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SMTP Server Settings for Apple Account on Thunderbird

  • 2 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 26 views
  • Last reply by Rick

For the past 3 years I have not been able to send emails using either "@me.com" or "@icloud.com". All other providers such as "@gmail.com" and "@outlook.com" work perfectly. The only exception to this is when an email sent to me using my account name can it be used to respond. I assume therefore that there is an error in my settings for the SMTP server are wrong.

The SMTP server settings allowed in the TBird settings are as follows:

Description: user choice (I have tried my forename and the word "Apple" - no difference) Server name: smtp.mail.me.com or smtp.mail.icloud.com (either should be accepted) Port: 587 or 465

Connection security: None, STARTTLS, or SSL/TLS Authentication method: No Authentication, Normal password, Encrypted password, Kerberos/GSSAPI or NTLM

user name: my name (my name)

The message I get when I try to send a email with any combination of the above is "Login to server imap.mail.me.com with username xxxxxxxxxxxx failed."

I have other accounts listed in TBird. None of them have this issue.

Both Firefox and Thunderbird are up to date (115.31.0 for FF and 115.18.0 for TB)

Can you please advise me on this. It has been an issue for the 3 years or so. As I use the Apple account for family members only it is particularly frustrating!

For the past 3 years I have not been able to send emails using either "@me.com" or "@icloud.com". All other providers such as "@gmail.com" and "@outlook.com" work perfectly. The only exception to this is when an email sent to me using my account name can it be used to respond. I assume therefore that there is an error in my settings for the SMTP server are wrong. The SMTP server settings allowed in the TBird settings are as follows: Description: user choice (I have tried my forename and the word "Apple" - no difference) Server name: smtp.mail.me.com or smtp.mail.icloud.com (either should be accepted) Port: 587 or 465 Connection security: None, STARTTLS, or SSL/TLS Authentication method: No Authentication, Normal password, Encrypted password, Kerberos/GSSAPI or NTLM user name: my name (my name) The message I get when I try to send a email with any combination of the above is "Login to server imap.mail.me.com with username xxxxxxxxxxxx failed." I have other accounts listed in TBird. None of them have this issue. Both Firefox and Thunderbird are up to date (115.31.0 for FF and 115.18.0 for TB) Can you please advise me on this. It has been an issue for the 3 years or so. As I use the Apple account for family members only it is particularly frustrating!

All Replies (2)

Port should be 587. Connection security should be STARTTLS. User name should be the whole e-mail address. Authentication method should be normal password.

And you must use an app-specific password from Apple instead of your regular password. Are you using one?

Also: based on my settings, the server name should have the same domain as the e-mail address, e.g., an e-mail address at me.com should use the smtp.mail.me.com server.

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