icloud smtp server not working after mac os update

Yes, I used the preference iCloud method as suggested by Apple.

On my Android tablet I checked the settings by the manual server settings method; they are as suggested by Apple.

Both don't work

It is ONLY the iCloud smtp server, not the imap server that is giving issues.

All other smtp servers I use for other mail accounts (gmail, yahoo and ISP servers) all work ok.

Before the update iCloud war working ok too. So I think it is or the OS update or the 2 way verification that has been added.

I removed the 2-factor verification. It did not help....😠

More elaborate:

I removed the 2-factor verification from my Apple ID. This includes changing your password.

Using the preference plane : iCloud I removed mail from the services. iCloud mail is removed.

Then I setup an IMAP account without using the iCloud pref plane but the internet accounts plane. Filling in all the details gives a working mail account.

Same thing for the Android tablet; renewing the passwords gives a working mail account.

Turning on Mail in the iCloud plane makes the account active again. SMTP is NOT working....😕

I checked using the Connection Doctor Window from the mail app.

So the credentials from the iCloud plane are not ok

You need a subscription for that.......

System Preferences -> iCloud : setting normally used to setup an iCloud account

System Preferences -> Internet Accounts : to setup other accounts like Gmail etc

Thanks all for responding so fast. Eric, the last link was my trigger to remove iCloud smtp keychain items.

I managed to get the smtp server working again by the following actions:

- quit Mail

- Sign out from iCloud: System Preferences -> iCloud and click sign out. I did not make a backup but you can choose to do so

- delete all entries of mail.me.com in Keychain Access

- Sign in to iCloud again. This will involve typing a lot of passwords. If you have setup a second device for iCloud (I have setup my iPhone to use my account) you need it to acknowledge you signing in.

- I did not use Two-factor authentication because I think this is the issue.

- When the sign-in proces is finished open Mail. Check with the Connection Docter (Menu Windows) if the SMTP connection is working again.