Before iCloud there was MobileMe from Apple.  I had setup my google mail account to download my MobileMe mail via pop3, set it to read status and archive past inbox. So I had a nice hidden searchable backup in case MobileMe lost my data.

Like most folks I moved my MobileMe to iCloud.  Turns out starting Dec 21 the pop3 access quit working. Best I can tell is iCloud is now only supporting IMAP syncing.

So how to restore my backup.  After talking with @johnfbraun I gave the forwarding option in iCloud a try.  It works when paired with an appropriate filter rule in gmail.

1. In iCloud go into preferences via the web page once logged into mail at iCloud.com.
2. In the general tab, check the box to forward and enter your gmail or google apps email address.
3. Do NOT check the box delete after forward if you want to still interact with that mail through the iCloud account on your devices.
4. Next go to your gmail.  Go into the Mail settings and filters.
5. Make a filter based on the TO: matching your @me.com address.
6. Use the actions to Skip Inbox, Mark as read, Apply label

You want to use a label so you can quickly jump to all mail that came to your iCloud account.

That is it.  Works fine for new mail, though we have noticed a few delays in mail making it over to google.  Perhaps Apple is batch processing forwards.

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 24th, 2011 at 9:32 am and is filed under FiT Tips, George Starcher. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.