Add a mailbox

Heron works with any mailbox that offers IMAP and SMTP. Gmail and Outlook connect in one click; iCloud, Yahoo and Fastmail need an app password. A mailbox you add shows up on all your devices.

Open the add dialog

• On a computer: Settings (⌘ , or Ctrl ,) → Add an account, at the bottom of the Mail accounts list.
• On mobile: Settings → Mail Accounts → Add Account, then pick your provider.

Gmail and Google Workspace

1. Click Sign in with Google.
2. Your browser opens: pick your Google account and allow Heron.
3. Go back to Heron: the mailbox is added and syncing starts.

Heron never sees your Google password. If you prefer, pick Gmail under or with a password and use an app password (Google Account → Security → App passwords; 2-Step Verification must be on).

Outlook, Hotmail and Microsoft 365

1. Click Sign in with Microsoft.
2. Sign in to your Microsoft account in the browser and accept the access request.

Outlook.com and Hotmail require Microsoft sign-in: a password alone won’t work.

Good to know: with a work or school Microsoft 365 account, your administrator may need to approve Heron, and authenticated SMTP sending must be enabled for your mailbox. If you’re blocked, pass these two points on to them.

iCloud

iCloud needs an app-specific password (not your Apple Account password):

1. Go to account.apple.com → Sign-In and Security → App-Specific Passwords.
2. Create one (name it “Heron”, for example) and copy it.
3. In Heron, pick iCloud, enter your @icloud.com (or @me.com) address and paste that password.
4. Click Add.

Yahoo and Fastmail

Same idea as iCloud, with an app password:

• Yahoo: Account Info → Account Security → generate an app password.
• Fastmail: Settings → Privacy & Security → create an app password.

Any other mailbox (IMAP)

For a hosting provider, a custom domain or a company server, pick Other (IMAP):

1. Enter your Email address and Password (or an app password if your provider requires one).
2. If your username isn’t your email address, fill in Username (if different from the email).
3. Fill in the Incoming (IMAP) and Outgoing (SMTP) servers: address, port and SSL. Your provider lists them in its help pages (often IMAP 993 with SSL, SMTP 465 with SSL or 587).
4. Click Add: Heron checks the connection before saving.

Sender name and account name

While adding a mailbox you can set:

• Sender name: what your recipients see (“Camille Martin”).
• Account name: a label inside Heron (“Personal”, “Work”).

You can change both later, along with the account color: see Manage your mailboxes.

Not working?

• “IMAP login refused”: check the username and password (iCloud, Yahoo and Fastmail need an app password).
• “This account has already been added”: the mailbox is already on your Heron account, maybe added from another device.
• More tips in Account error.