How do I fix Gmail on Android when it asks for a password and will not load email?
Answer
This usually means the Gmail app needs you to sign in again, or the saved account password/token is out of date. Open the Gmail app, sign in through Google’s official screens, and remove then re-add the account in Android Settings if the inbox still will not sync.
Before you start: stop right away if…
- Never share your Google password or one-time verification codes with anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.
- Removing a Google account from the phone can sign you out of Play Store, Contacts sync, and other Google apps until you add it again.
Follow these steps
Sign in again inside Gmail
Open the Gmail app, tap the Password required or Sign in banner, and complete Google’s official sign-in prompts on the phone.
You should see: Gmail accepts the account and begins syncing the inbox.
Test Gmail in a browser
Open Chrome or another browser, go to mail.google.com, and sign in with the same account to see whether the problem is only the app.
You should see: Browser mail works (pointing to an app/account token issue) or fails the same way (pointing to account or password trouble).
Remove and re-add the Google account
Go to Settings → Passwords & accounts (or Settings → Accounts), select the Google account used for Gmail, remove it, restart the phone, then add the Google account again and open Gmail.
You should see: Gmail syncs cleanly after the account is re-added.
Clear Gmail app cache if sync still fails
Go to Settings → Apps → Gmail → Storage, tap Clear cache (avoid Clear data unless you are ready to sign in again), then reopen Gmail.
You should see: The app reloads without the stuck password banner, or clearly asks you to sign in once.
Recover the Google password on an official page if needed
If sign-in fails because the password is unknown, use Google’s official account recovery flow from the phone or a trusted computer, then return to the Gmail app.
You should see: You regain access to the Google account and Gmail syncs on Android.
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Extra tips
What to look for: A Password required, Sign in, or Couldn’t sync banner in Gmail; whether mail.google.com works in a browser on the same phone; and whether other Google apps ask to sign in too.
Before you change anything: Confirm you know the Google account email address on the phone. Use only the official Gmail or Google sign-in screens on the device. Never share your password or one-time codes with unexpected callers or popups. If you use 2-Step Verification, have your phone or authenticator available.