Connection error: Can not authenticate to IMAP server: [ALERT] Please log in via your web browser

Question

I am using a php script to connect imap.gmail.com, I have a paid google app account. It was working but after some time I am getting following error

1. it says I have to login from browser but my CentsOS vps server does not have a browser its command prompt only

I am using mydomain.com

Fatal error: Uncaught exception 'ImapMailboxException' with message 'Connection error: Can not authenticate to IMAP server: [ALERT] Please log in via your web browser: https://support.google.com/mail/acco' in /xxxxxx/classes/ImapMailbox.php:51 Stack trace: #0 /home/theluxla/public_html/_backoffice/mailpilot/classes/ImapMailbox.php(42): ImapMailbox->initImapStream() #1 /xxxxxx/classes/ImapMailbox.php(114): ImapMailbox->getImapStream() #2 /xxxxxx/mail.v3.php(28): ImapMailbox->searchMailbox('ALL') #3 {main} thrown in/xxxxx/classes/ImapMailbox.php on line 51

Answer 1

Google replied to me:

Thank you for your message. I understand you're having issues connecting your application with our IMAP server, I'll be happy to help. I didn't want to bother with a call this early, reason why, I'm sending this email instead In this case, it seems this error is related to the access to "Less secure apps" disabled for the user you're trying to connect via IMAP. Please follow these steps to solve this issue:

1. In your Admin Console, follow the steps available at this support article https://support.google.com/a/answer/6260879?hl=en under the section "Enabling less secure apps to access accounts".

2. Log in as the affected user and follow the steps to "Allow less secure apps to access your account" as described at this support article https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6010255. I hope this information is helpful. Your case will remain open for three business days and it will auto close if no reply is received. Feel free to reply to this message if you need more help, I'll be happy to continue assisting you.

Sincerely,

David