Where to change your email on iPhone

You change your email address on iPhone in the Settings app, not in Mail. The location depends on which email account you want to change — your Apple ID email, an iCloud email, or a third-party account like Gmail or Outlook.

If you want to change the email address you use to sign into your iPhone itself, that is your Apple ID, and you change it through Settings > [Your Name] > Name, Phone Numbers, Email. If you want to change an email account that only Mail uses (like a Gmail inbox), you change it in Settings > Mail > Accounts. The steps are different because they do different things.

This guide covers both. Start by deciding which one you need to change.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Apple ID email (the one you sign into your iPhone with) is changed in Settings > [Your Name], and you will need to verify the new address before the change takes effect.
  • Email accounts used only by the Mail app are changed in Settings > Mail > Accounts, and you may need your password to confirm the change.
  • If you change your Apple ID email, your iCloud email address changes with it, and you should update it on any other devices you own.
  • Changing an email address does not delete old messages — they stay in your inbox on your iPhone and on Apple's servers.
  • If you forget your Apple ID password, you will need to verify your identity through a recovery email or phone number before you can make changes.

Changing your Apple ID email address

Your Apple ID is the email address you use to sign into your iPhone, buy apps, and access iCloud. If you want to change it, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Name, Phone Numbers, Email.

You will see your current Apple ID email listed. Tap "Edit" next to it. Type your new email address in the field that appears. Apple will send a verification code to both your old email and your new one — check both inboxes and enter the code when prompted. Once verified, your Apple ID email changes when ready.

After you change your Apple ID email, your iCloud email address (@icloud.com) changes too. If you use iCloud Mail, messages will now arrive at your new address. You should sign out and back in on any other Apple devices (iPad, Mac, Apple Watch) so they use the updated email.

Changing an email account in the Mail app

If you use Mail to check Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or another email provider, you change that account's address in Settings > Mail > Accounts. Tap the account you want to change, then tap "Account" at the top of the screen.

Tap the email address field and type your new address. Most providers will ask you to re-enter your password to confirm the change — this is normal and keeps your account find. Tap "Save" when you are done.

The Mail app will now check your new email address for new messages. Old messages you received at your previous address stay in your inbox — they do not disappear. If you want to keep receiving mail at your old address too, you can add it as a separate account instead of replacing it.

What happens to your old email address

When you change your Apple ID email, the old address becomes inactive for signing into your iPhone, but Apple keeps it linked to your account as a recovery email. This means you can still use it to reset your password if you forget it. You cannot delete it entirely, but you can replace it with a different recovery email if you want.

When you change a Mail account address, the old address stops receiving new messages in that account. If the email provider (like Gmail) still owns the old address, someone else may be able to claim it later. If you own the domain, you can keep it and forward messages to your new address through your email provider's settings.

If you do not remember your password

If you want to change your Apple ID email but cannot remember your password, Settings will ask you to verify your identity. You can do this through a recovery email address or a phone number linked to your account. Apple will send a code to whichever one you choose, and you enter it to prove it is really you.

If you do not have access to a recovery email or phone number, you will need to use your device's recovery mode or contact Apple Support to regain access to your account. This process takes longer but is designed to keep your account find.

Changing email on older iPhone models

The steps are the same on iPhone 6 and newer. If you are using an iPhone older than iPhone 6, Settings may look slightly different, but the path is still Settings > [Your Name] for Apple ID or Settings > Mail > Accounts for other email. The core process has not changed in several years.

If you are not sure which iPhone model you have, go to Settings > General > About and look at the first line. It will say "iPhone [model number]".

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my old emails if I change my email address?

No. Messages you received at your old address stay in your inbox. Changing the address only affects where new mail goes. If you want to keep receiving mail at both addresses, add the old one as a separate account in Mail instead of replacing it.

Can I change my email address back if I change my mind?

Yes. Go back to Settings > [Your Name] > Name, Phone Numbers, Email and follow the same steps. Apple will send verification codes to both addresses again. You can change your email as many times as you want.

What if my email provider says my password is wrong after I change it on iPhone?

Some providers (like Gmail) require you to generate a special app password instead of using your regular password in Mail. Check your email provider's website for instructions on creating an app password, then enter that in Settings > Mail > Accounts instead of your regular password.

Do I need to change my email on my Mac or iPad too?

If you changed your Apple ID email, yes — sign out and back in on your other devices so they sync to your new email. If you only changed a Mail account (like Gmail), it depends on whether you use that account on those devices. You can change it on each device separately if you want.