Question :

I have installed the iCloud application on my PC running Windows 10, and added my iCloud email-address to Windows Mail.app (or Outlook) without a problem, but now I keep getting an error message saying “Your iCloud Account Settings Are Out Of Date”… when I click on it, I get an option to have this fixed by Windows 10 itself, but then nothing happens… the problem remains, and I am not receiving any eMails in my iCloud mailbox…

I have checked on iCloud.com and my PC is listed as a registered device, and there is no error showing in the iCloud application on Windows either…

What can I do to fix this ?

Answer :

Somewhere during 2017 Apple has changed the security settings of the iCould services : it is now obligatory to enable two-factor-authentication on your iCloud account if you want to connect from any non-Apple device : from now on you will need to generate an application-specific password for Windows Mail.app (or Outlook)…

Here’s how to do that :

1. setup two-factor-authentication on your iCloud account as outlined here
2. then, make sure you have the iCloud for Windows application installed on your PC ; if you need to reinstalled it, you can download it here
3. then, make sure you have the iCloud for Windows application setup properly ; open the iCloud for Windows application and make sure there is a checkmark at “Mail” (and at “Contacts”, “Calendars” and “Tasks” if you want to sync those also)
4. then, make sure you have added your iCloud mailbox to Windows Mail.app (or Outlook) ; if it’s not listed, add it (again)
5. then, generate an application specific password as outlined here
6. then, make sure that you input the application specific password you have just generated as the password for your iCloud mailbox in the Windows Mail.app (or Outlook) Settings

That’s it !

NOTE : do NOT use your regular iCloud-password for Windows Mail.app (or Outlook) any longer, it won’t work.

enjoy 😉