SMTP · app-specific password

How to connect
iCloud Mail.

Connect your iCloud Mail address using Apple’s outgoing mail server and an app-specific password.

Connection preview. You can read this guide and save a mailbox for later. Live authorization and warm-up remain off. Do not enter real credentials while the connection form is disabled.

Before you start

  • An active iCloud Mail address and access to its Apple Account.
  • Two-factor authentication enabled on the Apple Account.
  • An app-specific password created for this connection.

Step-by-step setup

  1. Confirm iCloud hosts the mailbox

    iCloud Mail is the email service; Apple Mail is an app that can also display Gmail, Outlook, and other providers. If you only use the Apple Mail app, choose the guide for the service hosting your address.

  2. Create an app-specific password

    Sign in at account.apple.com. Under Sign-In and Security, open App-Specific Passwords and generate one for MailboxWarm. Save the generated value privately; do not paste your main Apple Account password into MailboxWarm.

  3. Choose Other provider in MailboxWarm

    Open Mailboxes → Add mailbox, choose Other provider, and enter your sending email address. Named SMTP services all use this same Other provider connection option.

  4. Enter the connection details

    When connections are enabled, enter the SMTP values listed below. Choose Test & connect. MailboxWarm checks authentication and the encrypted connection without sending a message.

Connection settings

Match these values to the fields in MailboxWarm. Keep passwords and keys private.

Connection option
Other provider
SMTP host
smtp.mail.me.com
Encryption / port
STARTTLS / 587
SMTP username
Your full iCloud Mail email address
SMTP password
Apple app-specific password

SMTP sends; it does not read your inbox. This connection does not include IMAP access to your mailbox. Placement and rescue activity concern the controlled seed inboxes receiving warm-up messages. Provider-specific compatibility still needs live validation.

Check the result

In today’s preview, expect Mailbox saved for later. When connections are enabled, a successful check shows Mailbox connected, with warming still paused. A failed connection check is not proof of delivery or a reason to add the same mailbox again.

Once live warming is available, choose the mailbox’s plan and schedule before starting. Connecting alone does not begin warm-up, and your provider’s sending limits still apply.

Open setup preview

Troubleshooting

The password is rejected

Use the full iCloud Mail address and an app-specific password, not your usual Apple Account password. Confirm two-factor authentication is enabled.

Connection stops after a password change

Changing or resetting your primary Apple Account password revokes app-specific passwords. Generate a new one when connections are available.

My mailbox appears in Apple Mail but is not on iCloud

The app does not determine the provider. Use Google, Microsoft, or the actual hosting provider’s setup guide.

Provider resources

Provider menus and account policies can change. Use their official documentation for the latest requirements.

Settings reviewed September 12, 2026 · Documentation review, not a live connection test.