Add any inbox by IMAP: app passwords and every "Check it" error explained

This article shows you how to add any email inbox to Booked Solid OS with IMAP, and what each error from the Check it test means. IMAP is the option to use when your inbox is not a linked Gmail account and not the Mail app on this computer.

Add the inbox

1. Open the Connections tab and scroll to the Mail & calendars section.
2. Pick Any email (IMAP) as the email method. The other two methods are Gmail (linked account) and Mail app on this computer - use IMAP for everything else.
3. Enter the mail server details and your sign-in.
4. Tag the account with a purpose: bookings, personal, support, or business. This tag matters - it is what lets the app run its date conflict check (Heads up - dates that collide) between your bookings and personal calendars. Pick the tag that matches what this inbox is really for.
5. Use Check it to test the connection before you move on.

Gmail and iCloud: use an app-specific password

Gmail and iCloud do not accept your normal account password over IMAP. You need an app-specific password - a separate password your provider generates just for one app. If you paste your everyday password, the test fails with The mail server refused that sign-in. For Gmail/iCloud use an app-specific password. Generate the app password in your Google or Apple account security settings, then use that instead.

What each "Check it" error means

• The mail server did not answer in time. The server exists but was too slow to respond. Try again in a minute. If it keeps happening, the server may be down or blocking the connection.
• Could not reach that mail server. Check the server name and port. The address is wrong or the port is wrong. Double-check the exact IMAP server name and port your provider publishes - a single typo triggers this.
• The mail server refused that sign-in. For Gmail/iCloud use an app-specific password. The server answered but rejected your credentials. For Gmail or iCloud, switch to an app-specific password. For other providers, re-check the username and password.
• No saved password for this account - add it again. The password the app had stored is gone. Re-enter the account with its password and run Check it again.

Good to know

Calendars use a similar test. If you add a calendar by ICS link and it fails with That address did not return a calendar. Use the private ICS link., you pasted the public calendar page instead of the private ICS feed link - grab the private link from your calendar provider. Unreadable calendars are always named as skipped, never silently ignored.

Still stuck? Email bookedsolid@kivimedia.freshdesk.com and a person will help.