Step-by-step: create an Apple app-specific password and use it to add iCloud Mail to Dusk, Outlook, Spark, Thunderbird or any other mail app.
Apple Mail connects to iCloud automatically. Any other mail app needs one extra step: an app-specific password. It takes about two minutes, and it's more secure than using your real Apple Account password.
What an app-specific password is
It's a separate password Apple generates for one app. The app can read and send your iCloud Mail, but it never sees your real Apple Account password, and you can revoke it at any time without changing anything else.
You need two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple Account. Most accounts already have it.
Step 1: Create the password
- Go to account.apple.com and sign in.
- Open Sign-In and Security, then App-Specific Passwords.
- Click Generate an app-specific password.
- Give it a name you'll recognise, like "Dusk" or "Outlook".
- Copy the password Apple shows you. It looks like abcd-efgh-ijkl-mnop.
Apple shows the password only once. If you lose it, just create a new one.
Step 2: Add iCloud to your mail app
In your mail app, add an account and choose iCloud if it's listed, or Other / IMAP if it isn't. Enter:
- Email: your iCloud address, for example [email protected]
- Password: the app-specific password from step 1
If the app asks for server settings:
| Setting | Value |
|---|
| Incoming (IMAP) server | imap.mail.me.com, port 993, SSL |
| Outgoing (SMTP) server | smtp.mail.me.com, port 587, STARTTLS |
| Username | Your iCloud address |
Adding iCloud to Dusk
In Dusk, open Settings, then Accounts, enter your iCloud address and the app-specific password, and click Connect iCloud. Dusk checks the login before saving anything, and keeps the password in your Mac's Keychain. Your iCloud and Gmail accounts then share one inbox, sorted and summed up on your Mac.
Good to know
- You can have up to 25 app-specific passwords at once.
- Changing your Apple Account password revokes all of them. Your mail apps will stop syncing until you create new ones.
- To remove an app's access, go back to App-Specific Passwords at account.apple.com and remove it.
Questions
- Why does my email app say my iCloud password is wrong?
- Third-party apps need an app-specific password, not your Apple Account password. Create one at account.apple.com under Sign-In and Security.
- Is an app-specific password safe?
- Yes. The app never sees your real password, and you can revoke that one app's access at any time.
- How many app-specific passwords can I have?
- Up to 25 at once.
- Why did my iCloud mail stop syncing?
- If you changed your Apple Account password, all app-specific passwords were revoked. Create a new one and enter it in your mail app.
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