Google Unlock Captcha

The Google Unlock Captcha is a tool that should be used when IMAP or POP syncing is not working correctly. It can be found at:

https://www.google.com/accounts/UnlockCaptcha

Google 2-step authentication can prevent the unlock captcha from working correctly. If you are absolutely certain that you are typing your username and password correctly, yet the unlock page repeatedly tells you that "Username and password do not match" then 2-step authentication may need to be disabled temporarily.

You can determine if 2 factor authentication is activated by doing the following:

  1. Logging into webmail.oakland.edu
  2. Click 'Settings'
  3. Click on the 'Accounts' tab
  4. Click 'Google Account Settings'
  5. Click 'Using 2-step verification' (as shown below)

s1.png

If the page says that 2-step verification is disabled or needs to be set up (as shown below) then no action is needed and the unlock captcha should be operating correctly.

s3.png

If the following page is shown then simply click 'Turn off 2-step verification'. Resynchronize the password and finally use the unlock captcha. IMAP and POP connections should now be active.

s2.png