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How to Set Up, Configure, and Send Emails using iCloud SMTP Server

Ivan Djuric

If you want to learn what iCloud SMTP is all about, what it’s used for, and, of course, how to use it, you’ve come to the right place! 

To skip the formalities and jump straight ahead to iCloud SMTP configuration, [click here].

What is iCloud SMTP?

SMTP, or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, is an internet standard protocol that, via a series of commands, defines how the messages get from the sender to the email server. Additionally, it can relay emails between servers and clients.

iCloud SMTP is the protocol Apple uses for its iCloud service to send emails from its devices (e.g., iPhones, iPads, etc.) and iCloud Mail client. 

The server address iCloud SMTP uses is smtp.mail.me.com, whereas for the port number, it uses 587 by default. This SMTP port number is the industry standard because of its support for STARTTLS encryption, which ensures your emails can’t be intercepted during transmissions.

What iCloud SMTP is used for

Besides being primarily used by Apple’s devices and iCloud Mail, iCloud SMTP can also be used for sending:

It’s important to keep in mind that iCloud has its limitations, which I’ll go over [later in the article], as well as, of course, provide you with an [alternative].

Why should you use iCloud as an SMTP server?

Yes, it has its limitations (don’t we all?), but using iCloud as an SMTP also has its own advantages, such as:

Note: I’ve compiled these advantages of using iCloud SMTP with our email deliverability expert, Yaroslav. So, you can rest assured you’re not reading a biased review.

How to configure iCloud SMTP server settings?

Now, as promised, let’s configure iCloud SMTP server settings.

Step 1. Enable two-factor authentication

First, you have to enable two-factor authentication, which, as Apple terms it, is designed to make sure that you’re the only one who can access your account. 

Now, you’ve probably enabled it already while setting up your device, but nonetheless, you can check that by logging in to your Apple ID account. 

You can find the two-factor authentication setting under Account Security, and if you have it enabled, great, proceed to Step 2. If you don’t, simply follow the prompts and either add a trusted phone number, device, or a security key, which will act as two-factor authentication.

Step 2. Obtain an app-specific password

Once you’ve enabled 2FA, you’ll need to obtain an app-specific password to use iCloud SMTP. App-specific passwords were designed by Apple as an additional security measure when you’re using iCloud mail server for other clients or apps.

And here’s how you can obtain one:

Important: Once you generate your app-specific password, you won’t be able to access it again. So, make sure to store it securely. For this, I personally use and recommend 1Password.

Step 3. Insert the required iCloud SMTP settings

Lastly, insert the following information into your app or email client:

SettingDetails
SMTP server namesmtp.mail.me.com
SMTP port587
SMTP encryptionSSL / TLS / STARTTLS
UsernameYour full iCloud Mail email address:
→ johndoe@icloud.com ✅
→ johndoe ❌
PasswordApp-specific password

iCloud SMTP configuration examples

Okay, now that I’ve shown you how to configure iCloud SMTP step-by-step, let me show you some practical examples. 

Gmail

To send emails via Gmail with your iCloud address, all you have to do is:

Once you’re done, Gmail will send you a verification code to your iCloud email address. And once you complete the verification process, you’ll be able to send emails from your Gmail account using your iCloud email address!

Thunderbird

As for Thunderbird, the process is a bit easier. All you have to do is:

And voila, you can now use Thunderbird to send messages from your iCloud email account!

Nodemailer

For demonstrative purposes, let’s imagine you want to send emails via Nodemailer. In such a case, you would need to insert iCloud SMTP settings in the transporter object, like so:

const nodemailer = require('nodemailer');


const transporter = nodemailer.createTransport({
    host: 'smtp.mail.me.com',
    port: 587,
    secure: false,
    auth: {
        user: "example@icloud.com",
        pass: "my-app-specific-password"
    }
});


const mailOptions = {
    from: 'info@mailtrap.club',
    sender: 'custom@customdomain.com', // Custom sender address
    to: 'mailinator.email.test@mailinator.com',
    subject: 'Sending a test email by leveraging iCloud SMTP',
    text: 'Testing Mailinator for the Mailtrap blog. :)!'
};


transporter.sendMail(mailOptions, (error, info) => {
    if (error) {
        console.error('Error, error');
    } else {
        console.log('Email sent: ', info.response);
    }
});

Pro tip: If you want to use a custom email domain with iCloud SMTP, you can specify it in the sender: field that I’ve added to the code. However, you need an iCloud+ subscription for this.

How to configure iCloud POP3 settings?

POP3, or Post Office Protocol 3, is a protocol that downloads emails from the server and saves them on local storage, deleting them from the server afterward.

Having this in mind, it should come to no surprise that iCloud doesn’t support POP3, as Apple is all about synchronization and an accessible ecosystem.

How to configure iCloud IMAP settings?

Apple’s retrieval protocol of choice for iCloud is IMAP, or Internet Message Access Protocol, which is a standard among email programs nowadays. It works similarly to cloud email because, unlike POP, it stores the messages you receive on the mail server.

If you want to set your email client or app to use IMAP, you can use the following settings:

SettingDetails
IMAP server nameimap.mail.me.com
IMAP port993
IMAP encryptionSSL / TLS / STARTTLS
UsernameYour full iCloud Mail email address:
→ johndoe@icloud.com ✅
→ johndoe ❌
PasswordApp-specific password

Up for more reads? I suggest checking out our article on the differences between POP and IMAP. Or, better yet, watch our awesome video!

Troubleshooting iCloud SMTP server configuration

To save you the trouble, I’ve combed through Apple’s community forums and Stack Overflow for the most common iCloud SMTP server errors. Here are the most common issues:

Error: unable to verify the first certificate
    at TLSSocket.onConnectSecure (_tls_wrap.js:1474:34)
    at TLSSocket.emit (events.js:315:20)
    at TLSSocket._finishInit (_tls_wrap.js:917:8)
    at TLSWrap.ssl.onhandshakedone (_tls_wrap.js:687:12) {
  code: 'UNABLE_TO_VERIFY_LEAF_SIGNATURE'
}

iCloud SMTP limitations: when not to use iCloud as a SMTP server

As iCloud SMTP is designed for personal use, and Apple is not an email service provider, it’s only logical it has some limitations, such as:

SafeguardLimit
The total # of messages you can send daily1000 messages
The number of recipients you can message daily1000 recipients
The maximum number of recipients per message500 recipients
The size of incoming and outgoing messages20MB, up to 5GB with Mail Drop turned on 

Looking to send large amounts of email? Check out the top 10 list of mass email service providers we’ve prepared for you!

A reliable alternative to iCloud SMTP—Mailtrap Email API/SMTP

Remember how iCloud SMTP allows you to send 1,000 messages daily? Well, let me introduce you to Mailtrap Email Delivery Platform, which offers an Email API/SMTP service with an impressive throughput of 10,000 emails per second (yes, you’ve read that right 🙂). 

Email API/SMTP is designed to deliver your emails just in time, allowing you to choose how many emails you want to send based on your pricing plan. 

And to help you deliver emails in time Mailtrap offers a robust infrastructure with many advanced features, such as:

Most importantly, Mailtrap’s SMTP is super easy to use, check it out!

Still not convinced? In that case, I’ll just let this table convince you:

FeatureMailtrap SMTPiCloud SMTP 
In-depth analytics✅❌
Drag-and-drop HTML email builder✅❌
Dedicated IPs✅❌
24/7 human support✅❌
Email testing solution✅❌
Email logs [up to 30 days]✅❌
Email templates✅❌
Automatic authentication✅❌
Scalable pricing✅❌

As you can see for yourself, the difference between a dedicated email service such as Mailtrap and an SMTP designed for personal use like iCloud is not small. 

If you’re curious to explore this significant gap between the two yourself or simply try out a robust SMTP service, Mailtrap offers a free plan. So, go ahead and check it out!

Wrapping up

Does sending a limited amount of messages without any analytics or additional features in place sound okay to you? If so, iCloud SMTP is the way to go for you.

On the other hand, if you feel like your app needs a robust email sending service with all the industry-standard features, Mailtrap is the obvious choice. Personally, I never go fishing without my fully-packed toolkit. 

Whichever path you choose, godspeed to your emails! 📧

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