Is there a way to use ASP.NET to send email through a Google Apps account without selecting the 'Allow less secure apps' option?

Question

I have an ASP.NET web API that I\'m trying to use to send an email. I\'m getting authentication issues using smtp.gmail.com and 587. I\'ve seen several links saying to tog

Answer 1

Google changed some time ago (one or two years ago) possibility to use its SMTP servers. Google now requires higher level of security and authentication. However there still is a possibility to use it without 'Allow less secure apps' option, but you cannot use your standard google username and password.

Here is how to do it (in short):

1. Turn on 2-Step Verification in your gmail or google apps account in “My account / Sign-in & security”,
2. then (in “My account / Sign-in & security / App passwords”) it is possible to generate a special password for access from other applications (without turned on 2-Step Verification you can not get there)
3. this created app password (and your google e-mail account as a username) you can then use as your SMTP login.

That's all.