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Connecting Frnd to your Gmail account

To connect Frnd to your Gmail account, Google requires a sign-in-process using either OAuth ("Sign in with Google") or an app password (that you will have to create manually). The app-password is a stand-in for your normal Google password; your Google password in itself will not work here.

Today, Frnd uses the app-password method, and OAuth support is future feature (see the FAQ below).

This is a short walk-through for connecting Frnd to your Gmail account (using Frnd's Email ability).

  1. Turn on 2-step verification

    App passwords require 2-Step Verification on your Google Account. If this has not been enabled, you will need to do so.

    Note: The 2-step verification concerns your Google account. That is; it affects how you will log in to Google in the future. It does not affect your Frnd account (except that you need to enable 2-step verification before Google allows you to create the app-password we need).

    1. Go to your Google Account's Security & sign-in page. If it is already turned on, skip ahead to Create an app password below. Otherwise, click 2-Step Verification.
    2. On the 2-Step Verification settings page, pick which method you want to use as your 2nd step:
      • Passkeys and security keys are hardware, fingerprint, and face-recognition solutions.
      • With Google prompt, you confirm each Google sign-in on a 2nd device where you are already logged in to Google.
      • An authenticator app is a dedicated smartphone app for approving Google sign-ins. It is similar to Google prompt, except you do not have to be logged in to Google on that device.
      • The phone number option approves sign-ins with one-time codes sent via SMS.
    3. Follow the on-screen prompts for the option you picked — for example, verifying a phone number, or scanning a QR code with an authenticator app. Once done, 2-Step Verification will show as on.

  2. Create an app password

    With 2-Step Verification on, you can generate an app password for Frnd to use.

    1. Go to myaccount.google.com/apppasswords. You may be asked to sign in again.
    2. Give it a name you will recognize later (e.g. "Frnd"), then click Create.
    3. Google shows the generated password once. Copy it now — you will not be able to see it again.

  3. Connect in Frnd

    Finally, add the app password to your Email ability in Frnd.

    1. Go to the Abilities page in the app, add the Email ability.
    2. Enter your Gmail address as <username>@gmail.com.
    3. Click Detect Settings — it finds Gmail's mail server automatically.
    4. Paste the app password you just created into the Password field.
    5. Save the connection.

A few things to know:

  • App passwords are not available on every account. Three things can block them:
    • A Google Workspace where the admin has disabled them.
    • 2-Step Verification set up with only a security key.
    • Advanced Protection has been enabled.
  • Changing your Google Account password revokes all of its app passwords – if that happens, create a new one and update it in Frnd.

FAQ

Why doesn't Frnd use OAuth ("Sign in with Google") for Gmail?

OAuth is the method Google recommends, and we agree — it is on our roadmap.

Supporting it, though, means significant extra development, and Google requires a paid, annually renewed CASA security assessment for apps that request Gmail (and other Google services) access this way. Independent assessors typically charge anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars a year for this (depending on required certification level).

As a young project without revenue, we have postponed that cost – once Frnd has income to carry it, OAuth support will be added. We're sorry for the inconvenience in the meantime.