Cannot sign into Windows iCloud: get a pop-up with only a red circle with a white cross

The solution from hronk works! it's not going to fix itself, and the issue is not a widespread defect, so attention from apple to fix this will not be forthcoming. You'll have to spend a little time and do as hronk said, and you'll be good to go! Yes its a PITA.

I have tried this 3 times and I am still getting caught with the red X of death following the verification code is it typed in. I am using current version of iCloud windows. Is there any place on Apple's site where we can get the previous version of iCloud vs a site that may not be safe? thanks -

I have tried the process that @hronk offers this 3 times and I am still getting caught with the red X of death following the verification code is it typed in. I am using current version of iCloud windows. Is there any place on Apple's site where we can get the previous version of iCloud vs a site that may not be safe? thanks -

Clarifying, I utilized the “search” functionality for each piece. Also, I used a partial (shorter) unique piece of the string each search. (I share this because search is better than my eyes. Precision is critical when working such files. [errors have potentially larger issues].)

thanks to all who posted solutions that worked for them. I carefully applied the steps @hronk suggested twice, and both times after restarting or shutting down and restarting, I still get the blank red X error. The cert and daemon file both reappear each time.

Hoping someone else can figure out some other work around!

Thanks!

This affected all of my iCloud installation across 5 computers, so the fact that it is a certificate problem says Apple is the fault here, not Windows.

We need a fix so that we are toying with files most here know nothing about and will affect other software cliets.

Since I had a support case with Apple Support on this I replied to a support Ticket email. I told them about this thread and sent a link. Now it's up to them to do something about this. I agree that messing around like this could easily break something else.

Yes, you are correct, but there doesn't appear to be a supported process to get those versions of the installer. Unless one happens to have saved it. I'm not aware of a way to get older versions of installers to apps that are installed from the MicroSoft App store. I'd be all ears if someone knows how to do that.

Dudes I have been working for the last 7 days trying to find a solution or walk around for this sign in problem with the empty X message and I tried various methods playing with un-/re-installs, creating/deleting user profiles, account permissions, what others suggested in this and other forums, 2 OS format and fresh setups, also installed older versions of icloud etc etc. Please note Installing a non-microsoft version may partially solve sign-in/authanticating error issue but if you plan to use browser addons of icloud, these addons do not properly match non-microsoft store installs of icloud.

Some of the attemps achieved almost success for 2-3 restarts but then fail again while playing with browser setting and icloud settings.

So wierd that even if you are able to sign in by these varios methods you still wont be able to approve browser addons. Whatever bug is causing all this mess i dont know but 100% sure apple needs to have a look at this application..

edge addons for icloud for instance password manager and bookmark manager etc these syncing addons doesnt work with non-microsoft store icloud installs. So installing old icloud is not a common solution. After my last post i was once again able to succesfully login 2FA and also succeeded to approve password addon security. I think I restarted my ipad and turned off my iphone while doing that. And i got all working. But 30 minutes later I was again de-approved…

But working across all of your assets to inc. non-Apple devices?

I used the older file, and all of my devices were operable again without exotic editing of the systems or toying with 2FA.

Outlook works now for iCloud.

after the software updated as needed and no further tweaking was required. It took minutes to use the older file.

I tried the steps suggested to fix this but found they didn't work

I also spent a lot of time with Apple Support and their only answer was to refer me to this discussion thread and suggest I contact Microsoft to get their help to resolve it!

Are there any other suggestions?

I received a reply from Apple Support to the message I referenced in my post for Feb 18th. Their response was:

• Thank you for the provided information. As discussed in our previous call, this is currently being investigated by our engineering team.

Assuming this is true, I guess we just have to flounder around until Apple releases a fix or publishes workaround information. Who knows how long that may take.

This also works for me. I have no idea what it all means (and what I have done) and why it cures this problem. I am very impressed that there are people out there who are able to analyse this and even offer a solution (probably with out ChatGPT support :-)). Thank you very much!!!

IGNATII wrote:

P. S. Additional good news: in current iCloud version you finally can change iCloud Drive directory!

Ah that's great to hear. I hadn't discovered that yet. But that didn't bother me because I used the Windows feature where you can redirect the location of the of the default user folders: Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Music, Videos using the Location tab in Properties. I redirected all those folders to my D:\ drive under D:\Users\<username>. Since ICloud Photos was under Pictures, that moved along with the redirection of the default Pictures folder. Google Drive is really the odd one out. That one you can't redirect to another folder or drive letter.