
There's no need to abandon your iCloud email address when you get a new Android device
If you're moving to an Android device from an iPhone or iPad, there's every possibility you're already set up and using an iCloud email address. Android devices require you to have a Google account and accompanying Gmail address, but you might want to keep using your iCloud account for email. And that's just fine.
The good news is it is perfectly possible to get your iCloud email address up and running on your Android device. It's pretty straight forward but does involve a little effort on your part. Head on past the break to see how.
Besides the Gmail app on your Android phone or tablet, you should also have an app just called "Email." (There are also dozens of great alternatives on Google Play.) How it looks may vary from phone to phone – I'm using the stock LG Email app on the G2 in this example – but the overall function should be the same since you need to set up your iCloud account using IMAP and SMTP.

However it looks, the key information remains the same. Here's a quick checklist of what you need to do for incoming mail:
- When asked for the IMAP server enter imap.mail.me.com.
- Your username is the name part of your @icloud.com address.
- Your password should be the same as your Apple ID password.
- Certificates should be set to SSL, or SSL (accept all certificates) if you're having issues connecting.
- The port number needs to be 993.
After you've entered all the above information, hit next and you'll be taken to the setup page for the SMTP section for outgoing mail. Again, the key information is the same however your Email app looks, and here's the checklist:

- When asked for the SMTP server enter smtp.mail.me.com.
- Username and password should be entered as above.
- Set certificates to either SSL or TLS (again you may need to hit the option to accept all certificates). Personally, I had to use the TLS option.
- The port number needs to be 587.
- If asked about SMTP authentication being required, hit yes.
Hopefully, the details above should be enough to get you up and running. It's a little fiddly to get set up – especially if you've come from the iPhone which does it all for you – but it works, and it gets your existing email on to your new Android device.
Of course, there may be other apps out there that do this for you, or you might know of some tips and tricks to make things run a little smoother. If you've got anything that'll help, drop it into the comments below!
Reader comments
How to set up your iCloud email account on Android
Our email client K-@ Mail does this all automatically. No fiddling around with server settings.
+1 for K-@ mail.
No it doesn't. Doesn't work.
That worked great for me. Most of the setting where on there in manual set up. Had to change to accept all certificates was only thing I had to change.
Https:// http://findmymobile.samsung.com
Posted via the Android Central App
On my Sony Xperia Z, I didn't have to manually set it up. All that the default email app asked for is the email address and the password. After that, it just asked for sync frequency and then it already synced up.
Posted via Android Central App
Bonus! That's good to know, thanks! If only it were so easy for everyone!
For the record, some of us wont give up our iPhones, but choose to use Android tablets. (At least me LOL.) I have a Nexus 7, the setup using the default email app, was pretty seamless as well.
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From the comment about sync intervals, I'm guessing you used POP settings rather than IMAP settings. The article was referring IMAP settings which I believe is more of a push settings and more functional when you are syncing folders. I hate having to keep up with two inboxes or three when I include my MS Outlook program
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No it's IMAP. Mine it's the same way. IMAP but with a frequency check setting.
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MyMail app does this for me automatically as well. I've dropped the default email app and gmail app. I like MyMail.
Posted via Samsung Note 3
Samsung Note 2 handled it without any manual setup (Android 4.1.2 yet).
Does that work with iCloud alias?
Not with the default email app. There might be third party ones that support aliases though.
Posted via Android Central App
I've been using CloudMagic and I really love it. Been using it on my Moto X for both GMail and iCloud
Nice tip. Thanks
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I have an ipad air and a macbook pro and i never signed up for icloud because i think its useless
You are correct.
No Bueno for stock Android mail app - Nexus 5 w/ KitKat 4.4.2
"Bits and Bytes from my Nexus 5"
Apple suxs
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Forward it to your GMail/Outlook.com account. Cuts out all the @me spam as well.
Does somebody even Use this crap?
you may now quit reading my post-Post forum signature:-)
No we all use knology.net because it's so much better ....
/s
ICloud.com email addresses are some of the best email services you can get.
So I can see how you would confuse it with crap...
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SmoothSync in playstore for calanders, contacts
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How do I check my deleted text messages and email and if I can see numbers I deleted
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Mine keeps saying can not connect safely to server I need help seeing as that was my primary email. Please help!
Thank you so much, It worked flawlessly on my LG G2!!
You could just use an application called Sync for iCloud Mail. Personally I found it very easy to use and I don't have to enter all of this data every time. Just enter your user name and password and you're ready to go!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.granita.icloudmail
Cant get it to work on my Galaxy S5. won't connect. I'll try the Sync app mentioned above.
Now that iCloud uses 2-step authentication, you must set up a "device-specific" password for your Android device, which by nature can't use 2-step. Once I did this I am having no trouble, and use the settings found at the sites referenced above--except that instead of my regular password I use the one I generated for my device. The problem I had was, I hadn't entered that one in the box for the outgoing settings--so I couldn't send mail until I figured this out.
this sounds like the only correct solution on this entire "discussion thread". unfortunately i understand not one word of what you are saying. can you please give step-by-step example? that would be fantastic!
Mujahiralam
mujahiralam41@gmail. com
mujahir alam41@email. com
Followed all steps twice. Nothing works, regardless of security and certificate choices. Techs in local store where i bought the "moto g" also couldn't do it.
I have the rca android tablet so idk if it'll work
Here's what I noticed. I can receive email from my me.com account but I cannot send email on that account with my android device. I've tried the Ssl and tls options but it doesn't seem to matter. Ssl is port 465 and tls is port 587. If anyone has any tricks about setting up the outgoing server settings, I would love to hear them.
Just had the same problem. Edit the mail account, set outgoing security to STARTLS 587. Worked for me.
It still doesn't work. I have a Samsung Galaxy s6 edge. I've followed the instructions exactly. I've asked apple and tmobile for help. Apparently we can send a man to the moon but I can't send email on icloud from my Android phone.
I'm pretty sure that the problem is that me.com is now using two step authentication, as http://www.androidcentral.com/users/sporat says above.
See this page regarding Application Specific Passwords.
Follow the steps to produce a "one-time" password for your Android mail "me.com" login settings.
Works fine for Aquamail now.