iCloud Mail IMAP Setup Guide

🔑 What is an App-Specific Password?

An App-Specific Password is a special password that lets apps like EmailWatch securely access your iCloud Mail without using your main Apple ID password. Apple requires this for third-party apps when you have two-factor authentication enabled on your Apple ID.

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Important: You must have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled on your Apple ID before you can create an App-Specific Password. This is required by Apple for all iCloud Mail access.

Check if Two-Factor Authentication is Enabled

Most Apple IDs have 2FA enabled by default

On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign-In & Security. You should see "Two-Factor Authentication: On".

On a Mac, go to System Settings > [Your Name] > Sign-In & Security.

If it says On - Great! Continue to Step 2.
If it's off, you'll need to enable it first to use iCloud Mail with EmailWatch.

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Tip: Two-factor authentication is now required for all Apple IDs. If you created your Apple ID recently, 2FA is already enabled.

Access your Apple ID settings online

Click the button below to open Apple's account management page:

Open Apple ID Account Open in New Tab

Sign in with your Apple ID email and password. You may need to verify your identity using a code sent to your trusted device.

Generate an App-Specific Password

Create a special password for EmailWatch

Once signed in to your Apple ID account:

Click on Sign-In and Security in the left sidebar
Scroll down and click on App-Specific Passwords
Click the + button or Generate an app-specific password
Enter a label like EmailWatch and click Create

Go to Security Settings Open in New Tab

Copy Your App-Specific Password

Save this password - you'll only see it once!

Apple will show you a 16-character password that looks something like this:

abcd-efgh-ijkl-mnop

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Copy this password now! Apple will only show it once. If you lose it, you'll need to generate a new one.

Click Copy Password or select it and copy manually
The hyphens are optional - you can include them or remove them
Click Done after copying

Enter the Password in EmailWatch

Complete your email setup in the app

Now open the EmailWatch app and add your iCloud email account:

Go to Add Email Account in the app
Select iCloud as your email provider
Enter your iCloud email address (e.g., [email protected] or [email protected])
Paste the 16-character App-Specific Password you just copied
Tap Connect or Save

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Pro tip: The IMAP server settings for iCloud are automatically filled in. If you need them manually: Server: imap.mail.me.com, Port: 993, SSL: On

🎉 You're All Set!

Your iCloud email account should now be connected to EmailWatch. You can start creating alert rules for your important emails!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I just use my Apple ID password?

Apple requires app-specific passwords for third-party apps when you have two-factor authentication enabled. This is more secure because you can revoke individual app passwords without changing your main Apple ID password.

What email addresses work with iCloud Mail?

You can use @icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com email addresses. All three are associated with your Apple ID and work with iCloud Mail.

I don't see the App-Specific Passwords option

Make sure two-factor authentication is enabled on your Apple ID. If you're using an older Apple ID without 2FA, you'll need to enable it first in your Apple ID settings.

Can I delete the App-Specific Password later?

Yes! Go to Apple ID Security Settings, find "EmailWatch" in your App-Specific Passwords list, and click the X to revoke it. EmailWatch will no longer be able to access your email.

Is this the same as my iCloud Keychain?

No, App-Specific Passwords are different from passwords stored in iCloud Keychain. App-Specific Passwords are generated specifically for apps to access your iCloud services securely.

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