# iCloud

Connect your iCloud Mail account to Missive. iCloud requires an app-specific password for third-party apps like Missive - your regular Apple ID password won't work.

## Prerequisites

Before connecting your iCloud account, you need:

1. **Two-factor authentication enabled** on your Apple ID
2. **An app-specific password** generated for Missive

{% hint style="warning" %}
You cannot use your Apple ID password directly. Apple requires app-specific passwords for third-party mail apps.
{% endhint %}

## Generate an app-specific password

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Sign in to Apple ID**

Go to [appleid.apple.com](https://appleid.apple.com) and sign in with your Apple ID.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Enable two-factor authentication**

If not already enabled, go to **Sign-In and Security** > **Two-Factor Authentication** and follow the setup.

See [Apple's guide on two-factor authentication](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204915) for details.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Generate app-specific password**

1. Go to **Sign-In and Security** > **App-Specific Passwords**
2. Click **Generate an app-specific password** (or the + button)
3. Enter a label like "Missive"
4. Copy the generated password

See [Apple's guide on app-specific passwords](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204397) for details.

{% hint style="info" %}
Save this password somewhere safe. You'll need it to connect Missive and you won't be able to see it again.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## How to connect

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Open account settings**

Go to **Settings** > **Accounts** and click **Add account**.

{% hint style="info" %}
To open Settings, click your avatar in the bottom-left corner of the sidebar, then **Settings** (or press <kbd>⌘,</kbd>).
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select iCloud**

Under the **Email** tab, select **iCloud**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Choose import options**

Select how much email history to import:

* No history - start fresh
* 1 month to 10 years - recent emails only
* All history - everything (paid plans only)

Choose if this is a personal or shared account.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Enter credentials**

Fill in your account details:

* **Display name:** How your name appears when sending
* **Email address:** Your iCloud email (@icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com)
* **Password:** Your app-specific password (NOT your Apple ID password)
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Verify server settings**

Missive pre-fills the correct iCloud server settings:

**IMAP:**

* Hostname: `imap.mail.me.com`
* Port: `993`
* Encryption: SSL/TLS

**SMTP:**

* Hostname: `smtp.mail.me.com`
* Port: `587`
* Encryption: STARTTLS

These settings work for all iCloud email addresses (@icloud.com, @me.com, @mac.com).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Connect**

Click **Connect** to add your account. Missive will verify the connection and start syncing your email.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Sync behavior

Actions in Missive sync back to iCloud:

| Action in Missive    | Syncs to iCloud                  |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| New email in Inbox   | Yes                              |
| Email sent           | Yes - appears in Sent            |
| Email archived       | Yes - appears in Archive         |
| Email read/unread    | Yes                              |
| Label applied        | Yes - appears in matching folder |
| Email deleted        | Yes - appears in Trash           |
| Email marked as spam | Yes - appears in Junk            |
| Draft saved          | No                               |

## Contacts and Calendar

Missive does not sync contacts or calendar from iCloud. For those features, use your Mac or iOS device's native apps, or iCloud.com.

## Multiple iCloud addresses

If you have multiple iCloud email addresses (@icloud.com and @me.com, for example), they share the same mailbox. Connect once with your primary address.

To send from different addresses, configure aliases in iCloud Mail settings at [icloud.com/mail](https://www.icloud.com/mail).