Web-Based iCloud Mail Redesign, Hide My Email, and Custom Domain Features Now Live

[Rob__Mac]

Does anyone know if there's a clear migration process here? I recently moved about 10 years of emails from Google Workplace to Fastmail, which went very smoothly. I can't see if there's a way to bring my email with me to iCloud if I move from Fastmail?

 

[jaxsoccer24]

added my domain, but it seems like it works only under the first icloud email account i made – so it cannot be logged in separately... am i missing something?

That is correct. It all just goes into your main iCloud email inbox. You can’t login to your new email account. It isn’t separated in any way. It’s just all mixed in with your primary iCloud email. I was disappointed in this. It’s effectively just auto forwarding (almost) to your primary iCloud address.

 

[Roy Hobbs]

The custom domain thing really needs to clarify, it has to be a Domain that you own.

Of course it does, not really any clarity needed there.

 

[waymarker]

Does anyone know if there's a clear migration process here? I recently moved about 10 years of emails from Google Workplace to Fastmail, which went very smoothly. I can't see if there's a way to bring my email with me to iCloud if I move from Fastmail?

I think only way is using a desktop client like Apple Mail on MacOS or Thunderbird on Windows. Add both IMAP accounts in the app, then drag and drop folders/emails from Fastmail to iCloud.

 

[NightFox]

That is correct. It all just goes into your main iCloud email inbox. You can’t login to your new email account. It isn’t separated in any way. It’s just all mixed in with your primary iCloud email. I was disappointed in this. It’s effectively just auto forwarding (almost) to your primary iCloud address.

So many people missing the point that it's an alias, by definition that's exactly what an alias is meant to do, EXACTLY the same as if the email was sent to the 'true' email address.

People wanting mail using their personal domain to be delivered to a separate inbox are effectively just wanting a second, independent account which is something that's been available all along.

 

[jaxsoccer24]

So many people missing the point that it's an alias, by definition that's exactly what an alias is meant to do, EXACTLY the same as if the email was sent to the 'true' email address.

People wanting mail using their personal domain to be delivered to a separate inbox are effectively just wanting a second, independent account which is something that been available all along.

My issue with that is that the way it’s presented on Apple’s website (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212514) doesn’t really tell the story that it’s just an alias. It’s ambiguous at best.

At a minimum I’d love some way to break out these emails from the rest of my iCloud emails so I can see what’s what.

 

[dewski]

Another feature that cannot be used unless I activate two-factor authentication.

 

[vegovno]

People wanting mail using their personal domain to be delivered to a separate inbox are effectively just wanting a second, independent account which is something that been available all along.

Yes, that is exactly what I wanted to have.
An independent account with my domain - but using Apple servers, not through Google Workspace or Outlook Premium

 

[NightFox]

Yes, that is exactly what I wanted to have.
An independent account with my domain - but using Apple servers, not through Google Workspace or Outlook Premium

So set up a second iCloud account and use your domain with that?

 

[NightFox]

Does anyone know if there's a clear migration process here? I recently moved about 10 years of emails from Google Workplace to Fastmail, which went very smoothly. I can't see if there's a way to bring my email with me to iCloud if I move from Fastmail?

In the Mail app on your Mac, set up your iCloud account and set up your FastMail account.
Drag your emails between the two accounts (presumably just Inbox and Sent folders).
Allow it to catch up (will take a while downloading and uploading 10 years worth of emails).
Remove Fastmail account from Mail

et voila!

 

[iMerik]

I don’t know if you can technically consider + addressing aliases. Many spam bots and data harvesters strip them out anyways, effectively removing that email quirk for obfuscation uses.

At any rate, support for plus addressing and catch-all addresses are two different things. The former, I believe, is an email standard. The latter is implemented on a per host basis. Some dont allow/discourage it for spam reasons.

But as you point out, catch all handling is incredibly useful for moving between mail hosts.

Let us know what you find out!

Thank your for being more succinct than I was --> "catch all handling is incredibly useful for moving between mail hosts"

Because I used +addressing in the past, I think I would need catch-all functionality if I wanted to quickly and easily move from Google to iCloud, which I am interested in. I'm not saying I wish iCloud would support +addressing or want anything beyond the iCloud hidden email functionality.

 

[svish]

That redesign is nice. Like the new look 👍

 

[iMerik]

Since this applies to the Family Sharing Group, the limit would be six (6) users, correct... the primary and five family members? For a family of seven (7), this is extremely frustrating... both for email use and iCloud use overall.

 

[jhollington]

For all these new features, how does iCloud Mail still not push read status to other devices? If I read an email on my desktop it should mark it as read on my iPad or my iPhone without me having to open the Mail app.

Yup, that could very well be the number one reason I'll stick with Fastmail. They figured out how to do this back in 2015 and it's really not rocket science, as I hacked it onto my own OS X Mail Server back in 2012.

Apple either simply can't be bothered doing this, or they're concerned about scalability.

 

[Tech198]

Neat... *takes screenshot*.,.. Everything's going simple.

 

[macbequick]

My issue with that is that the way it’s presented on Apple’s website (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212514) doesn’t really tell the story that it’s just an alias. It’s ambiguous at best.

At a minimum I’d love some way to break out these emails from the rest of my iCloud emails so I can see what’s what.

You can't even do that with Gmail. Or any email service.

 

[jaxsoccer24]

You can't even do that with Gmail. Or any email service.

Correct. You can’t break out aliases. My whole point is that Apple doesn’t position this as an alias. They position it as having a custom domain account.

 

[techno-Zen]

Does iCloud have good spam filtering? I use my iCloud email when I transfer larger file sizes.

The last time i used icloud email as my primary it was atrocious, this was back in 2012 though. Is it actually functional now? Gmail does a solid job

 

[DesertSilver]

For all these new features, how does iCloud Mail still not push read status to other devices? If I read an email on my desktop it should mark it as read on my iPad or my iPhone without me having to open the Mail app.

I totally agree. This is a stupid little “first world problem” that boggles the mind on why it’s even a thing. Our devices are syncing together in realtime in an infinite number of ways but my email unread count can‘t be synced between devices??? Maybe this will be the headline feature for the 20th anniversary iPhone…

 

[anthogag]

The last time i used icloud email as my primary it was atrocious, this was back in 2012 though. Is it actually functional now? Gmail does a solid job

Sending large file sizes is very easy with iCloud email; just attach it to the email.

 

[techno-Zen]

Sending large file sizes is very easy with iCloud email; just attach it to the email.

That's cool, i literally never do this though but what about day to day spam filtering?

 

[anthogag]

That's cool, i literally never do this though but what about day to day spam filtering?

I don't know about everyday spam. iCloud is not my primary email. I use iCloud for sharing large files. I am more careful about where I use it.

I asked the same question. One reply said spam protection is good.

 

[ErikGrim]

Spam protection is excellent. It's rare that any spam come through at all.

 

[McNutty]

Hello All - registered here just to get some help on the new macmail web version (so iCloud based one)
The update made it look much nicer - fair enough. However, on the face of it, unless I am dense, is pretty poor.

1. I can no longer drag and drop items into folders
2. I can no longer open email in separate window so long email subjects are a problem or even attachments that have dropped down to the bottom of the email thread are difficult to open (you used to be able to just click on attachment in top bar)
3. I can't do multiple highlight of emails with Apple/Ctrl button so have to delete things one by one (and as mentioned above can't drag and drop either)

These are really basic features available on any mail app and I am really shocked that they would reduce basic expected functionalities to this extent on what is meant to be an improvement. Or am I missing something and all these functionalities are there and I just can't find them?

Tried to go into settings to change Preferences - no joy. Anyone has advice or had luck of finding how to configure settings to something workable? Thank you!

 

[adrianlondon]

Well that's obvious. You can't use someone else's domain for your email...

I'm using yours, and wow I wasn't expecting to see that there!

Anyway, I guess what people mean is "You need to sort out the domain yourself;Apple won't provide a way of getting one".