How to Change Your iPhone Email Address in Settings

Where to find and change your email address on iPhone

Your iPhone stores email addresses in two separate places, and which one you need to change depends on what you're trying to do. If you want to change the email address you use to sign into your iPhone itself (your Apple ID), you'll go through Apple's account settings. If you want to change an email account that you've set up to receive and send messages through the Mail app, you'll remove that account and add a new one.

The steps are different because they control different things. Your Apple ID is the master account that lets you read apps, back up your phone, and use iCloud services. Your email accounts in Mail are separate — you can have multiple email addresses set up to receive messages on the same iPhone, and they don't have to match your Apple ID.

Key Takeaways

Your Apple ID email and your Mail app email accounts are separate — changing one does not change the other.
To change your Apple ID email, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Name, Phone Numbers, Email, and select Edit next to your email address.
To change an email account in the Mail app, go to Settings, scroll to Mail, tap Accounts, select the account you want to change, and tap Delete Account, then add a new one.
When you change your Apple ID email, Apple sends a verification code to your old email address — you must confirm the change within a set time or it will not go through.
Changing your Mail app email does not affect your Apple ID, your iCloud backup, or any other services tied to your Apple account.

Changing your Apple ID email address

Your Apple ID is the email address you use to sign into your iPhone and access the App Store, iCloud, and other Apple services. To change it, open the Settings app and tap your name at the very top of the screen — this is your Apple ID profile card.

Once you're in your profile, tap Name, Phone Numbers, Email. You'll see a list of email addresses associated with your account. One will be marked as your primary email (the one you use to sign in). Tap Edit next to the primary email address. Type in your new email address and tap Next.

Apple will send a verification code to your old email address. Check that inbox, find the code, and enter it on your iPhone to confirm the change. You have a limited amount of time to do this — if you wait too long, the process will time out and you'll need to start over. Once you verify, your Apple ID email is changed.

Changing an email account in the Mail app

If you want to change the email address you use to send and receive messages in the Mail app, the process is different. Open Settings and scroll down to find Mail. Tap Accounts, and you'll see a list of all the email accounts you've set up on this iPhone.

Select the account you want to remove. Tap Delete Account at the bottom of the screen and confirm. This removes the account from your iPhone — it does not delete the account itself or any messages you've received. Once it's removed, tap Add Account at the bottom of the Accounts screen.

Choose your email provider from the list (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or Other if your provider isn't shown). Enter your new email address and password, and follow the prompts to set it up. Your iPhone will test the connection and, if everything works, the new account will appear in your Mail app.

What happens to your data when you change email

If you change your Apple ID email, your iCloud backup, app purchases, and all your Apple services stay connected to your account — nothing is lost. Your old email address will no longer work to sign into your iPhone, but you can still use it as a recovery email if you add it back to your account settings.

If you change an email account in Mail, any messages you received at the old address stay on your iPhone in the Mail app (they don't disappear). However, new messages will no longer arrive at that old address on this phone. If you want to keep receiving messages from that old address, you would need to set it up again or check it on another device.

Common mistakes to avoid

The biggest mistake is confusing your Apple ID email with your Mail app email. Many people think changing one will change the other, then get confused when they sign into their iPhone and see the old address still there. Remember: your Apple ID is for signing into your phone and Apple services. Your Mail accounts are just for receiving messages.

Another common error is not checking your old email for the verification code when you change your Apple ID. If you don't verify within the time limit, the change doesn't go through and you have to start over. Make sure you have access to your old email address before you begin the process.

Don't delete a Mail account and then when ready try to add it back with a different address if you're not sure the new one is set up correctly. Test the new account first to make sure it's receiving messages. If something goes wrong, you can always add the old account back.

If you forget your old email or can't access it

If you're trying to change your Apple ID email but you can't access your old email address to get the verification code, you have options. Go to Settings, tap your name, then tap Password & Security. Look for an option to verify your identity using a trusted phone number or recovery key instead of email.

If you've lost access to all your recovery methods, you may need to contact Apple Support directly. They can help you regain access to your account through a verification process that doesn't require your old email. This takes longer than the standard email verification, but it's the way forward if you're locked out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my Apple ID email affect my iCloud backup?

No. Your iCloud backup, photos, notes, and all other iCloud data stay attached to your account. Changing your email address is just changing how you sign in — everything else remains the same and continues to back up normally.

Can I use the same email address for both my Apple ID and my Mail account?

Yes. Many people do this. Your Apple ID email and your Mail account email can be the same address, or they can be different. It's entirely up to you and depends on how you want to organize your accounts.

What if I change my Mail account email but want to keep receiving messages at the old address?

You would need to set up the old email address as a separate account in Mail, or check it through a web browser or another device. Removing an email account from your iPhone doesn't stop messages from arriving at that address — it just stops your iPhone from showing them to you.

How long do I have to verify my new Apple ID email before the change times out?

Apple typically gives you several hours to verify, but the exact time varies. If you don't verify within that window, the change will not go through and you'll need to start the process again. Check your old email promptly after starting the change.

Can I change my Apple ID email from my computer instead of my iPhone?

Yes. You can go to appleid.apple.com on any web browser, sign in, and change your email from there. The process is similar — you'll need to verify the new address using a code sent to your old email. Some people find it easier to do on a computer.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.