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DavJam
User level: Level 1 (29 points)

App-Specific Passwords not working for Apple email accounts

I have a set up of two computers, an iMac, a MacBook Pro and two iPads. My problem is that I cannot use my Apple email accounts (@me.com and @icloud.com) since the time Apple introduced App-Specific Passwords. I use Mozilla Firefox email software and I am aware that I have to use the App-Specific Passwords (ASP) for security.


They are not working, and haven't worked for at least 2 or 3 years. I have read all the Apple and Mozilla help info several times, but each time I try following the instructions from these sources I get the prompt requiring the input for the PW. I assume this means the ASP.


The ASP has a name and the PW itself and I have tried entering one or the other - both have failed.


What am I doing wrong? Other email accounts are used regularly including gmail.com , outlook.com, etc - no problems at all!

Posted on Oct 20, 2026 5:32 AM

3 replies

6x6
User level: Level 7 (26,777 points)

Oct 20, 2026 5:05 PM in response to DavJam

When adding an account to Thunderbird, you need to enter your name, your iCloud email address and your app-specific password. For more information, see: Set up iCloud email in Thunderbird.


The name associated with the app-specific password is irrelevant in Thunderbird. It is only useful to you to manage your app-specific passwords, in case you want to modify or delete them on https://account.apple.com/.

6x6
User level: Level 7 (26,777 points)

Oct 21, 2026 10:28 AM in response to DavJam

I installed Thunderbird on my Mac to see how it works. It seems that you have to log into Thunderbird in order to use it (this login has nothing to do with the email accounts you configure inside the app). The login can be done using Google (Sign in with Google) or a personal Thunderbird account.


Your 2nd screenshot implies that you use Google sign-in to log in Thunderbird.


I’m not sure what the SMTP error can be. You could try to send again to see if the error keeps occurring.


I don’t know enough about Thunderbird to help you but you could check that the SMTP settings in Thunderbird match the ones defined by Apple: iCloud Mail server settings for other email client apps - Apple Support.

DavJam Author
User level: Level 1 (29 points)

Oct 21, 2026 2:47 AM in response to 6x6

Thanks for the advice so far.

Before your response I tested entering the ASP into the box that requests the password. Not knowing which was needed in the box I tried the pw name which failed and then the ASP which came back with a response as shown below:

The ASP seems to be accepted but gets no further than these.


Some thing else seems to be happening. I have three other accounts installed which have worked perfectly before I "fixed this". They now randomly display the request to log onto Google accounts as shown below:



Somehow the above input to the Apple account settings has required a log-on to all the other accounts!

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256379570