Device links
The email address associated with your iCloud account is also linked to your Apple ID account. Whether you can change it or not depends on the email address itself. In other words, if you want to change your iCloud email, you’ll need to change the email address associated with your Apple ID.
In this article, we’ll show you how to change your iCloud email address through your Apple ID. Additionally, you will learn how to change your secondary iCloud email address.
How to change your iCloud email address with Apple ID
There are many reasons why you would want to change your iCloud email address. Maybe you have multiple email addresses and want to connect them all to your iCloud account. Maybe you’ve created a new business email account and want to link it to your iCloud account. Similarly, it’s wise to change it to something more professional if you’ve been using the same email address since high school and have a strange name.
Before explaining how to change your iCloud email address, it’s important to mention that your iCloud account and your Apple ID account use the same email address. This is also known as your primary email address. This email address not only allows you to access your iCloud account, but also other applications on your Apple devices, such as the App Store, iMessage, Apple Music or Facetime.
With so much reliance on a single email address, is it possible to change your iCloud email? Well, it depends on the email address. If the email address associated with your iCloud account and linked to your Apple ID ends in “@icloud.com,” it cannot be changed. However, if it ends in “@gmail.com”, “@yahoo.com” or anything else, you have the option to change it if you wish.
Note that while you can’t change your primary email, you can change your secondary iCloud email address, which we’ll cover later.
How to Change Your iCloud Email Address with Apple ID on an iPhone
If you have the option to change your primary email, the good news is that you can do it right in your iPhone settings. The entire process takes only a few minutes. Follow the steps below to see how to change your iCloud email address with Apple ID on your iPhone:
- Open your Settings on your home page.
- Go to your Apple ID at the top of the menu.
- Continue to the “Name, phone numbers, email” tab.
- Select “Edit” next to your Apple ID.
- Tap the red Apple ID button.
- Go to the “Delete” button. Your iPhone will ask you to add a new email address for your Apple ID.
- Choose “Continue” in the pop-up window.
- Enter your new Apple ID email address.
- Select “Next.”
After doing this, the automated system will send a verification code to the email address you entered. Once you verify your new Apple ID email address, you’ll receive a notification saying “Your Apple ID has been updated” on your phone. The next time you sign in to your iCloud account, use the new Apple ID you just added. You won’t be asked to make any changes to your iCloud account; It will update automatically.
Many iCloud users don’t realize that they can change their email addresses this way. They mistakenly assume that deleting your old Apple ID will erase iCloud storage from all your devices. To change an Apple ID, you must delete the old one. However, this will not interfere with the files and data stored in your iCloud. The only thing that will be removed is your iCloud account settings.
How to change your iCloud email address with Apple ID on PC
If you don’t have access to your phone right now, you can also change your Apple ID on your computer. Here’s how you can change your primary iCloud email with your Apple ID on your Mac or Windows:
- Open your browser.
- go to your Apple ID account page.
- Sign in to your account using your current Apple ID email address.
- Click the “Login & Security” tab on the left side panel.
- Choose the “Apple ID” box.
- Go to the “Change your Apple ID” field in the new window.
- Enter your new Apple ID.
- Save the changes.
Once you have changed your email address, open your email in a new window and confirm the verification email. If you didn’t receive the email, you have the option to resend it from your Apple ID account. After changing the email linked to your Apple ID, you will be signed out of iCloud. Don’t forget to come back to your iCloud account and sign in with your new Apple ID.
If you used your Apple ID to sign in to apps on your iPhone, you’ll also be automatically signed out. Make sure you sign back into all apps with your new Apple ID.
If you receive the message that the email address you want to use for your iCloud account is not available, it may be linked to another Apple ID. If that’s the case, you’ll need to remove the email address from the other Apple ID before linking it to yours.
How to Add a Secondary iCloud Email Address
As mentioned above, you may not be allowed to change your primary iCloud email address. For example, if you created your iCloud account more than 30 days ago, you won’t be able to change your Apple ID email address. Apple imposes certain limitations on changing email addresses, and sometimes you’ll simply receive a message to try again later.
In cases like these, the only thing you can do is add a secondary email to your Apple ID account. Up to three email addresses can be linked to your Apple ID account. While the primary iCloud address cannot be changed, the second and third email addresses can be changed. This is how you do it:
- Go to your iCloud account in your browser.
- Sign in with your Apple ID.
- Click the “Manage” button below your Apple ID.
- Navigate to the “Account” section.
- Select the “Edit” option on the right side of the screen.
- Go to the “Contactable at” section and choose “Add more.”
- Click on the “Email Address” option.
- Enter your secondary email address in the box.
- Choose the “Continue” button.
Once again, you will need to verify the new email address, even if it is a secondary email. That’s all about it. You have successfully added a new email address to your iCloud account.
Frequent questions
Here are the answers to more questions you may have about your Apple ID.
What can I do if I forget my Apple ID email?
If you forgot which email you used for your Apple ID, you should first verify the email address in other Apple accounts. Go to your App Store, another device, iTunes, etc. Hopefully, you’ll still be signed in and can recover your Apple ID email address quickly.
Another method is to search your email accounts for messages from Apple. For example, if you have a Gmail account and a Yahoo account, use the search bar and type “Apple.” The email address used for your Apple ID will have company emails.
You can also check your Google Account to view saved logins. Head to your favorite web browser, go to Apple’s website, and check to see if your email auto-fills. If not, check the browser’s saved logins page. Just make sure you’re signed in to the account you frequently use with that browser.
If none of these methods work, try signing in to your Apple account using each of your email addresses. If you still know the password, you should gain access immediately. If you don’t remember your password, click the “Forgot my password” link and follow the instructions. If you don’t receive the reset email, the address you tried is not correct.
Can I change the phone number on my Apple ID?
Yeah! At least, most users can do it. Simply follow the same steps above to enter a new phone number. If you don’t see the option to change your phone number, it’s probably due to your region. If you are in a region that does not allow Apple ID changes, then there is no way to update your Apple ID.
Manage your iCloud email addresses
Changing your iCloud email address can be a little confusing, whether it’s the primary or secondary email address. As long as your primary iCloud address doesn’t end in “@icloud.com,” Apple lets you change it. You can change your iCloud email address with your Apple ID, either on your iPhone or in a desktop browser.
Have you ever tried to change your iCloud email address? What method did you use to do it? Tell us in the comments section below.
