Struggling to set up iCloud Mail in your email program or add iCloud Calendar to Outlook on a Mac? An application-specific password may be the missing piece to seamless access. Find out here how to generate and use an app-specific password for Apple iCloud ⤓ so these applications and services can log in to your account.
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How to Generate an App-Specific Password for iCloud
Time needed: 10 minutes
To create a new app-specific password for an iCloud account (for use in email programs other than Apple Mail or iCloud.com, for instance):
- Open Apple Account in a browser.
Sign in: If you are not logged in yet, do use Sign In to open your account.
- Go to the Sign-in and Security section.
- Select App-Specific Passwords.
Prerequisite: To generate app-specific iCloud passwords, the account needs to be protected with two-factor authentication.
- Now click + next to Passwords.
- Type a label for the new Apple app-specific password over e.g. Bill Pay.
One password to rule — one: Use each app-specific password with one service or application exclusively, and typically use the app or service’s name as the label so you can easily recognize it.
Example: If you set up an app-specific password for Outlook, for example, typeOutlook for Mac. - Click Create.
- Immediately use (copy and paste) the new password.
Important: This is the only time you will see the app-specific password and your only chance to copy it.
- Click Done.
Their word: Apple include information on using app-specific passwords in a support article.
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How to Delete iCloud App Passwords
To remove an app password and make sure it can no longer be used to log in to iCloud:
- Go to Apple Account in a browser.
- Open the Sign-in and Security section.
- Click or tap App-Specific Passwords.
- Now click ⊖ next to the application password you want to revoke.
- Click Revoke.
How to Generate an App-Specific Password for iCloud: FAQ
Can I recover a lost application password?
No.
Application passwords are shown only once (when you create them).
If you have lost an app password you have set up:
- Delete the lost password previously used for the application.
- Create and use a new application iCloud password.
Where can I use an app-specific iCloud password?
You will use an application-specific Apple password when you access iCloud services through a program or software that doesn’t use Apple 2-step authentication.
Among many others, uses of app passwords include:
- Setting up iCloud Mail in an email client.
- Adding iCloud Calendar to Outlook for Mac.
- Subscribing to an iCloud calendar in Google Calendar.
(First published May 2021, last updated July 2026)