# 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 %}
**Configure sidebar**

Choose how your labels appear in your sidebar:

* **Pin all labels** - All labels appear in a new sidebar section automatically.
* **I'll choose which labels to show** - Use the **+ More** button to add labels manually later.
  {% 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).


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://missiveapp.com/docs/core-features/connected-accounts/email-accounts/icloud.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.