How to Change Your Apple ID Email Address to a New Email
Your Apple ID — now officially called your Apple Account — is one of the most important digital identities you have. It controls access to your iCloud data, purchases, devices, and Apple services.
If your Apple Account is tied to an old email address you no longer use, such as a Comcast or ISP-provided email, changing it sooner rather than later can save you major headaches. In this guide, I’ll walk through exactly how to change your Apple Account’s primary email address, explain Apple’s limitations, and clarify how additional email addresses work for iMessage and FaceTime.
If you’re looking for more up-to-date walkthroughs, the newer videos below may also help:
📺 How to Change Your Primary Apple Account (Apple ID) Email Address | 2025 Tutorial
📺 How to Create iCloud Email Aliases & Mail Rules on iPhone, iPad, Mac & iCloud.com Tutorial
🎓 What You’ll Learn
Why changing your Apple Account email may be necessary
Why Apple does not allow merging two Apple Accounts
Recommended email providers for Apple Accounts
How to change your Apple ID email on a Mac
How to change your Apple ID email on an iPhone
How iCloud email aliases work
How to add or remove additional email addresses for iMessage and FaceTime
🔑 Understanding Apple IDs vs Email Addresses
Apple now refers to your Apple ID as your Apple Account, but the core structure remains the same.
Your Apple Account consists of:
One primary email address used to sign in
Optional additional email addresses and phone numbers
Linked services such as iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, and purchases
Only one email address can be the actual Apple Account sign-in, but multiple addresses can be associated with it for communication.
⚠️ Why Apple Still Doesn’t Allow Merging Apple Accounts
One of the most common frustrations is Apple’s inability to merge two Apple Accounts.
If you have:
One Apple Account with purchases
Another Apple Account with iCloud data
Apple does not provide a way to combine them. The only option is changing the primary email address on one account. This limitation has existed for years and remains unchanged.
📧 Recommended Email Options for Apple Accounts
Choosing the right email provider is critical.
Strong recommendations include:
Gmail
Outlook
Yahoo
iCloud
Avoid using email addresses tied to internet service providers. If you cancel that service, you may lose access to the email, which can lock you out of your Apple Account.
🖥️ How to Change Your Apple ID Email on a Mac
The easiest way to change your Apple Account email is through a browser.
The process involves:
Signing in at appleid.apple.com
Editing the primary Apple Account email
Verifying the new email address
Confirming your Apple Account password
Once completed, the new email becomes your Apple Account sign-in across all Apple services.
🔄 Changing Between Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook Accounts
Switching between third-party email providers follows the same process.
Examples covered include:
Gmail to another Gmail address
Yahoo to a newly created Outlook address
After verification, all Apple services continue working normally, though devices may prompt you to sign in again.
☁️ Changing Your Apple ID to an iCloud Email Address
Changing to an iCloud email address requires an extra step.
You must:
Create an iCloud email alias first
Wait 30 days
Then set that alias as your Apple Account email
You cannot immediately convert a new iCloud alias into your Apple Account email.
✉️ Creating iCloud Email Aliases
iCloud email aliases are created at icloud.com and allow you to:
Receive email without exposing your primary address
Transition away from old email providers
Eventually switch your Apple Account email
Aliases are tied to your Apple Account but are not Apple Accounts themselves.
📱 How to Change Your Apple ID Email on iPhone
You can change your Apple Account email directly on an iPhone.
The process includes:
Opening Settings
Going to Sign-In & Security
Removing the current Apple Account email
Adding and verifying a new email
The steps mirror the Mac process but are easier to manage on a larger screen.
➕ Adding Additional Email Addresses
Additional email addresses can be added for:
iMessage
FaceTime
These do not change your Apple Account sign-in but allow people to contact you using different addresses.
➖ Removing an Email Address from Your Apple Account
You can remove any associated email address that you no longer want tied to your account.
Once removed:
It no longer works for iMessage or FaceTime
It is no longer associated with your Apple Account
Changes may take a short time to propagate across devices.
