How to add iCloud Mail to a Mac email app (app-specific password)
Third-party Mac mail apps need an app-specific password for iCloud Mail. How to make one in two minutes, the server settings, and fixes when it fails.
Short answer: to use iCloud Mail in a Mac email app other than Apple Mail, sign in at account.apple.com, open Sign-In and Security › App-Specific Passwords, create one, and paste it into the app as your password. Two-factor authentication must be on, which it is for almost every Apple Account.
Apple Mail doesn’t need this because it uses your Mac’s Apple Account sign-in. Every other app does.
Step 1: Make sure you have an iCloud email address
If you’ve never used iCloud Mail, turn it on first: on your Mac, open System Settings › [your name] › iCloud › iCloud Mail and follow the steps to choose an @icloud.com address.
Step 2: Create the app-specific password
- Go to account.apple.com and sign in.
- Choose Sign-In and Security, then App-Specific Passwords.
- Choose Generate an app-specific password (or the + button), type a label you’ll recognise, like “Glassmail”, and confirm with your Apple Account password.
- Apple shows a password in the form
abcd-efgh-ijkl-mnop. Copy it.
You can have up to 25 at a time, and revoke any of them from the same page.
Step 3: Add the account in your mail app
Most apps only ask for your address and that password. If yours asks for servers:
| Server | Port | Security | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming (IMAP) | imap.mail.me.com | 993 | SSL/TLS |
| Outgoing (SMTP) | smtp.mail.me.com | 587 | STARTTLS |
Username: your full iCloud address. A few older apps want just the part before the @ for incoming mail; try that if the full address is rejected.
If it doesn’t work
- “Password incorrect”: you’ve probably entered your Apple Account password. Use the app-specific one.
- It worked, then stopped: changing your Apple Account password revokes every app-specific password. Make a new one.
- Custom domain on iCloud+: use the same servers and an app-specific password; sign in with your iCloud address, and send from your custom address as an alias.
In Glassmail
In Glassmail, choose Add Account and type your iCloud address. Glassmail recognises iCloud, opens Apple’s page for you, and fills in the servers; you only paste the password. It’s stored in your Mac’s Keychain, and your mail goes straight between your Mac and iCloud.
Related: Gmail app passwords, Yahoo Mail app passwords and all your email accounts in one inbox.
Quick answers
Why doesn't my Apple Account password work for iCloud Mail in another app?
Apple only lets third-party mail apps sign in to iCloud Mail with an app-specific password, not your Apple Account password. Create one at account.apple.com under Sign-In and Security, then App-Specific Passwords.
What are the iCloud Mail IMAP and SMTP settings?
Incoming (IMAP) server imap.mail.me.com, port 993, SSL. Outgoing (SMTP) server smtp.mail.me.com, port 587, STARTTLS. The username is your iCloud email address and the password is an app-specific password.
Why did my iCloud app-specific password stop working?
Changing or resetting your Apple Account password revokes every app-specific password. Create a new one and enter it in your mail app.