Where to change your email on iPhone

You change the email address linked to your Apple ID in the Settings app, not in Mail or any other app. This is the email Apple uses to send you account notifications, password resets, and purchase receipts. If you want to change only the email address in your Mail app (the account you use to send and receive messages), that is a separate process in the Mail settings.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are changing your primary Apple ID email or adding a secondary email address. Most people need to change their primary email, which is what we cover first.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap Name, Phone Numbers, Email to change your Apple ID email address.
  • You can only change your primary Apple ID email to a new address that is not already associated with another Apple ID.
  • If you want to keep using your old email, you can add it as a secondary email address instead of replacing it.
  • After you change your email, Apple sends a confirmation link to both your old and new email addresses.
  • If you use iCloud Mail, changing your Apple ID email does not change your iCloud email address — those are separate.

Steps to change your primary Apple ID email

Go to Settings and tap your name at the very top of the screen. This opens your Apple ID profile page. Tap Name, Phone Numbers, Email. You will see your current primary email listed first, with a label that says "Reachable at" or "Primary email".

Tap Edit in the upper right corner. Tap the primary email address field and delete the current email. Type your new email address and tap Done. Apple will send a verification link to both your old email and your new email. You must open the link in the email sent to your new address to confirm the change. Until you do, your old email remains active.

Check both inboxes — the confirmation email sometimes lands in spam. If you do not see it within a few minutes, go back to Settings > [Your Name] > Name, Phone Numbers, Email and tap Resend Verification Email.

What happens to your old email address

When you change your primary Apple ID email to a new one, your old email does not disappear when ready. Apple automatically converts it to a secondary email address linked to your account. This means you can still use your old email to sign in to your Apple ID if you want to, but Apple will send new notifications and password resets to your new primary email instead.

If you do not want to keep your old email linked to your account at all, you can remove it. Go back to Settings > [Your Name] > Name, Phone Numbers, Email, tap Edit, and tap the minus sign next to the old email address, then tap Delete. Once you delete it, you cannot use that email to sign in to your Apple ID anymore.

Adding a secondary email instead of replacing your primary

If you want to keep your current Apple ID email but add another email address to your account, you do not have to replace anything. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Name, Phone Numbers, Email, tap Edit, and tap the plus sign at the bottom. Type the new email address and tap Done. Apple will send a verification link to that new address. Open the link to confirm it.

A secondary email is useful if you want to sign in with a different email but do not want to change which email receives your notifications. You can have up to three email addresses on one Apple ID.

Changing the email in your Mail app

If you use the Mail app on your iPhone and want to change the email account you use to send and receive messages, that is separate from your Apple ID email. Open Settings, scroll down and tap Mail, then tap Accounts. Tap the email account you want to change. Tap Account at the top, then tap Edit.

You can change the email address shown in the "From" field, but you cannot change the actual email account itself through this screen. If you need to remove the account entirely and add a different one, tap Delete Account at the bottom, then go back to Mail > Accounts and tap Add Account to set up a new email account.

If your new email is already linked to another Apple ID

Apple will not let you use an email address as your primary Apple ID email if it is already the primary email for a different Apple ID. You will see an error message that says the email is already in use. You have two options: use a different email address, or remove that email from the other Apple ID first.

If the other Apple ID is yours, sign in to it, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Name, Phone Numbers, Email, and delete the email address. Wait a few minutes, then try adding it to your main Apple ID. If the other Apple ID belongs to someone else, you will need to ask them to remove it or contact Apple Support for help.

Changing your email on a Mac or iPad instead

You can change your Apple ID email on any device. On a Mac, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click your name at the top left, and click Password & Security. On an iPad, go to Settings, tap your name, and tap Name, Phone Numbers, Email. The steps are the same as on iPhone. You only need to do this once — the change takes effect on all your devices.

If you change your email on one device, you do not need to repeat the process on your other devices. Apple syncs the change across your entire account, so your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch will all reflect the new email address within a few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my Apple ID email affect my iCloud email address?

No. Your Apple ID email and your iCloud email (if you have one) are separate. Changing your Apple ID email does not change your iCloud.com email address. If you want to change your iCloud email, you need to do that in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Change iCloud Mail Address (or a similar path depending on your iOS version).

Can I change my Apple ID email if I forgot my password?

You will need to reset your password first. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > Change Password and follow the steps. If you do not have access to your recovery email or phone number, you may need to contact Apple Support to verify your identity before you can make changes.

How long does it take for the email change to go through?

The change is when ready once you confirm the verification link sent to your new email address. If you do not confirm within a certain time, the change will not go through and your old email will remain active. There is no specific important date, but it is best to confirm within a day or two.

What if I do not receive the verification email?

Check your spam or junk folder first. If it is not there, go back to Settings > [Your Name] > Name, Phone Numbers, Email and tap Resend Verification Email. If you still do not receive it, make sure the new email address is spelled correctly and that you have access to that inbox. If the problem continues, contact Apple Support.

Can I use a work email or school email as my Apple ID email?

Yes, you can use any email address you have access to and can receive messages at. Just make sure it is not already linked to another Apple ID. If your work or school email is managed by your organization, they may have restrictions on what you can do with it, so check with your IT department first.