Some iPhone users report that they can’t add a Gmail account (Google Account) to the iPhone no matter what they try. For some, the Google option is missing when adding the account, while others get a variety of errors. We made sure to cover this issue and provide some solutions that should, hopefully, address the problem and allow you to sign in. Make sure to check them out below.
Table of contents:
- Restart your iPhone
- Check the 2-step verification
- Use Google Apps for integration
- Remove the account and add it again if you changed the password
How to fix iPhone won’t add Google Account
If the iPhone won’t add Google Account, start with a restart. If the issue persists, check 2-step verification on other devices, or use Google apps to sign in. Make sure that your iPhone’s firmware is up to date.
If you changed the password on your Gmail/Google Account and can’t update it on your iPhone, remove the account and add it again.
1. Restart your iPhone
Start with a restart and try again. Usually, restarting your iPhone deals with the majority of system deadlocks, and it just might be the case now. After the device reboots, try adding the account again in Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account.
If you’re still unable to do it, make sure to check the 2-step verification options. Google will inform you about the sign-in acceptance and there are a couple of ways you can allow it.
2. Check the 2-step verification
If you have smartphones with already established Google Account, you’ll get the Google Prompts message to accept sign-in with new devices. If that’s not the case, the next method is SMS 2-Step Verification but only if you assigned your cellular number to your Google Account.
Some users suggest disabling 2-step verification to fix this but we would like to leave that as a later troubleshooting step. Before doing that, navigate to your Gmail inbox and check for messages informing you about sign-in attempts. Make sure that you’ve accepted a log-in attempt from your iPhone.
Moreover, you can navigate to the Device Activity under the Google Account Management page, and check all signed-in devices. You should remove (sign out) all devices you are not using. Just click on the 3-dots menu next to the device and click Sign out. That way Google Prompts will appear only on active devices so you can easily grant access when you sign in with your iPhone.
On the other hand, if you still can’t sign in to your Google Account on your iPhone, you can remove the 2-Step Verification. We strongly suggest re-enabling it after you sign in or if the issue persists.
To disable 2-Step Verification, navigate to the Security under the Google Account Management page, and click on 2-Step Verification. Sign in and Turn Off this security feature. Try adding Google Account on your Apple device once again.
3. Use Google Apps for integration
The way Google and other third-party services integrate on iOS is not always straightforward and simple, as it should be. To add any third-party account and make it integrate across the system to other services, you need to use Mail > Accounts. However, you can also try adding the account to different apps.
For example, you can download the Google app, Gmail, or Google Assistant. Once you download these apps, you’ll get prompted to sign in, and, once you sign in and get over the bump, future sign-in attempts on the same device shouldn’t pose a problem.
4. Remove the account and add it again if you changed the password
Finally, for users that have issues with Google Account integration on their iPhone after they changed their Google/Gmail password, we can only suggest removing the account and adding it again. The Re-enter password option that appears doesn’t always work so removing and re-adding the account is your best bet.
Here’s how to remove your Google Account from your iPhone and add it again:
- Open Settings.
- Select Mail.
- Tap Accounts.
- Select the Gmail account.
- Tap Delete Account.
- Get back to Mail > Accounts and tap Add Account.
- Select Google from the list.
- Sign in with your Gmail address and password.
Once you sign in, select the features you want to use from the account and sync them to your iPhone. You have a choice to use Mail (integration in Apple Mail), Contacts, Calendars, and Notes.
And, on that note, we can conclude this article. Thank you for reading and feel free to share your thoughts or provide additional insight into the problem. We always look forward to hearing from you.
Editor’s note: This article was initially published in March 2022. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.
