How to create a Google App Password

Why do I need set up a Google App Password?

Google App Passwords can be used in many places, but the key thing for my web design business is to be able to set up an SMTP plugin to ensure that any website submissions makes it through your gmail.

Google is known for their strong security systems (hello, two-step verification) and while it’s great to not get spam or hacked, it does make for an extra step when setting up website forms. Probably still well worth it. In the past I would require your Gmail password to set this up, which to be honest feels like a question that is too personal. Not to mention increasing your chances of getting hacked as we send these passwords to each other. Another drawback was that if you changed your gmail password, we would all have to remember to change it in the plugin. I can’t even remember what I wore yesterday.

Enter Google App Passwords. Now you can set this one-time code and it works just the same. And you don’t need to worry about sharing your password or remembering to change it in multiple places.

I put together instructions on how to set this up, as well as a video.

Here are written instructions on how to set up a Google App Password

Step One:

Go to your Google account at: myaccount.google.com. Click on Go To Google Account blue button located in the top right corner. Sign in using your Gmail credentials.

You will be redirected to your dashboard. Click on Security in the left sidebar circled below.

If you have not been asked to verify your login when you were signing in, you don’t have two-step verification turned on. It is required to have this turned on to be able to create the Google App Password. To check and enable this scroll to the Signing in to Google and click on 2-step verification to turn it on. You will have to verify your contact info and choose which device you would like to receive a code on.

Step Two:

Once you have the 2-step verification set up, click on App Passwords (see image above). On the next page, select Other (Custom Name) from the App dropdown.

Step Three:

Enter SMTP (Or whatever name you prefer). Then click on Generate.

Step Four:

A pop up will appear with a generated code. Copy this code and make sure not to lose it until everything is set in place. You will not be able to access this code again. You can then place that code into your SMTP plugin of choice for the password and test it. Or – if you are working with me – you can send me the password using this site https://password.link to generate a one-time viewable link to send to me.

Let me know if you have any questions! Or if you have another password website that you would like to suggest comment below!