Where to find and change your Apple ID email

Your Apple ID email is the address you use to sign into your iPhone, buy apps, and access iCloud. To change it, you go into the Settings app, tap your name at the top, then select "Name, Phone Numbers, Email" and choose which email address becomes your primary one. The process takes about five minutes and doesn't require you to sign out of your phone.

Apple lets you keep up to three email addresses linked to one Apple ID — one primary address and two additional ones. You can switch which one is primary without losing access to anything. If you want to remove an email entirely rather than just demote it, that takes a separate step after you've set a new primary address.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap your name, then "Name, Phone Numbers, Email" to see all addresses linked to your Apple ID.
  • You can make any of your three linked email addresses the primary one, and the change takes effect when ready.
  • If you want to add a brand-new email address instead of switching between existing ones, you must first set a temporary primary address, then add the new one.
  • Removing an email address requires you to have at least one other address on the account, and you cannot remove your primary address without making a different one primary first.
  • Changes to your primary email do not sign you out of your iPhone or affect your stored photos, messages, or apps.

Step-by-step: making a different email your primary address

Start by opening the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap your name at the very top of the screen — it appears above "iCloud" and "Media & Purchases". This takes you to your Apple ID account page.

Next, tap "Name, Phone Numbers, Email". You will see a list of all email addresses currently linked to your Apple ID. One of them will have a label that says "Reachable at" or a small checkmark next to it — that is your primary address. Tap the email address you want to make primary instead. A menu will pop up with the option "Make this my primary email address". Tap that option, and the change is done. You do not need to confirm anything or restart your phone.

If you do not see the email address you want to use, it is not yet linked to your account. You will need to add it first using the steps in the next section.

How to add a completely new email address to your Apple ID

If the email you want to use is not already on your account, tap "Add Email or Phone Number" at the bottom of the "Name, Phone Numbers, Email" screen. Type in the new address and tap "Next". Apple will send a verification code to that email address — check your inbox (and spam folder) for a message from Apple.

Open the email from Apple and copy the verification code, or if you are already in the email app on your iPhone, you may see a prompt to enter it automatically. Go back to Settings and paste or enter the code in the box that appears. Once verified, the new address is added to your account but will not yet be your primary address.

To make the newly added address your primary one, go back to "Name, Phone Numbers, Email", tap the new address, and select "Make this my primary email address". If you want to remove one of your old addresses now that you have a new primary one, tap that old address and select "Remove Email".

What happens to your old email address

When you change your primary email, your old address does not disappear unless you remove it. It stays linked to your Apple ID as a secondary address, which means you can still use it to sign into your iPhone or reset your password if you forget it. This is actually helpful — it gives you a backup way to access your account.

If you want to stop using an old address entirely, you can remove it, but you must have at least one other address on your account first. You also cannot remove your primary address — you have to make a different address primary before you can delete the old one. Once removed, that address is no longer connected to your Apple ID, though you can add it back later if you change your mind.

Signing in after you change your email

After you change your primary email, you can sign into your iPhone using either your new primary address or any of your secondary addresses — Apple accepts all of them. You do not have to update your password or sign out and back in. Your iCloud data, photos, messages, and all your apps stay exactly where they are.

If you use your Apple ID to sign into other devices like an iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch, those devices will still work. The next time you need to enter your password on one of those devices — such as when downloading an app — you can use your new primary email address. The old address will still work for sign-in purposes, so there is no rush to update it everywhere.

Troubleshooting: email address won't change or won't verify

If you are trying to add a new email and the verification code never arrives, check your spam or junk folder first — Apple's email sometimes gets filtered. If it is not there, wait a few minutes and try requesting the code again. You can tap "Didn't receive code?" on the verification screen to have Apple send a new one.

If you are trying to make an address primary and the option does not appear, make sure that address is fully verified. A verified address will show no warning label next to it. If it shows "Unverified" or a warning icon, you must complete the verification step before you can make it primary. Go back to the email account you used to sign up and look for the verification message from Apple.

If Settings keeps asking you to update your payment method when you try to change your email, this usually means your current payment method on file has expired. Go to "Settings" > your name > "Media & Purchases" > "Payment Method" and update it, then try changing your email again.

Using a different email for iCloud Mail versus your Apple ID

Your Apple ID email and your iCloud Mail address are not the same thing. Your Apple ID is what you use to sign in; iCloud Mail is an email service you can use if you have an @icloud.com address. If you have an iCloud Mail account, changing your Apple ID email does not change your iCloud Mail address, and vice versa.

If you want to set up iCloud Mail with a new address, that is a separate process. You would go to Settings > your name > iCloud > Mail and create a new iCloud Mail account there. Your Apple ID email and your iCloud Mail address can be different, and changing one does not affect the other.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my email sign me out of my iPhone?

No. Changing your primary Apple ID email does not sign you out or require you to re-enter your password. Your iPhone stays signed in, and all your data remains accessible. You only need to enter your password again if you are signing into a new device or if your session expires naturally.

Can I use an email address that is already linked to a different Apple ID?

No. Each email address can only be linked to one Apple ID. If you try to add an address that is already in use, Apple will tell you it is already associated with another account. You would need to remove it from that account first, which requires signing into that account and deleting the address.

What if I forgot which email is my primary address?

Go to Settings > your name > "Name, Phone Numbers, Email". The address with the checkmark or labeled "Reachable at" is your primary one. If you are not sure which one you want to use, you can make any of them primary by tapping it and selecting the option to do so.

Do I need to change my password when I change my email?

No. Your password stays the same. You can use your new email address to sign in with your existing password. Changing your email address does not affect your security or require you to create a new password.

Can I change my email on my iPhone, or do I have to use a computer?

You can do it entirely on your iPhone using the Settings app. You do not need a computer. The steps are the same whether you are on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac — just open Settings, tap your name, and go to "Name, Phone Numbers, Email".