Change your Apple ID email in Settings or on Apple's website

You can change the email address linked to your Apple ID in two places: directly in the Settings app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, or through Apple's account website on any device. The Settings route is faster if you're already on an Apple device. The website route works from any computer and gives you more control if you're changing to a completely new email address or managing multiple devices at once.

Before you start, know that Apple distinguishes between your Apple ID email (the address you use to sign in) and recovery email addresses (backup addresses Apple can use to contact you). You can change either one, but the process is slightly different for each.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Apple ID email is the address you type when you sign into any Apple device or service—changing it updates your sign-in across all your devices.
  • You can change your Apple ID email from Settings on any iPhone, iPad, or Mac, or from appleid.apple.com on any web browser.
  • Apple will send a verification code to both your old email and your new email to confirm the change is real.
  • After you change your Apple ID email, you'll need to sign back in on any devices that were using the old address.
  • If you forget your Apple ID email or can't access it, you can use a recovery email address or phone number to regain access to your account.

Change your Apple ID email from iPhone, iPad, or Mac Settings

Open Settings on any Apple device where you're signed in. Tap or click your name at the top of the Settings menu, then tap or click "Password and Security" (on newer devices) or "Password & Security" (older versions may say "Change Password"). You'll see your current Apple ID email listed near the top.

Tap or click "Edit" next to your email address. Enter your new email, then tap or click "Change" or "Continue". Apple will send a verification code to both your old email and your new email. Check both inboxes, enter the codes when prompted, and confirm the change. Your Apple ID email is now updated on that device, and the change will sync to all your other Apple devices within a few minutes.

Change your Apple ID email on the Apple website

Go to appleid.apple.com in any web browser and sign in with your current Apple ID email and password. Click "Account" in the left menu, then look for "Email" or "Apple ID" in the main section. Click "Edit" next to your current email address.

Type your new email into the field, then click "Save" or "Continue". Apple will send verification codes to both addresses. Open both emails, copy the codes, and enter them into the form on the website. Once both codes are verified, your Apple ID email changes when ready. You'll be signed out of the website, and you'll need to sign back in with your new email address.

What happens to your old email address after the change

Your old Apple ID email becomes inactive for sign-in purposes, but Apple keeps it on file as a recovery email for 30 days. This means if you change your mind or realize you made a mistake, you can contact Apple Support within that window and ask them to revert the change. After 30 days, the old address is fully removed from your account.

If you want to keep your old email as a backup recovery address (so you can use it to reset your password if you forget your new one), you can add it back as a recovery email after the change is complete. Go to appleid.apple.com, click "Account," then "Edit" next to "Recovery Email," and add your old address there.

Sign back in on devices using your old Apple ID email

Any iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch that was signed in with your old email will show a notification asking you to update your sign-in information. Tap "Update" or "Sign In Again," enter your new Apple ID email and password, and confirm any two-factor authentication codes. Repeat this for each device.

If a device doesn't prompt you automatically, go to Settings, tap your name, scroll down, and tap "Sign Out." Then tap "Sign In" at the top and enter your new email and password. This is especially important for devices you don't use often—if you leave them signed in with the old email, you may have trouble downloading apps or accessing iCloud features.

Troubleshooting: you can't receive the verification code

If you don't see a verification code in your old email inbox, check your spam or junk folder first. Apple's emails sometimes get filtered. Wait a few minutes and refresh your inbox—the code can take a moment to arrive. If you still don't see it, go back to the change screen and click "Resend Code" or "Send Again."

If you can't access your old email address at all, you can use a recovery email or phone number instead. On appleid.apple.com, click "Account," then "Edit" next to "Recovery Email" or "Recovery Phone Number." Apple will send the verification code to whichever recovery method you have on file. If you don't have a recovery email or phone number set up, contact Apple Support—they can verify your identity another way and help you change your Apple ID email.

Add or change your recovery email address

A recovery email is different from your Apple ID email—it's a backup address Apple uses to contact you if you forget your password or if there's suspicious activity on your account. You can have up to three recovery emails on file.

Go to appleid.apple.com and sign in. Click "Account," then "Edit" next to "Recovery Email." Click the plus sign to add a new recovery email, or click "Edit" next to an existing one to change it. Apple will send a verification code to the new address. Enter the code to confirm it, and the recovery email is now active. You can remove old recovery emails by clicking the minus sign next to them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my Apple ID email affect my iCloud, App Store, or iTunes account?

No. Your Apple ID is the same account across all Apple services. When you change your Apple ID email, you automatically change the email for iCloud, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music, and any other Apple service linked to that account. You don't need to update anything separately.

Can I change my Apple ID email if I don't have access to my old email anymore?

If you have a recovery email or recovery phone number on file, Apple can send the verification code there instead. If you don't have either one, contact Apple Support and they can verify your identity using security questions or other methods before allowing the change.

What if I want to use a different email but keep my old one for recovery?

Change your Apple ID email to the new address first. Then go to appleid.apple.com, click "Account," and add your old email as a recovery email. This way you can sign in with your new email but still use the old one to reset your password if needed.

How long does it take for the email change to show up on all my devices?

The change is when ready on the device where you made it and on appleid.apple.com. Other devices will sync within a few minutes, but you'll need to manually sign back in with your new email on each one—the sync doesn't happen automatically for sign-in purposes.

Can I change my Apple ID email back if I made a mistake?

Yes, within 30 days. You can change it back to your old email address using the same process. After 30 days, Apple removes the old email from your account entirely, though you can still add it back as a recovery email if you want.