Connect iCloud Mail with an app-specific password

Before you begin

• Activate iCloud Mail and identify the actual mailbox address you want to add.
• Enable two-factor authentication for the Apple Account and make sure you can generate an app-specific password.
• Use a supported Mac and have a working Direct, Clash or SOCKS5 connection ready.

Set up in NodeMail

1. Sign in to account.apple.com using the Apple Account that owns your iCloud mailbox.
2. Open Sign-In and Security, choose App-Specific Passwords and generate a password for NodeMail.
3. In NodeMail Settings, add an email account. Enter the full iCloud mailbox address and select iCloud Mail.
4. Keep Password / App Password selected and enter the generated app-specific password. Choose the connection for this mailbox.
5. Check the iCloud preset below, then click Save Account and wait for verification.
6. Open the inbox and test sending to an address you control. If sending fails, check the full mailbox address and SMTP authentication before changing incoming settings.

Server settings

Incoming and outgoing settings

The table shows NodeMail’s iCloud defaults, including STARTTLS on outgoing port 587. Keep encryption enabled and use the same app-specific credential for incoming and outgoing mail.

iCloud Mail uses IMAP and SMTP, not POP. This page covers mail access; it does not configure Calendar, Contacts or iCloud Drive.

Manage access from your Apple Account

You can revoke the app-specific password in your Apple Account when you no longer want this client to connect. A revoked credential must be replaced before NodeMail can reconnect.

An app-specific password authorizes access but cannot repair a blocked network route. If a connection times out, also check the selected proxy and server ports.

Troubleshooting

The password is rejected

Use the generated app-specific password, not your main Apple Account password. Check that the mailbox belongs to the Apple Account used to generate it.

The email address is not accepted

Use your actual iCloud Mail address. An unrelated address used to sign in to the Apple Account is not automatically an iCloud mailbox. NodeMail uses the full mailbox address, including for authenticated SMTP.

The account stopped connecting after a password change

Apple revokes app-specific passwords when the main Apple Account password changes or is reset. Generate a replacement and update the saved NodeMail account.

There is no iCloud browser setup button

The current new-account form has dedicated setup-browser actions for Gmail and Microsoft only. Prepare the Apple credential first and enter it in the form; do not look for an iCloud one-click import action.

Related guides

• Add QQ Mail or Foxmail using an authorization code
• Choose the connection for each mailbox
• Manage multiple mailboxes in one Mac workspace
• All mailbox setup guides

References and maintenance

• Apple: Generate and revoke app-specific passwords
• Apple: iCloud Mail server settings

NodeMail setup-guide maintainer

2026-09-12 — Added the iCloud Mail guide on September 12, 2026; checked credential requirements, NodeMail defaults and Apple’s server documentation.

Found a changed setting? Contact support@nodemail.app.