How To Fix 400 Admin Policy Enforced In Google Workspace

It can disrupt workflows and cause productivity issues, especially when critical business tools are affected. This error most commonly occurs when trying to connect apps like Slack, Zoom, or Asana, leading to authorization failures and denied access. There are several common causes of this error, such as:

Administrative restrictions – Apps or features blocked by the Workspace admin.Untrusted third-party apps – Tools not approved for use within your organization.Strict data-sharing rules – Policies limiting how data can be accessed or shared.Disabled API access – Preventing apps from connecting for users in restricted groups.Advanced Protection enrollment – Accounts in this program or flagged as suspicious may face stricter access controls.Additional factors – Missing multi-factor authentication (MFA), blocked URLs, non-super admin authorization attempts, license limitations, or username conflicts.

Now, let’s move on to the solutions that can help you fix this problem.

1. Whitelist the Blocked App in Google Admin

In most cases, this error occurs because the app you are trying to use is not whitelisted in your organization’s API controls. Adjusting the access settings for this app usually resolves the issue. By explicitly trusting the app, you override the default block that caused the 400 admin_policy_enforced error.

2. Use a Service Account with Domain-Wide Delegation

If the issue affects automation or integrations (such as scripts or backend services), a service account can bypass user-level OAuth consent while remaining fully compliant with organizational policies. This account operates under a centrally managed identity, ensuring secure, policy-compliant API access for apps without triggering sign-in restrictions. Warning: Only grant the minimum scopes required for your use case and store the JSON key securely. Compromised service accounts can expose sensitive data.

3. Disable IMAP/POP Access

If legacy email clients are attempting unauthorized connections, this can also trigger the error. Disabling IMAP/POP ensures that only approved methods (like the Gmail web app or authorized OAuth clients) can connect to your account. Important: Notify users before applying this change. It will disable access for email clients like Outlook and Thunderbird that rely on IMAP/POP.