Learn iCloud Week: How to set up your iCloud mail account

With the new update to Lion (OS X 10.7.2) comes iCloud support on your Mac, and if you’ve not already connected up to the cloud, now is the time to do so. Everyone can sign up for a free email address with the @me.com domain name, so if you’re looking for some extra storage, or even if you just want a cool personal email address, you can sign up now right on your Mac. iCloud will allow you not only to send and receive email to your Mac, it will also let you back up all your data to the cloud, so if you’re using iWork for your documents or iPhoto for your snapshots, all of these will be stored safely in iCloud, just in case you ever lose or delete anything important.

Step 1: System Preferences

In the System Preferences section you should see iCloud in the bottom-left. If it’s not there, choose Software Update and scan for a new version of OS X.

Step 2: Getting an ID

Click Create an Apple ID underneath the text box to make a new ID. You’ll need to input some information for security purposes in case you lose your password.

Step 3: Pick me!

You’ll have the choice between using an existing email address or signing up to an @me.com email address. You’ll have to choose something unique, so test it here.

Step 4: Like no one else

If your chosen address isn’t already taken, you can input the rest of your details, as well as a security question to help with password retrieval, if necessary.

Step 5: Password limits

Your password must be at least eight characters and contain an upper and lower-case letter, as well as a number. You can change this later with no restrictions.

Step 6: Other services

iCloud also provides other services for you to use, such as the ability to sync your data to the cloud, and to track your Mac if it’s lost or stolen.

Step 7: iConnected

Once you’ve agreed to the Licensing Agreement, you should see this screen. You can customise iCloud settings immediately or click Done to carry on.

Step 8: Customising

If you click Customize, or select iCloud from System Preferences, this screen will appear. Ensure the top option, Mail & Notes, is turned on, then open up Mail.

Step 9: Mail preferences

Choose Mail>Preferences, then Accounts to check your info. You can edit your data here, but it will pull everything you put into iCloud anyway.

Click on the image below to zoom in and view the annotations

This is the second tutorial in our Learn iCloud Week series; for more articles just like this, visit the Learn iCloudWeek tag. At the end of the week, we’ll be giving away a prize to one lucky person who gets in touch with a question or problem related to iCloud. To get involved, simply tweet your question, plus the hashtag #LearniCloudWeek, to @iCreateMagazine or post on our Facebook wall.