How to get iCloud mail on Android (if you must)

There may come a time when for one reason or another you may find you need to switch to using an Android device for a while, perhaps as a back-up device when you are in-between iPhones, or as a temporary replacement if your main device gets lost when travelling.

The good thing is that not every Apple service is an Android-free zone – not only can you access Apple Music on Android, but there is also a handy Move to iOS app for when you can finally return to the light.

And you can also setup your iCloud mail on an Android device.

Here’s what to do:

How to get iCloud mail on Android (if you must)

Most Apple users end up with an Apple ID and iCloud account. The iCloud account (which is also available online using any decent browser) also provides email, and you can download that email to any Apple device, Windows and Android.

Android devices require that you have a Gmail address, but you can still keep using your iCloud mail alongside it.

The easiest way to achieve this is to follow these three steps:

• Create an app-specific password for iCloud.
• Create an account on your Android device.
• Populate that account with your iCloud data.

And that’s it.

Here is the detail you need to get this done.

1. Create an app-specific password for iCloud.

Visit your Apple ID page at appleid.apple.com. You’ll need to sign in with your Apple ID and passcode. Once you are signed in you should open the Security tab and click Generate Password – give it a name you’ll remember, such as Android Mail, and click Create.

You will be provided with a password that you must memorize in order to make your iCloud email work on your Android device.

2. Create an account on your Android device.

To access your iCloud email on your Android you must create a new mail account.

Swipe down to open notifications

Tap the gear icon on the right

Tap Accounts (or whatever unnecessary other name your phone manufacturer chose to use for the accounts page). Then tap Add Account and tap Personal (IMAP).

3. Populate the account with your iCloud data

On the next page you’ll put your iCloud email address, after which you will need to enter the app-specific password you created earlier.

The work is done  – your iCloud will now be available on your Android device. I do hope you are able to get back to an iPhone one day (affiliate link).

Photo by Eirik Solheim on Unsplash

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