iCloud authentication failed

[el.jeffe58]

I know it has been reviewed before. I turned off 2-step verification yesterday and it appears that my iCloud app specific password is invalid now. That said, using my normal iCloud/Apple password is also not working. I do not want to use two-step to generate an app specific password for my own reasons. What can I do to use iCloud with Aquamail again? Ideas?

[StR]

I remember a few threads here about iCloud, but I don't remember which options iCloud allows for non-"i" apps.
However, this, fairly recent information from Apple indicates that you can generate an app-specific password: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202304
Follow those instructions to generate one for Aquamail, and try it with Aquamail.
(And of course, your "iCloud-app-specific password" shouldn't allow you in with any app but that one.)

[el.jeffe58]

Thank you for your reply.. I actually turned off two step verification for various reasons.. Turning it on again just for mail is not worth some drawbaxks. I understand that may be the only solution however. Thank you.

[mikeone]

Thank you for your reply.. I actually turned off two step verification for various reasons.. Turning it on again just for mail is not worth some drawbaxks. I understand that may be the only solution however. Thank you.

It could be a solution to switch from "two step verification" (you turned this off already) to Apple's "two factor authentication"
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207198

Then you are able to create an (new) 'App-specific password' using this one with AquaMail.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204397

[StR]

As far as I understand, app-specific password is not a two-step (or two-factor) authentication.

[mikeone]

As far as I understand, app-specific password is not a two-step (or two-factor) authentication.

That's correct, but...

There is a special information from Kostya on AquaMail's support page:
"Apple (iCloud) accounts require using application specific passwords
http://www.aqua-mail.com/?p=3422

And as described by Apple here https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204397 to create and use application-specific passwords, your Apple ID must be protected with two-factor authentication.
Remark:
This is different from 'two step verification'

[StR]

Aah!...
Then it seems to be the only option.
@mikeone: I suspect the OP meant 2-factor.

[mikeone]

Aah!...
Then it seems to be the only option.
@mikeone: I suspect the OP meant 2-factor.

I'm not sure, since generate and use an app-specific password for third-party apps was also the case with the older 'two-step verification 'method.
So, only the OP knows exactly about its own situation.