iCloud encountered an error while trying to connect to the server

After digging through posts, chats, forums and not finding any answers, I found it. You just have to go on your iPhone/iPad/(maybe Mac too) and go Settings->Apple ID->iCloud scroll to the bottom and turn on "Access iCloud Data on the Web"

You all can maybe stop pulling your hair out now (if it works). You're welcome.

Hello preferPC,

We have a great support article that might help with this. Please take a look at it here: Resolve issues between iCloud for Windows or iTunes and third-party security software - Apple Support. Start out by checking these items, then follow the other troubleshooting in the support article if the issue persists:

"Before you change your security software's setup: 

• Make sure that the date, time, and time zone are set correctly on your computer. Learn how to update these settings on a Mac or on a PC. 
• Log in to an administrative user account, not a guest account. Learn how to do this on a PC. 
• Update to the latest version of iCloud for Windows or update to the latest version of iTunes.
• Make sure that you have the latest software on your Mac or on your PC.
• Make sure that you set up Windows Hello. Learn how to set it up. 
• Make sure that you only have one type of security software installed. If you have more than one type of security software installed, you might experience performance issues."

We hope this helps. Let us know if we can assist with anything else at all. Take care.

I can’t open mine on Windows 10 pc for the past 3 days! With the same flipping error! I chatted with apple… with no answers. I didn’t have the Microsoft app for ICloud, I only used it straight from the web. So, I downloaded the Microsoft iCloud app and tried it…. still the same error! It’s so frustrating when you have a file on your phone that you need to print for a customer but you need it on your computer first for proper enhancements.

This is a much larger and more complex problem than Apple is admitting to. We have several Macs, iPhones, and PCs and we're getting no rhyme or reason why some configurations work, and others don't. Here are the OS/Browser combos I've tried, and with the exception of "Old Mac" all OSs and Browsers exceed the minimum requirements for iCloud published by Apple:

Windows 10 / Chrome: Error

Windows 10 / Edge: Error

Windows 10 / Brave: Error

Windows 10 / iCloud App: Error

iPhone / Brave: WORKS <-- This proves it's not a browser issue

iPhone / Safari: WORKS

Old Mac / Chrome: Error

Old Mac / Safari: Error

New Mac / Chrome: Error <-- I have MacOS Ventura 13.5 and Chrome 116.0.5845.110 -- Why the error?

New Mac / Safari: WORKS <-- This proves it's not my internet connection, and it's not a security software issue.

Something else is happening on Apple's end. iCloud running from a Windows/Chrome environment was literally working fine one day, and then errors the next. No changes in the local environment proves the change is on Apple's side.

Please fix!

I'm glad you got it going. But be aware -- it's been intermittent for me. Within the course of a few minutes, it was working on the New Mac for Chrome, then stopped working, and now it's working again.

I have been in IT for 30 years, the first 20 of those in a desktop support role of some kind. If someone can suggest any reason how a network service can work/not work/work within a span of 10 minutes, and the cause of it being on the desktop I'd love to hear it! :)

Found the solution for my same occurance of this issue: Application password for the iCloud email account needed to be re-created and re-configured in the account settings in Outlook:

1. Via web, log into your iCloud account>Manage your Apple ID> and generate new application password via 'App Specific Passwords'
2. Use the app password in Outlook> 'Account Settings' for the iCloud account

Enabling the Access iCloud Data on the Web option on my iphone fixed the issue. Thanks for posting this solution.

Hi preferPC,

That sounds like a good plan and should get you closer to getting this taken care of. If you run into any other issues, the community would love to assist. Just create a new thread and provide additional details. 

Have a great day.

I have also followed all steps and everything looks good on my end. During authentication while installing the iCloud app on my PC, I get an additional error: An error occurred during authentication. Please try again.

Logging in on my iPad is fine, but I am not able to log in on my PC.

This started for me as well a few days ago! I use iCloud on the web from my win 11 laptop almost daily. Reinstalled win11 a fresh install and worked until it was fully updated again!! Very disappointing. I’m done trying to fix something that Microsoft or Apple broke!!