Every human being of my generation has two emails, or at least so I can talk about my friends. Either you possess a school or office Gmail account, or you use and still have an iCloud email as long as you belong to the category of people using Apple. It tires me to maintain the two different accounts. It is for this reason that it is not a matter of concern to sync iCloud and Gmail email for most of the users such that all the emails fall under a single system. All of these are possible with Gmail. You can send and receive mails of iCloud in your inbox via Gmail with the facility to sync an iCloud account with Gmail. That is just one program and time saved. We will let you know later in this guide everything about what is iCloud email, why you need to set it up through Gmail, and how to do it step by step.
What Is iCloud Email?
Apple uses its email as an iCloud email. Its default email id would be @icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com. You could already have an iCloud email if you already possess an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
iCloud account is also associated with your Apple ID and gains access to Apple services, backup, and cloud storage. People use Gmail, though, as an email aggregator. It is therefore extremely handy to merge iCloud with Gmail.
Reasons Why to Merge iCloud Email with Gmail
There are actually quite a sizable number of wonderful reasons why it would be an excellent idea to combine iCloud email with Gmail:
- Convenience – All your emails in a single inbox instead of flipping between apps back and forth.
- Time-saver – No need to manually log into iCloud.
- Easier searching – Gmail search function makes it simple to remember your old iCloud emails.
- Everywhere access – Gmail app on every device, not only Apple devices.
- Work-life balance – All work, school, and personal emails in the same app.
Let us do step by step on how to combine iCloud email and Gmail.
Step 1: Create an App-Specific Password
Apple will not allow your normal iCloud password with Gmail. As it is not secure. You must create an app-specific password.
How to do that:
- Go to the Apple ID Website. Enter using your Apple ID.
- Go to Security. You will find the App-Specific Passwords area.
- Click Generate Password.
- Type in the label, that is, “Gmail,” and click Create.
- Apple will create a password. Take note because you will be using it on Gmail.
The password will let Gmail access iCloud securely.
Add iCloud Email to Gmail on Desktop
You can now sync your iCloud email with desktop Gmail. As you now have the app-specific password.
- Sign into desktop Gmail.
- Click on the gear icon (Settings).
- Click See all settings.
- Click Accounts and Import.
- In the Check mail from other accounts section, click Add a mail account.
- Enter your iCloud email address ([email protected]).
- Click Import emails from my other account (POP3) and click Next.
In the pop-up window, enter the following:
- Username: your iCloud email address.
- Password: the new app-specific password.
- POP Server: mail.icloud.com.
- Port: 995.
Select the Always use a secure connection (SSL) box.
Press on Add Account.
Gmail will begin importing your iCloud mail.
Allow Gmail to Send Mail on Your Behalf from iCloud
And if you want to send mail from your iCloud account via Gmail, as well:
- When you add the account, Gmail will request sending mail on your behalf from your iCloud email. Click on Yes.
- Enter your name as you’d like it to appear.
Enter the following:
- SMTP Server: smtp.mail.me.com
- Port: 587
- Username: your iCloud email
- Password: the app password
- Select Secured connection using TLS.
- Click on Add Account.
Gmail will require you to enter a code that will be sent by Gmail to your iCloud email. Enter the code to complete.
You can now send and receive iCloud mail via Gmail.
Adding iCloud Email to Gmail Mobile
If you want to use the mobile app on your Android or iPhone. Then this is how you add your account:
- Open the app.
- Tap the top right profile picture.
- Tap Add another account.
- Tap Other (IMAP).
- Type in your iCloud email address. Tap Next.
- In password, enter the app-specific password you created.
Enter the below full IMAP settings:
- IMAP server: imap.mail.me.com
- Port: 993
- Security type: SSL/TLS
For outgoing server (SMTP):
- SMTP server: smtp.mail.me.com
- Port: 587
- Security type: STARTTLS
- Username: your iCloud email
- Password: the app-specific password
Tap Next and complete setup.
Your iCloud email is successfully synced with your Gmail app and Gmail account.
Common Issues and Workarounds
Others are experiencing the same issues in setting up iCloud email to Gmail. The most prevalent issues one can face and how to prevent them are as follows:
- Password not valid – Use app-specific password instead of Apple ID password.
- Server error – Re-enter the names of IMAP/SMTP servers and ports.
- Confirmation code not received – Verify Gmail spam mail or directly proceed to iCloud.com.
- Emails won’t sync – Gmail will sync older emails from iCloud in a few minutes. Wait for a few minutes.
- Can’t open a work Gmail account – An administrator can turn off a guest account in a business or school Gmail account.
How to Stay Organized with iCloud Emails in Gmail
When you merge iCloud and Gmail, you may end up with work emails and home emails mixed in the same inbox. How to stay organized is as below:
- Use labels – Establish a label “iCloud” in Gmail and send all imported email to it.
- Use filters – Set up auto-deletion of iCloud email by sender or subject.
- Marking important mails – Star important iCloud mails to respond on a priority basis.
- Archiving old messages – Keep the inbox clean by archiving old insignificant messages.
- Inbox separation – Enable multiple inboxes in Gmail settings so that iCloud mail is treated as an alternate inbox.
Why It Is a Good Idea to Integrate iCloud with Gmail
Convenience is preferable to what iCloud mail has to be combined with in Gmail. It is convenient in the following manner as well:
- Productivity – You would not need to search for one inbox.
- Backup – Your iCloud emails are backups in Gmail.
- Accessibility – Gmail is running smoothly on any device and not Apple devices only.
- Search power – Powerful search in Gmail provides you the convenience of access to previously stored iCloud emails.
- Flexibility – You may reply using your Gmail or iCloud email depending on the nature of the issue.
Gmail iCloud email configuration is complicated at the beginning but after you master it, it is easy and very hassle-free. You only need an Apple app-specific password and the correct server settings. Therefore, you can directly send and receive the iCloud emails with the help of Gmail—computer and mobile phone.
Not only that, but even all your emails at one location, thus making you well organized.
And if you wish to have an even more unified email experience, do yourself a favor and take a minute or two today and link your iCloud email account with Gmail. And once you’ve joined the dots, you will no longer be toggling between two apps.
