authentication error with iCloud mail on Android

OK, so we need to know which one of the "Two's" you are using. On your Mac, go to: Apple - My Apple ID, sign in with your @me.com Apple ID, and under the Security section see whether it says you are using Two-Step or Two-Factor.

I'm a bit confused by where you are trying to sign in your @me.com email address. If you are trying to sign into Gmail, wouldn't it be an @gmail.com email address? (sorry, I don't have an Android, so not sure where the @me.com address comes in here).

The answers to those questions will help to establish what your setup is, so if there are other issue, we will know what base we are working from.

As for getting signed into an app on your Android that will be accessing iCloud data, you need to sign into that app with your Apple ID and an App-specific password. Your Apple ID password does not come into play for this sign in.

On the same Apple ID page that I provided the link for above, you will also see in the bottom right-hand corner of the Security Section a label with "App Specific Passwords", and below that "Generate Password". Type in a name you want to categorize the password with - i.e., Android Mail Password (or anything you like):

Once you have created a label, then click on Create. You will get a long password with 4 sets of 4 characters separated by dashes. This is what you will type into your password field. Nothing else - only the App-specific password.

A few years ago, even Apple devices were required to use App-specific passwords when signing into Messages or FaceTime. I could use the same password for signing in both on as many devices as needed. If you get signed out of the app and need to sign in again, you can create a new App-specific password if that is easier than keeping the original one somewhere. Since I rarely got signed out, that is what I would do if I was somehow signed out.

Does that help?

GB

So, you are going to have to tell me what you have done up to this point. What is it that you are signing your @me.com email address into? What app?

Are you using Two-Step Verification or Two-Factor Authentication?

Have you created an App-specific password for the app you are attempting to sign into?

Cheers,

GB

I've been an Apple owner and an Apple 'evangelist' for decades. No more. As far as I'm concerned, Apple is using desperate—and reprehensible—measures to try to keep all their customers from using anything other than Apple devices. I bought an Android phone that I'm very happy with; next is a non-Apple computer. And like you, I've got to tell all my friends and business associates not to use my me.com email address because it's unreliable. APPLE NO MORE.

What, specifically is your issue? You have only editorialized, not specified what you are talking about. Nothing Apple has done with the security measures that have been implemented requiring App-specific passwords, have prevented anyone with an Android or PC from using Apple services.

So, unless you have something specific you want to ask your fellow users about here, the op-ed is pointless and actually against the TOU of this forum.

GB

I have exactly the same problem as all the posters in the thread who, like me, have followed the instructions given by Apple on how to authenticate their Apple email (in my case, a me.com email address) to work on a non-Apple (in my case, Android) device, and failed. So my specific issue is, please tell me how to successfully set up my me.com email account on my Android device, using Apple's [required] two-step verification. That is exactly what I would seriously like to do, because just as your reply came in, gail from maine, I was looking for how to create an auto-reply on my Mac's me.com account, to redirect people to my gmail account.

PLEASE DO tell me how to do it so that it actually works. Thank you for your response.

Could we please start from the beginning, as what I've tried has not worked? And I am not aware of the difference between "Two-Step Verification" and "Two-Factor Authentication." (I've generated six-digit Apple verification numbers and appended them to my Apple account password as instructed, and that doesn't work.)

So, I have an Android phone, I'm using the Gmail app, I'm sitting in front of my MacBook Air and I would like to get my me.com email working again on the phone. (I had to reset my me.com password on my computer and have not been able to successfully update it on the phone; I get an "Unable to set up account / Authentication failed" response, like so many others seem to be getting.)

What are the steps I should follow, please? Thanks, Gail.

I tried calling Apple Support and all they recommended was to check my device for any pending updates. I have none pending. My husband has an iPhone, and he said it just updated yesterday or the day before. My guess is that either they screwed something up for Android devices or they are no longer supporting non apple devices. IF that's the case, it would be nice to have gotten a heads up, or for support to know this to advise their users. My phone kept giving me an alert that I couldn't log into the email, quite annoying, so I uninstalled the email since it wouldn't take my ID and password. Now when I try to reinstall the email, it tells me, "Couldn't open connection to server." When I try to access my account from icloud.com, it says "Your browser is not currently supported." It looks like Android devices are no longer supported for icloud or their email...I'm not buying an iPhone, so I guess I'm just done with that email account. Time to notify everyone that has that email on their file for me...what a pain!!

If you took the time to think about what is going on, you might understand that people are SEEING differing information on the page in different states. Perhaps you should re-read that there was no OPTION when I clicked it other than MORE INSTRUCTIONS. Which I posted or referenced or tried to.

NOW, however, after loging back in, I am presented with an OPTION to set it up... in 3 days. Which is what I am now assuming this message means.

So perhaps what you are all seeing is not presenting to all users depending on where they are in the cycle of logging in, waiting and so on. And no, I was never prompted to set this up, nor had I made any changes to my account.

Has that ever occurred to you all with your snippy remarks? That not everyone is actually SEEING the same page as you saw it? So the frustration is REAL and not Silly?

Here is what I see NOW. Now, lets see what I see in 3 days. I am guessing that ONLY in 3 days, will I get the CHANCE to set up the authentication which you all assumed was there as an option. Good god.

I have no issue with reading what you have said, or understanding the alternative. I'm not sure what your issue is with reading my comments about the alternative not working and understanding that they are not working for me and a few other Android users on this thread. I carefully read the thread, saw the two links on how to access my account on my Android..to no avail. If you can't be helpful, although you have tried to be in the past but are now just being condescending, please stop responding to my comments. I am not the only Android user on this thread that the two ways to access their icloud accounts on Android are not having any success with Apples "fix," and I would appreciate you not talking down to me like I am a child.

In case you missed it further up in this thread, the reason it's not working is because we have been blocked in setting up the 2 step verification until the 24th now, though it use to be the 20th. It is very frustrating and inconvenient for Android users. Apple should have thought about that before the new login step were implemented. Apple/ios users were not inconvenienced, so who cares...right??

This is what you see when open the Two-Factor Authentication article:

This is the Support article that clicking on that link above takes you to:

This is the "normal" Apple ID sign in page, however, when you sign in, it provides the path to set up Two-Step Verification, which going directly to the site does not:

There is no "Learn More" prompt for this path. This is the path that needs to be taken in order to set up Two-Step Verification. There is no "direct" path to get to a Two-Step Verification Setup screen. This is intentional to prevent people from "accidentally" setting up Two-Step instead of Two-Factor. Two-Factor is the preferred security system for Apple, so they want to get as many folks into Two-Factor as possible.

Cheers,

GB

- Was prompted to enter my iTunes Credit card number to set up verification.

- Then taken to a screen that indicated I needed to send a code to one of my devices.

- I entered a phone number and received a code

- I enterd the code, but the next screen referenced only Apple Devices and indicated No Devices Available. I tried Refresh Devices. I don't have iPhone, so I just clicked continue.

- I was prompted to save a Recovery Key which I did and reentered to verify.

-Received email that Two-Step Verification has been set up.

- I attempted to reset up my email using both Auto and Manual setup using all of the domains (me,mac,icloud)

- Same Authentication Error.

- My AppleID screen looks like the following screenshot where I have a trusted phone number but no devices.

- Logged out and back in to AppleID to see if I could find out more info, was prompted to enter another code that my phone received and I logged in. Same info that I had no trusted devices but a trusted phone number.

-Attempted again to set up email using Auto/Manual, no dice.

---- Are there any changes to the iMAP configurations I need to know as well? Does Auto not work?

Did you generate an app specific password and then enter it in your app's password field?

---- Are there any changes to the iMAP configurations I need to know as well? Does Auto not work?

No. There are no server changes to be made. Only password changes.

the only problem is their method to 'fix' doesn't seem to exist, even if you follow their instructions.

There is no fix, as nothing is broken.

As of June 15th, if you wish to use a secure Apple service such as iCloud Mail, with a 3rd party app like Outlook or Thunderbird, you MUST use an app specific password.

Using app-specific passwords - Apple Support

In order to generate an app specific password you MUST have either 2 Step Verification or 2 Factor Authentication enabled for your Apple ID.

Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

Two-step verification for Apple ID - Apple Support

On June 15 this year things changed, non Apple software had to have a separate password in order to access iCloud, (the 2 factor authentication password),which is explained here:

Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

"For people that do not have an "eligible" device to set up Two-Factor, the alternative Two-Step Verification is available. Two-Step is set up on your Apple ID page, and uses a phone number that you supply to set it up. The phone number can be any SMS-capable number."

Where? Can you screenshot where this is or give specific and direct instructions to set up Two-Step Verification?

All I am taken to are the instructions I posted above. Even adding a device under Devices all I see is this: Check your Apple ID device list to see where you're signed in - Apple Support

Which again, requires one to Sign in on a device with an Apple ID but how can one do that if Mail (Galaxy Samsung S4) or a Browser is no longer working? Do I need to download iCloud or some other Apple App just to register my device? I do not use any other Apple Apps on my phone but I can download, log in, register my phone if this will be a step to set up the Two-Step Verification. But will this then allow me to use Mail after I do this?