Unable to generate app-specific password

[Philly]

Hi,

I have a google phone which I'm trying to add my mac-mail address to, and I'm presently unable to generate an app-specific password. I've done this multiple times before, but for the last few weeks I just keep getting the same message.

I've tried to revoke the previous devices and that won't work either. I've been in touch with apple support/chat but they were useless.

I'm running a healthy macbook pro 2012 with High Sierra. I've done all available security updates.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[0128672]

You can revoke all prior passwords automatically by resetting your Apple ID password.

I'm sure you know this, but worth asking. There's a limit of 25; could that be the issue? And your Apple ID needs to be protected via 2FA. If both of these requirements aren't the issue, it might just be related to the older OS.

 

[Philly]

You can revoke all prior passwords automatically by resetting your Apple ID password.

I'm sure you know this, but worth asking. There's a limit of 25; could that be the issue? And your Apple ID needs to be protected via 2FA. If both of these requirements aren't the issue, it might just be related to the older OS.

Hi, thanks for the reply. I've presently only got two other device passwords, both out of use (older android phones). I'd prefer not to reset my Apple ID password at this point if possible, but I will do if I can't get anything else to work. The last time I generated an app specific password was only a few months ago and it worked fine.

I've tried using Safari. I've tried using Chrome. I get the same result; "unable to process your request. Please try later."


Could it be my OS?

 

[cthompson94]

I could never seem to get this feature to work when I had swapped to android and wanted to access my iCloud email, I hope that you are able to get this to work. When I tried it was about almost 3 years ago if I remember correctly

 

[0128672]

Hi, thanks for the reply. I've presently only got two other device passwords, both out of use (older android phones). I'd prefer not to reset my Apple ID password at this point if possible, but I will do if I can't get anything else to work. The last time I generated an app specific password was only a few months ago and it worked fine.

I've tried using Safari. I've tried using Chrome. I get the same result; "unable to process your request. Please try later."


Could it be my OS?

Hard to say, but out of curiosity I was able to create one just now on Monterey 12.5.1 in Safari.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"I'm running a healthy macbook pro 2012 with High Sierra. I've done all available security updates."

I'm wondering if it's High Sierra itself that may be the problem?
As in, something in the OS that's getting "too old"?

I'm thinking that Apple support won't be able to help with this.
Google support (do they HAVE any?) might help.

Seems to me that Mac users have been voicing complaints with gMail since its inception...

Just a thought:
Have you checked over at broadbandreports.com?
Perhaps something might be mentioned over there.

 

[Philly]

It's worked fine up till recently. My strongest guess is the old OS but I'm accessing my apple ID page through a web browser so would the OS really cause an issue? Perhaps it does.

I could upgrade, but it's a hassle I hoped I could avoid.

OP wrote:
"I'm running a healthy macbook pro 2012 with High Sierra. I've done all available security updates."

I'm wondering if it's High Sierra itself that may be the problem?
As in, something in the OS that's getting "too old"?

I'm thinking that Apple support won't be able to help with this.
Google support (do they HAVE any?) might help.

Seems to me that Mac users have been voicing complaints with gMail since its inception...

Just a thought:
Have you checked over at broadbandreports.com?
Perhaps something might be mentioned over there.

As the password needs to come from Apple I don't imagine google could help. edit - I had a little look at broadbandreports but couldn't find anything similar. If I do get a result I'll post back here.

 

[Brian33]

I'm accessing my apple ID page through a web browser so would the OS really cause an issue?

I think that's s really good point. It seems to me the OS shouldn't matter (I'd expect it could be done from Windows!), but maybe the browser needs to be relatively up to date to support some feature? Still seems a stretch.

Have you only tried using (old) Safari? You can install the latest Firefox release on High Sierra. I know Firefox worked when I created some app-specific passwords a year or two ago.

 

[Apple_Robert]

You aren't using a VPN when you try this are you? That could also cause a problem sometimes.

 

[Philly]

I think that's s really good point. It seems to me the OS shouldn't matter (I'd expect it could be done from Windows!), but maybe the browser needs to be relatively up to date to support some feature? Still seems a stretch.

Have you only tried using (old) Safari? You can install the latest Firefox release on High Sierra. I know Firefox worked when I created some app-specific passwords a year or two ago.

I'm using Safari 13.1.2 at the moment. I've tried with Chrome as well, but got the same result. I've just tried it with an updated Firefox but the same result again I definitely generated a password sometime in June this year because I got a new phone.

I'm going to try their support chat again.

You aren't using a VPN when you try this are you? That could also cause a problem sometimes.

No, I'm not using a VPN with it. I've even tried over a couple of different networks.

 

[0128672]

I was reading back on this thread and I realized, unless I missed your response, you hadn't mentioned whether you had two-factor authentication enabled for your Apple ID. Maybe double checking to ensure it's enabled would be helpful.

 

[KaliYoni]

Any ideas?

If you are trying to do something using High Sierra, it is possible some security certificates have expired. Since Apple has not provided Safari or OS updates for High Sierra for close to two years now, the error message might be caused be an inability to establish a secure connection to a server (if your daily web browser is not Safari, you wouldn't run into this problem normally because Firefox, Chrome, etc. are still updated regularly).

I don't have time to look further into this right now but if you dig a little using your preferred search engine, you should be able to find out more. Or if you know your way around the macOS Keychain, you can see if anything held there is out of date.

 

[Philly]

I was reading back on this thread and I realized, unless I missed your response, you hadn't mentioned whether you had two-factor authentication enabled for your Apple ID. Maybe double checking to ensure it's enabled would be helpful.

Sorry, I should have stated that. Yes, i do have the two-factor authentication enabled.

If you are trying to do something using High Sierra, it is possible the security certificates have expired. Since Apple has not provided Safari or OS updates for High Sierra for close to two years now, the error message might be caused be an inability to establish a secure connection to a server.

I don't have time to look further into this right now but if you dig a little using your preferred search engine, you should be able to find out more. Or if you know your way around the macOS Keychain, you can see if anything held there is out of date.

I'll have a look in to that, and keychain. I'm working this weekend and will have a much newer macbook on site so I will try logging in through that and see what happens. Thanks

 

[0128672]

Also a thought about your location: it looks like you're in the UK. Is your Apple ID also a UK account? Are you working outside in a location other than the UK? I'm seeing references to location being a possible factor on a couple of sites troubleshooting what sounds like the same issue.

 

[Philly]

Also a thought about your location: it looks like you're in the UK. Is your Apple ID also a UK account? Are you working outside in a location other than the UK? I'm seeing references to location being a possible factor on a couple of sites troubleshooting what sounds like the same issue.

I've only been attempting it whilst in the UK/home.

 

[Philly]

Just updating this. I've spoken to support over the phone and they set up a screen sharing session. We tried generating a password, and tried resetting my main password, but everything produced the same result; unable to process your request; please try again later.

We tried to reset my password from a web browser, from system preferences, and from another device (my phone). Nothing helped. I've also previously tried by using a more up to date laptop.