This is exactly what I’d like to do, but I’m unsure how to do it.
You don’t even seem to be able to create a new iCloud email address anymore when creating a new Apple Account? Maybe I’m confused or wrong but would also appreciate guidance.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iOS 18.1 Includes Option to Set 'Primary' Email Address and Change iCloud Email
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
You don’t even seem to be able to create a new iCloud email address anymore when creating a new Apple Account? Maybe I’m confused or wrong but would also appreciate guidance.
I’m fine with my primary account. I made myself and everyone else in the family addresses with f.last@me along with a general account family.last@me. My issue has always been my iTunes account. Like others, I created it long before iCloud. I tried once to say lets just forget everything I did with the iTunes account and start new with my @me account. I repurchased some things and reached a point that it just was not worth the trouble. I dont recall now what was the final straw but it was too painful so I reverted to two email accounts, two logins. So, this feature is no help for me. My ask is for my primary to be my everything which this does not do. One day maybe.
Same here. Two accounts back from Mobile.me times. I HATE IT! I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY CAN'T COMBINE THESE!
Yep, dealt for years with a primary .me and antediluvian iTunes (yahoo!) in the secondary role for media and purchases. And like others, my primary was old and I'd used it for everything, so slippery spam was slipping through the filters. But since I'm single and can do anything I want, I finally decided I could do some work and get rid of the .me account.
I migrated to a new iCloud account which I had created from the iTunes account while it was entered on my iPhone as the primary, iOS18.0, having kept and merged a local copy of iCloud data, moved iCloud Drive, etc. and lots of other stuff from a chart I made (it felt like a divorce).* Most of the work was spent changing email address with vendors (and assigning them hide my email addresses going forward). And yeah, I had to cancel my Apple Card (which was tied to the primary with no other option) and will wait until there's a new partner before applying for a new card, or not.
*Apple didn't let me promote the new iCloud address until it was 30 days old.
A minor benefit I wasn't expecting is with the Apple Store app now that my account balance is available. I was also able to put my account balance in Wallet for the first time.
Last edited:
Can you make an icloud alias the primary? I’ve been used an alias as my main email for years and would love to officially make it the primary.
This is what's it's all about. Some people successfully managed to turn their alias into their main Apple ID. yet it does not seem to be working for @mac.com, at least on my side.
This is really the best, simple domain though. I think icloud.com looks goofy and me.com... well... kind of self centered
I used to use .mac when I ran with Macs. Now I use .icloud as I am all in using iOS.
Does this mean that we can now finally remove @icloud e-mail entirely and just use our own custom email domain, and have only custom domain email addresses assigned to the account?
I have for long time been keen to switch to iCloud for handling e-mails but I do not want @icloud address as there are no good options available. I know I can create a dummy one, but would be nice to do it without.
Can anyone test this? I am not running the beta.
I have for long time been keen to switch to iCloud for handling e-mails but I do not want @icloud address as there are no good options available. I know I can create a dummy one, but would be nice to do it without.
Can anyone test this? I am not running the beta.
Thailand did you get an answer to this? I have 2 yahoo emails which I'd like to change.
May I ask what's so bad about using an icloud address? I've been using my.mac address since 2005 but if there's a better option then happy to go that way.
I've never paid for my.mac address. I'm glad I have name.surname@mac.com so don't really need to change it but as I said above, if there is a benefit to changing it, then happy to do so.
Aren't both one and the same?
I've just deleted previous primary iCloud.com e-mail address and replaced it with alias (iCloud.com as well). It took less than 1 minute. Happy like a child.
Right, I need all of this explaining to me like you would to a 5 year old please.
Are we all saying that we can change our mac.com addressee to anything we like? Eg name.surname@iamagenius.com???
I'm still getting "could not update email / error description not available" no matter what I do.
I've been using my iCloud alias email address for a long time as my default email address in Mail... but when trying to switch to it, I get this error.
I even try to remove it from my account (not remove it as an alias) and add it back... same error.
I've been using my iCloud alias email address for a long time as my default email address in Mail... but when trying to switch to it, I get this error.
I even try to remove it from my account (not remove it as an alias) and add it back... same error.
What you really want? You can change internal e-mail address to external now and it was possible for many years. If you want to replace mac.com address with iCloud.com one it seems possible now as well (I suppose - never had mac.com address). Just delete it in Setting/Login&Security and you'll be asked for new e-mail address (where you can provide external address or internal alias).
You have to purchase a custom domain if you want a different domain name after the @. Apple explains it here on their Support page. Without a custom domain name, you can only change it to whatever.you.want.here@icloud.com
Actually iamagenius.com domain name is already registered by somebody in Helsinki. He has to ask them to set up name.surname e-mail user and then replace mac.com address with it.
Super happy about this. After two very long Apple Support chat sessions trying to switch my primary iCloud email to another one with them ending up saying it cannot be done in the end, this is a big relief and a huge W.
In iOS 18.1, there is a new option to set a "Primary" email address in the Settings app, which means it is easier to change the main email address associated with your Apple Account. The Primary email address is the one that is visible to other people when collaborating on and sharing documents, sending calendar invites, and more.
Apple did not previously make it easy to change an Apple Account (or Apple ID) email address, despite the fact that it is sometimes visible to other people. To change an Apple Account email before, you had to delete the email you were using, choose another, and go through a verification process.
You can now change the email address and continue to use the prior email for login purposes right alongside the new primary. This setting also comes with an option to change an iCloud.com or me.com email address, so if you have an address you're not fond of, it can finally be swapped to something else.
Prior to iOS 18.1, Apple did not allow users to delete, change, or turn off a primary iCloud Mail address. You could set an alias and use that instead, but the primary email would still sometimes be visible to others. For those who have an embarrassing iCloud email address, there's now an option to change it entirely rather than relying on an alias.
(Thanks, Converseallstar95!)
Article Link: iOS 18.1 Includes Option to Set 'Primary' Email Address and Change iCloud Email
I see, I was also getting this error message before the new feature was rolled out when trying to switch emails. Make sure you’re on the newest 18.1 beta update (I’m on the newest developer beta, I’m unsure if the public beta has this at the moment). If you’re not on a beta at all, you’ll have to register for one or wait until the official iOS 18.1 is released to the public.
Yes, I had an alias set up as well. With this new feature I was able to essentially change my primary Apple ID email address and remove my alias totally. Getting rid of my old email.