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Why isn't my @mac.com email address working with iCloud sync?

While @mac.com email addresses continue to work perfectly for sending and receiving email, Apple has made changes that can cause problems when using these addresses for calendar and contact syncing with third-party apps.

The fix is simple: use @icloud.com instead of @mac.com when setting up your account with BusyCal or BusyContacts.

Same Account, Different Domain

Apple automatically creates a @icloud.com version of every @mac.com or @me.com address. For example:

  • If your email is john@mac.com
  • Use john@icloud.com for syncing
  • This is the same Apple ID account

How to Fix It​

Step 1: Remove the Existing Account​

  1. Open Settings (click the app name in the menu bar, then "Settings")
  2. Click on Accounts at the top
  3. Select your @mac.com account in the left sidebar
  4. Click the minus [-] button at the bottom to remove it

Step 2: Generate a New App-Specific Password​

  1. Visit Apple's App-Specific Password page
  2. Sign in with your Apple ID (you can use either @mac.com or @icloud.com to sign in)
  3. Generate a new app-specific password
  4. Copy it somewhere secure

Step 3: Re-add the Account with @icloud.com​

  1. Click the plus [+] button in the Accounts settings
  2. Select iCloud as the account type
  3. Enter your email as yourname@icloud.com (not @mac.com)
  4. Paste the app-specific password you generated
  5. Click OK

For detailed setup instructions, please see:

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