Creating an app password for your email account

If your email account uses two-factor authentication, you'll need an app password to connect it to tawk.to. This is the single most common reason a connection fails.

An app password is a separate, single-purpose password your email provider generates for one application. It lets tawk.to sign in to your mailbox without your everyday password, and without tawk.to needing your two-factor code every time.
Two things worth knowing:

• It is not your normal password. Entering your usual password on an account with two-factor turned on produces an error like "incorrect email or password", even though that password is correct for signing in normally.
• You can revoke it on its own. Because it's separate, you can remove tawk.to's access at any time without changing your main password or affecting your other apps.

If two-factor authentication is turned on for your email account, yes. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, iCloud and most business providers all require one.
If your account does not use two-factor authentication, your normal password will work, though many providers are switching to requiring app passwords regardless.

The exact wording differs by provider, but the shape is the same everywhere:

1. Sign in to your email account in a browser, not in tawk.to.
2. Open your account or security settings.
3. Find the two-factor authentication or two-step verification section.
4. Look for App passwords, usually inside that section.
5. Create a new one, and name it something you'll recognise later, such as tawk.to.
6. Copy it immediately. Most providers show an app password once and never again.
7. Paste it into tawk.to on the Sign in step when connecting your mailbox.

• Gmail / Google Workspace: in your Google Account security settings, under 2-Step Verification. App passwords only appear once 2-Step Verification is switched on.
• Outlook / Microsoft 365: in your Microsoft account security settings, under advanced security or additional security options. Some work and school accounts have this disabled by an administrator; if you can't see it, ask your IT team.
• Yahoo Mail: in your Yahoo account security settings, under app passwords.
• iCloud / Apple: in your Apple Account sign-in and security settings. Two-factor authentication is required before app passwords appear.
• Zoho Mail: in your Zoho account security settings, under application-specific passwords. You may also need to enable IMAP access separately in Zoho Mail's own settings.
• Fastmail: in your Fastmail settings, under privacy and security, as an app password with mail access.

Note: if you can't find the option, search your provider's help centre for "app password", every provider that supports them documents the exact path, and it will be more current than any third-party guide.

• Check for stray spaces. Some providers display app passwords in blocks of four characters. Most accept it either way, but if the connection fails, try it without spaces.
• Make sure it's for the right account. If you manage several mailboxes, confirm you generated it while signed in to the one you're connecting.
• Check it hasn't been revoked. App passwords can be removed from your provider's security settings, including by an administrator on a work account. If a previously working inbox disconnects, this is a common cause.
• Confirm your provider allows IMAP access. A few providers require IMAP to be switched on separately, in addition to the app password.

For connection errors beyond this, see Troubleshooting email connection and delivery issues.

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