Search code examples
pythongmailimap

Python imaplib Gmail authenticate failure


I just ran into an issue with Python's imaplib and Gmail's authentication mechanism:

>>> import imaplib
>>> imap = imaplib.IMAP4_SSL('imap.gmail.com', 993)
>>> imap.authenticate('bobdole@gmail.com', 'Bob Dole likes your style!')
Traceback (most recent call last):
  ...
imaplib.error: AUTHENTICATE command error: BAD ['TODO (not supported yet) 31if3458825wff.5']

If authentication is unsupported, how does one log in?


Solution

  • Instead of

    >>> imap.authenticate('bobdole@gmail.com', 'Bob Dole likes your style!')
    

    use

    >>> imap.login('bobdole@gmail.com', 'Bob Dole likes your style!')