When your Apple ID is protected with two-step verification, you'll need to use an app-specific password to sign in to your email account.
Step 1: Turn On Two-Factor Authentication / Generate an App-Specific Password
- Login at iCloud online
- In the Security section, turn on Two-Factor Authentication.
- Under the App-Specific Passwords section, click Generate Password.
- Enter a label, such as "Postbox".
- Copy the password that is provided. You'll need it later!
IMPORTANT: The app-specific will be in the following format: xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx, for example, dksi-umcn-pqcz-kdit. If your password does not have this format, then you are most likely trying to use your iCloud password, which is the wrong password!
Step 2: Use the New Password within Postbox
- First, we need to make sure that an existing password doesn't exist. In Postbox, go to Preferences > Security > Passwords > Saved Passwords. If you see incoming and outgoing servers for your iCloud account listed here, then select each one and then click the Remove button. Then restart Postbox.
- Enter your new Apple App-Specific Passwords when prompted, for both incoming and outgoing servers
NOTE: You'll need to send a message from the account to trigger the password prompt for the outgoing server.
For more information, please see Using App-Specific Passwords, or visit Apple Support.
Server Settings
Incoming:
- Account Type: IMAP
- Server Name: imap.mail.me.com
- Port: 993
- User Name: (for example, emilyparker, not emilyparker@icloud.com)
- Connection Security: SSL/TLS
- Authentication: Password
Outgoing:
- Server Name: smtp.mail.me.com
- Port: 587
- Connection Security: STARTTLS
- Authentication: Password
If you cannot connect, please be sure to check Apple's System Status.
Notes:
Please note that you cannot set up iCloud aliases as if they are email accounts. You must set up your master iCloud account, then set up aliases within that account.