Gmail says "Access blocked" when you connect

When you connect a business Gmail account to BetterReply, Google may stop you with a red screen that reads “Access blocked: Your institution’s admin needs to review UNIPILE,” along with “Error 400: access_not_configured.” Your email is fine, and so is BetterReply. This only shows up on Google Workspace accounts, which is a work email on your own domain, and it takes about five minutes to clear from your Google admin settings.

Why this happens

BetterReply connects to Gmail through a partner called Unipile. That’s the “UNIPILE” name Google shows you on the block screen.

Google Workspace lets your organization’s admin decide which outside apps can touch your company’s email. Until someone approves Unipile for your organization, Google holds the connection back and shows that “access_not_configured” message. It’s a Google safety setting, not a fault with your account or with BetterReply.

Who runs into this

This only affects business accounts on Google Workspace, which is a Gmail address on your own domain, like you@yourcompany.com. If you connect a personal gmail.com address, you won’t see this screen at all. It connects straight through.

To clear it, you (or whoever manages Google for your company) need admin access to your Workspace.

How to fix it

The goal is to tell Google that Unipile is a trusted app for your organization. You do this once, and every inbox on your domain can connect from then on.

1. 1Sign in to the Google Admin console at admin.google.com with a Workspace admin account.
2. 2Go to Security, then Access and data control, then API controls.
3. 3Open Manage Third-Party App Access. Some consoles label this button “Manage app access.”
4. 4Click Configure new app, then search for Unipile.
5. 5Several Unipile results come up. Pick the one marked Web and Verified that 500+ organizations use. Its Client ID starts with 363584050897-m2f7bso75, and it’s the one that handles Gmail.
6. 6Set that app’s access to Trusted, then finish the review steps.
7. 7Wait about five minutes, then head back to BetterReply, open Channels, and connect your email again.

Your inbox will connect the way it normally would.

If you’re not the Google admin

If you don’t manage Google Workspace for your company, send this article to whoever does and ask them to trust the Unipile app using the steps above. Once it’s done, your connection will go through.

Want to get started in the meantime? You can connect a personal gmail.com inbox now, since personal accounts skip this check.

Still blocked after trusting the app?

• Give it a few minutes. The change can take a little while to reach your account.
• Confirm you trusted the right entry: the Web, Verified Unipile app with 500+ organizations (Client ID starting 363584050897-m2f7bso75).
• Check that you finished every step of the wizard through Review, and set access to Trusted rather than Limited or Blocked.
• Still stuck? Reach out from the Support page and we’ll get you connected.