Definition
An Apple app password is a single-use, generated password you create for apps and services that do not support Apple's two-factor authentication, letting them sign into your Apple account (including iCloud Mail) securely.
Because signing into iCloud Mail from older email clients or third-party apps may require an app password, marketers who use iCloud for testing or sending sometimes need one. It is generated in Apple's account settings and used only in the specific app.
Use app passwords only where needed, keep them out of shared or public files, and revoke them if compromised or unused. Treat them like any credential, and prefer modern sign-in (OAuth) where supported.
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Related Glossary Terms
Email Authentication Protocols
Email authentication protocols are technical standards that verify the identity of an email sender, helping mailbox providers distinguish legitimate mail from spam and phishing.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) is an email authentication method that uses digital signatures to verify that an email was not tampered with during transit and comes from a authorised domain.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication)
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance) is an email authentication protocol that builds on SPF and DKIM to prevent domain spoofing and provide reporting on authentication failures.
Email API Key Management
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Email Attachment Safety
Email attachment safety covers the risks of attachments in email, including malware and phishing, and best practices like type restrictions, scanning and session links.
Email Authentication Overview
Email authentication uses SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to verify that an email genuinely comes from the domain it claims to be sent from, preventing spoofing and improving deliverability.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a generated, app-specific password for signing into apps and services that do not support Apple's two-factor authentication, including iCloud Mail in some clients.
Older email clients and some third-party apps cannot handle modern sign-in methods, so an app password provides secure access in those cases.
Treat them like any credential: keep them private and revoke them when unused or compromised, and prefer modern sign-in methods like OAuth where available.