go to Select Device and select the device that is having problems with 2-step verification.
5. Hit Generate.
6. Follow the on-screen prompts and provide an app password.
7. Hit Done.

Make sure you remember the passcode you created, unless you want to repeat the process again and again. Take note that the passcode can only be used once, so your account should be in safe hands.

Conclusion

Mac updates are something you should be thankful for. After all, they’re meant to fix problems and issues with previous macOS versions.

If you encounter problems with these updates, fret not because you are not alone. Many other users are experiencing them, too. To avoid them, you simply have to install a reliable Mac cleaning tool and run regular system scans.

As for your problems with authenticating your Gmail account via the Mail app, we hope the solutions above helped.

Do you know other ways to authenticate your Gmail account after the Mojave 10.14.4 update? Share them with us in the comments section!