Third-Party Apps Will Need App-Specific Passwords for iCloud Access From June 15

iCloud AltApp-specific passwords are set to become a mandatory requirement for third-party apps that access iCloud user data, according to an Apple Support email sent out today.

Currently, app-specific passwords are used to allow non-native apps like email clients to sign in to iCloud accounts that are protected by two-factor authentication. The security measure ensures that users can still link up their iCloud account to apps and services not provided by Apple, while also avoiding the need to disclose their Apple ID password to third parties.

However, app-specific passwords will become a basic requirement from June 15, according to Apple. The policy change basically means that users who want to continue using third-party apps with their iCloud account will have to enable two-factor authentication and generate individual passwords for each app.

Beginning on 15 June, app-specific passwords will be required to access your iCloud data using third-party apps such as Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, or other mail, contacts and calendar services not provided by Apple.

If you are already signed in to a third-party app using your primary Apple ID password, you will be signed out automatically when this change takes effect. You will need to generate an app-specific password and sign in again.

Two-factor authentication ensures that you're the only person who can access your Apple account, even if someone knows your password. To turn it on from any iOS device running iOS 10.3 or later, open the Settings app, tap your name at the top, and then tap Password & Security.

If you're using iOS 10.2 or earlier, you can enable it from Settings -> iCloud -> Apple ID -> Password & Security. If you're on a Mac, go to System Preferences -> iCloud -> Account Details, click Security, and enable two-factor authentication from there.

To generate an app-specific password, sign into your Apple ID account page (https://appleid.apple.com), go to App-Specific Passwords under Security, and click Generate Password.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...

Top Rated Comments

Chupa Chupa Avatar
106 months ago
That's all fine but it's get confusing and frustrating for the nontechnically oriented user -- and even those of us who are. If Apple really wants to beef up security I don't understand why it doesn't allow keychain access to apps and also require devs to allow TouchID. The best way to ensure security is to encourage people to use long unique random passwords for every app. But you need a password manager to do this and right now Apple's only works in Safari, not apps.

TouchID is available for apps, but not mandated. It should be mandated and keychain access should be made available for devices that do not have TouchID. That would be truly usable feature and set more space between iOS and Android. I mean if Apple is really serious about user security.
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maflynn Avatar
106 months ago
Awful change, makes my computing life more difficult. I think I'll be sure to avoid iCloud as much as possible. I don't want to be forced to use 2 factor. I had turned that on a couple of months ago, and it was just a nightmare trying to use. I don't know why but with multiple iOS and OS X devices, it just didn't work as I had hoped.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Otelm Avatar
106 months ago
Just to clarify: this only affects apps that access iCloud web services in a non-native way (web API). E.g. those mentioned: outlook, thunderbird, and similar. I'm a developer and I used to have only one such app, which has recently been updated to iCloud drive instead.

This change won't affect apps which use iCloud Drive, keychain (which is already accessible by devs btw, they just don't implement it) and apps which use the CloudKit framework. CloudKit already assigns app-specific containers to apps, while this change only affects services which want to access iCloud outside of their own space (which makes sense, if you consider the security risks).

A kind suggestion: please enable two-factor authentication, the risks in using a single password nowadays are just too great, whatever platform you use.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
itsmilo Avatar
106 months ago
Oh god, no one in my family understands anything above a password as it is. Not even security questions "wtf how does it know where i was born? Thats creepy"
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MR-LIZARD Avatar
106 months ago
If Apple really wants to beef up security I don't understand why it doesn't allow keychain access to apps and also require devs to allow TouchID. The best way to ensure security is to encourage people to use long unique random passwords for every app. But you need a password manager to do this and right now Apple's only works in Safari, not apps.
This is already available and has been since iOS 8! The uptake from developers is so low. I have one App (ASOS) that actually uses the API to access the Safari keychain's credentials.

I have contacted lots of the developers of the apps I use to add this as a feature request but it just doesn't seem to have priority, despite it seeming easy to implement.

References:

https://9to5mac.com/2014/06/13/ios-8-lets-apps-access-safari-autofill-credentials-for-quick-easy-login/

https://developer.apple.com/reference/security/shared_web_credentials
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nem Avatar
106 months ago
I accidentally changed to two factor auth a while back and had to use these app specific passwords, hated it, it seemed to work for about a week and then stop stating the password was incorrect and had to set up another one each time. After three times I turned two factor auth off and went back to normal. I can see me finally moving away from apple email entirely as it's just not worth the hassle.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)