How to add an iCloud email address to Gmail (2024)

The Gmail web, mobile, and tablet apps support other email providers such as Outlook, Yahoo, AOL, iCloud, and more. It is useful if you want to bring your existing email accounts to your 5G Android smartphone or tablet. While the process is straightforward for other email providers, iCloud users must create an app-specific password to do the job. This guide walks you through how to add an iCloud email to Gmail.

Creating an app-specific password

You must create an app-specific password before you can add your iCloud email to Gmail. This additional security layer from Apple lets you sign in to third-party apps, like Gmail, with your Apple ID. When you use an app-specific password to sign in, the app doesn't store or collect your Apple ID password. Follow the steps below to create an app-specific password for Gmail.

1. Open your web browser on your computer.
2. Go to your Apple ID Sign-In and Security settings and sign in using your Apple ID.
3. Select App-Specific Passwords.

   

4. Check your existing app-specific passwords and click + at the top.

   

5. Enter a name for the password. We use "Gmail."

   

6. Authenticate again with your Apple account password. Enter it and click Continue.

   

7. You'll see a 16-character password. Keep a note of the password, as you'll need it to add your iCloud email to Gmail.

   

How to add an iCloud email to Gmail using your desktop

iCloud uses SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) standards, which Gmail also supports. You can add your iCloud email to Gmail by defining the SMTP server name and entering the app-specific password. Follow the steps below to learn how.

1. Go to Gmail on your web browser and sign in using your Google account.
2. Click the settings icon in the upper-right corner of the page.
3. On the page that opens, select See All Settings.

   

4. Select the Accounts and Import tab on the settings page.
5. In the Send mail as section, click Add another email address.

   

6. You'll see a new pop-up window. Enter your iCloud email address and click Next Step.

   

7. Enter smtp.mail.me.com in the SMTP Server field and type your iCloud email address in the username field.
8. In the password field, enter the app-specific password for Gmail that you just created.
9. Select Secured connection using TLS and click the Add Account button.

   

10. Google sends a confirmation mail to your iCloud Mail. Click the confirmation link, and you're good to go.

Add an iCloud email to Gmail using the mobile app

You can add your iCloud email to your Gmail using your smartphone. We use a Samsung phone in the screenshots below. Since Gmail has an identical UI on iPhone and iPad, you can follow the same steps on them.

1. Open the Gmail app on your phone.
2. Tap your profile icon in the upper-right corner.
3. Select Add another account.

   

   

4. If you see an option to add iCloud, select it. If not, tap Other.
5. Enter your iCloud email address and tap Next.

   

   

6. On the page that opens, enter the app-specific password you created earlier and tap Next.

   

7. Configure the incoming and outgoing server settings by entering the app-specific password again. Tap Next when you're done.
8. Enter the name you want to display in the emails you send and tap Next. That's it. You have now added your iCloud email to Gmail.

Add an iCloud account to Gmail using the Settings app

You can also use the default Settings app to add an iCloud account to Gmail. This trick only works on Android devices. We use a Pixel phone in the screenshots below. If you have another Android app, the steps may vary depending on the Settings app.

1. Open Settings on your Android phone.
2. Scroll to Passwords and accounts.
3. Scroll down and select Add account.
4. Find a Gmail icon with Personal (IMAP).

   

   

5. Add your iCloud email address. Tap Next.
6. Enter the password from the following menu. Use the 16-digit password you generated above. The password is case-sensitive. Gmail validates user information and shows account options.

   

   

7. By default, the iCloud account sync frequency is set at 15 minutes. You can change it from the same menu. Tap Next.
8. Give it a unique account name, enter a display name, and tap Next. And you are good to go.

   

   

9. Launch Gmail and tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner. Select your iCloud email to check the inbox.

   

Google also offers a service called Gmailify to get Gmail features such as spam protection, categories, and more with your added account. While Gmailify supports Outlook, Yahoo, AOL, and other non-Gmail accounts, it doesn't support iCloud. So, your Gmail features are limited here.

You can star your favorite emails, archive messages, and arrange them into folders. However, some useful Gmail features like scheduled send, predictive text, chips, different categories for inboxes, and more are only accessible with a Gmail email address.

Tweak iCloud settings in Gmail

At any point, you can change your iCloud account name, set a mobile signature, tweak sync frequency, and change other iCloud settings in Gmail. Here's how.

1. Open Gmail and tap the hamburger menu at the top.
2. Select Settings.
3. Tap your iCloud email address.

   

   

4. Change iCloud account settings, data usage, notifications settings, and more to fit your preferences.

   

Gmail lets you do more with your iCloud email

Adding your iCloud email to Gmail gives you more control over your inbox and access to apps and tools that help you manage your emails efficiently. You don't need to switch between different apps to check your messages. You can glance over the important emails from the unified inbox in Gmail. If you run into problems with Gmail, these tips can help you fix them quickly and easily.