You can change your iCloud email address, but Apple limits you to one change per three years
Your iCloud email is the address that ends in @icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com. If you want to switch to a different iCloud email, you can do it through your Apple ID settings on any device. The process takes about five minutes, but once you change it, you cannot change it again for three years — so choose carefully.
The email you change to must be a new address you have not used with Apple before. You cannot switch back to an old iCloud email you used previously. If you already have another Apple ID with a different email, you will need to decide which one to keep, because you cannot merge two Apple IDs.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your iCloud email address once every three years through your Apple ID settings on iPhone, iPad, Mac, or online at appleid.apple.com.
- The new email must be one you have never used with an Apple ID before, and you cannot switch back to a previous iCloud email.
- After you change your email, update it in any apps or services that use it, because your old address will stop working for iCloud within 30 days.
- If you want to keep using your old email for some things, you can add it as an alias instead of replacing it entirely.
- Changing your iCloud email does not affect your Apple ID password, two-factor authentication, or the data stored in your iCloud account.
How to change your iCloud email on iPhone or iPad
Open Settings and tap your name at the top of the screen. Tap Password & Security, then tap Edit next to your email address. Choose Change Email Address and enter the new email you want to use. Apple will send a verification code to both your old and new email addresses — you must confirm both to complete the change.
After you confirm, your new email becomes your primary iCloud email when ready. Your old email will stop working for iCloud services in about 30 days, so you have a window to update it anywhere you have used it. Any mail sent to your old address after that date will bounce back.
How to change your iCloud email on Mac or online
On a Mac, open System Settings, click your name in the sidebar, then click Password & Security. Click the edit button next to your email address and follow the same verification steps as on iPhone.
If you do not have an Apple device nearby, go to appleid.apple.com in any web browser, sign in with your current Apple ID, and click Account. Under Personal Information, you will see your email address — click Edit to change it. You will receive verification codes at both addresses and must confirm both before the change takes effect.
What happens to your old email address
Your old iCloud email does not disappear when ready. For about 30 days, mail sent to it will still reach your inbox. After 30 days, the address becomes inactive and new messages sent to it will bounce back to the sender. You cannot reactivate it or use it with any Apple ID again.
If you have set up automatic mail forwarding from your old iCloud email to another address, that forwarding will stop working once the old address becomes inactive. Check any services that send important messages to your old iCloud email — your bank, your employer, online accounts — and update them to use your new address before the 30-day window closes.
Using an alias instead of changing your email
If you want to keep your old iCloud email working but prefer to use a new one as your primary address, you can add the new address as an alias instead of replacing your old one. An alias is an alternate email address that reaches the same inbox. Both addresses work, but only one is listed as your primary.
To add an alias, go to appleid.apple.com, click Account, then Personal Information. Click the plus sign next to your email addresses and choose Add Email Address. Enter the new address and verify it. You can have up to three email addresses on one Apple ID — your primary address plus two aliases. This way, you keep your old email working without using your one three-year change.
What does not change when you update your email
Changing your iCloud email does not affect your password, your two-factor authentication settings, or any of your data. Your photos, documents, contacts, and calendar all stay in your iCloud account. Your Apple ID itself does not change — it is still tied to the same account, just with a new email address.
Apps you have downloaded, subscriptions you have paid for, and your purchase history all remain the same. You do not need to re-sign in to most apps, though some may ask you to update your account information. If you use your iCloud email to sign into other services — like Gmail, Dropbox, or your bank — you will need to update those separately, because they do not automatically know about your Apple ID change.
If you have multiple Apple IDs
If you have created more than one Apple ID over the years, each one is a separate account. Changing the email on one Apple ID does not affect the others. You cannot merge two Apple IDs or transfer purchases, subscriptions, or data from one to another.
If you want to consolidate, you will need to decide which Apple ID to keep using going forward. Sign out of the one you no longer want on all your devices, and sign in with the one you are keeping. Any apps or services tied to the old Apple ID will need to be set up again with the new one. This is different from changing your email — it means switching to a completely different account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my iCloud email more than once?
No. Apple allows one email change per three years. After you change it, you must wait three years before you can change it again. Plan carefully, because you cannot switch back to a previous iCloud email once you have changed away from it.
What if I forget to update my email in other services before the 30 days are up?
Mail sent to your old iCloud address will bounce back to the sender. You can still update those services after the 30 days have passed — the change just means new messages will not arrive. Go through your accounts and update them whenever you notice, but do it sooner rather than later to avoid missing important messages.
Does changing my iCloud email affect my iCloud storage or backups?
No. Your iCloud storage, backups, photos, and all other data stay exactly where they are. The email address is just how you sign in and receive messages — it does not touch anything stored in your account.
Can I use a Gmail address or another email provider as my iCloud email?
No. Your iCloud email must end in @icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com. You can add a non-Apple email address as an alias, but your primary iCloud email must be one of those three domains.
What if someone else is using the email address I want to change to?
Apple will not let you use an email address that is already tied to any Apple ID, even if that account is inactive. The address must be completely new to Apple's system. If you have an old Apple ID using that email, you will need to change that account's email first.