Mail keeps asking for iCloud password ( iOS 5)

I suffered through this frustration back in 2009! So it's not a Lion/Snow Leopard/Tiger issue. But when it happened to be again this January, none of the things I did back i 2009 helped. But the problem was, eventually solved.

The solution envloves deleting your current DotMac/MobileMe/Apple/etc mail account. So copy down and verify all your current information before trying the solution that worked for me. 😮 Better safe than "Oops!"

After recording all your needed info, simply delete the current Apple Mail account in the Account tab of the prefs.

What you will now do is to create the Apple mail account manually, instead of using the built-in shortcuts. I'll have to do this from memory since Mail won't allow a complete re-creation of an exisiting account. This solution was provided by an Apple Tech by phone after I gave up on the "Chat" and 'email' methods. One-toone conversations is much easier by phone and one can verify that responses are understood better than assuming the other party actually read a previous post.

1. Open Mail if it's not yet running.

2. Open the Mail prefs and select the Accounts tab.

3. Click the "+" button or use the "Add account..." menu item in the File menu.

4. If you have an option to set up an account manually, use that. If that option is not readily available, simply enter some bogus info and you should get a dialog providing the "Manual" option. The way to access this may be different in pre-Lion versions, so I can't be more specific.

The key to the problem is to get a screen labeled similarly to "Incoming Mail Server." On that screen will be several choices of "Account Type:" Mail may suggest "MobileMe" or "iCloud" (at least if you have Lion). It is imperative that you DO NOT select those 'helpful' choices. 😉 We want Mail to behave like a basic, generic email application.

5. Once you see the "Incoming Mail Server" screen, select "IMAP". Then, fill in the remaining fields (you did write all that info down, right?!).

Unless I'm forgetting something, the rest is straight forward. The result is that Mail will be forced to save all the info, including your password and operate normally. A new entry will be created in Keychain. You can delete the old entries if you so choose, however, there is no real need for that.

Please post again if this didn't work for you and I'll attempt to re-create an account differently and/or verify the method of getting the manual screen to appear.

Incoming works great. But outgoing is being stubborn. I used several variants for the outgoing Server Name but to no avail. I looked on Google and the Apple discussion board and nothing seems to work. Any ideas?

My current configuration (as per "Apple Support") is:

• Server name: smtp.mail.me.com
• SSL Required: Yes
• Port: 587
• SMTP Authentication Required: Yes
• Username: My iCloud Username
• Password: My iCloud password

Just find out. If I delete the icloud password (MobileMe) for mail.app in keychain, I don't need a password to login in icloud email. Even the mail.app still keeps asking for icloud password twice a day, I can just dismiss the request (click "cancel"). The mail.app can still access to me.com email.

I am now and for a number of days having problems with iCloud Email. It keeps asking for password. Have removed the account and reinstated with the same results happening. All other email accounts work fine with Mac Mail except iCloud mail. Now it works just fine via the iPhone and iPad but not with my MacBook Pro 2.66 running Lion. It is really becoming a HASSLE each time I open the Mac Mail Account.

Also on another note the only way to close Mac Mail is to use Force Quit. The program willl not close unless I use Force Quit. Now if I remove iCloud maill account the program will work just fine. There must be so sort of BUG with using iCloud Mail accounts like *@.mac.com and *@me.com.

I had the same problem yesterday (4/3/2012). I finally changed my password on the Apple site and things have been fine since then. I passed it off to my attempting to use iCloud Mail on my iPhone 3G. And I got an email from Apple late last week suggesting I visit a page to change my password, which I hadn't attempted to do for well over a month. Maybe it was the iCloud use, maybe not. Changing the password is the only thing that finally stopped Mail from pestering me. It's getting very frustrating to use Mail/Apple and I'm seriously thinking of changing providers (dropping Apple, anyway) if things don't improve. ;-(

xairbusdriver,

Thanks! That seems to have done the trick. Seems to be working fine now after I changed the password.

That was an easy fix. Been fighting this problem for a while now. Lets now hope the problem is resolved for good.

Well just a followup. After changing the password as suggested it worked fine for one day. Now it is back to the same issues. Keeps asking for password for the Mac email account. No problems with my other email accounts. it is just the Mac email account (iCloud) that keeps giving me problems. Again it works just fine via iPad and iPhone but not on my MacBook Pro. Guess I am at the point just to not use Mac email account for any email.

I too am having these issues with all 4 of my computers but on Outlook 2011 Only.

I have tried all kinds of suggestions.

1. Change the Apple ID Password to the new standard

2. Delete the old account and add it back again

3. Add @me.com to the User Name

This issue did not exist before the change to iCloud and it took about a week for it to surface.

I switched to Mail from Outlook 2011 and its working there, but Outlook is unable to authenticate.

I noticed that in Mail the Incoming Server is listed as p02-imap.mail.me.com Port 993 with SSL checked.

Outgoing is simply SMTP.me.com Port 587 - Override Default and SSL checked

I have matched those settings exactly in Outlook, and still authentication is rejected.

Any insights would be GREATLY appreciated.

Cheers: Justin

Paxfax,

I think you are correct as I also feel iCloud is the problems. More I think about all my issues with Mac email account started after iCloud. Just now tried to use Mac email with Outlook 2011 and have issues. All other email accounts when using Outlook work with no problems.

I just can not figure out why I have no issues with Mac email account with the iPad2 and iPhone 4S. Only problem is when trying to use Mac email account on the MacBook Pro. I have just about come to the point where I will not even use the Mac email account.

probably breaking the T&C's but this support harkens back to the days when you had to trade patches on bbs's. U need to reset your password using .me account, reset your email to use that and the new passwod and yes if you screw up you will have to pick a new password... what a mess

also enter fully qualified me account, or is icloud account, then make sure you reset all your ios devices so if you have 3 accounts and 2 devices that is 6 separate changes. also this is not guaranteed, so far only had luck with 3 out of 4 accounts.

oh and there is more, set in the advanced tab port 993 and use apple token..

and do not forget to click the ssl radio button, how is that for consumer friendly.. I really hope this helps people even if the matrix deletes the sarcasam

Things have settled down here a bit. Mail has a different approach to iCloud as it appears to be built into the software where Outlook see it as just another IMAP account. The prefix p02-imap.mail.me.com is a Mail incoming server setting only and does not work in Outlook so copying the Mail settings to Outlook was suspect. The Mail outgoing server is so automatic it just says iCloud(iCloud) and doesn't even show the user what SMTP it is. The new Mail account screen doesn't even show you ports anymore.

In Outlook the user name does not need the @xxx.com, SSL is checked for Incoming and Outgoing. Nothing else is checked. This defaults to port 993 for Incoming, and for me Port 25 on outgoing. I tried the 587 override and it was not happy. I have learned that Outgoing ports are ISP specific and dependent on who your provider is. Ever notice when you go out of town that you have trouble sending mail? It's because your on someone elses ISP and they don't like the port you've picked. Sometimes you have to click off authentication or uncheck SSL to get it to work. You can play with the IMAP Idle check box as well under Advanced.

Settings for Outlook that worked for me are:

Incoming: imap.mail.me.com Port 993 SSL Checked

Outgoing: smtp.mail.me.com Port 25 SSL Checked

Under More Options: Use Incoming Server Info.

I still get the occasional request for Authentication, but I ignore it and it often goes away. Just click Cancel and see what happens. It seems to come up when I have been away for a while and it just needs to shake hands with the server a bit and wake up. A bit clunky and you have to watch your Outbox to make sure things aren't getting stuck in there. I love and I hate Outlook. The interface is way better than Mail...just the attachments showing up at the bottom is enough for me right there. I could go on. Outlook needs work. The Junk mail feature should be able to block senders so that you never see them again...ever...even in your Junk folder. Don't tell me the technology is not there because it is. I contunally get senders in my Junk folder that I have in the address book...why? Microsoft.

This whole change to iCloud was major. The Lion upgrade was the most arduous forced march I have made with Apple. I am still trying to get my ProTools working with all the plug in upgrades that don't work. My MacPro got in a loop of reinstalling Lion that would have been devestating if I hadn't made a bootable clone drive to drop in and go back to to try it again. I have read threads that make my experience look tame.

I will say that iCloud...when it works...is truly seamless. Mobile Me sucked. Now when I add something to my iPhone...its almost instantly transmitted to my 3 other computers and iPads. Jobs was good at wrapping Apples arms around their own software and not always playing nice with others, Microsoft especially. They may not be to happy about Apples success either and poke a stick at us with their Apple versions. Hey...Quickbooks without Bill Pay...seriously....what the **** are they thinking...??? Palm to forehead.

RB... Don't bother getting Lion in the hopes it will make this work. It won't. I'm running Lion and the fact of the matter is, Apple Mail ***** and iCloud makes it even worse... a very un-Apple-Like experience. I've been using Macs exclusively since 1987, and I'm about ready to give up on Mail & iCloud and migrate everything to google.