Change Your Apple ID Email in Settings or Online

You can change the email address linked to your Apple ID through the Settings app on any Apple device, or through your Apple ID account page on a web browser. The process takes about five minutes and does not require you to create a new account. Your existing purchases, photos, and data stay with the same Apple ID — only the login email changes.

Apple lets you change to a completely new email address, or swap your primary email with a secondary one you have already added to the account. If you want to use an email that is not yet on your account, you will need to add it first, then make it your primary email.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your Apple ID email through Settings on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, or through appleid.apple.com on any web browser.
  • If you are adding a brand-new email address, Apple sends a verification code to that address before the change takes effect.
  • Your old email address remains tied to your account for 30 days in case you need to undo the change.
  • If you forget your Apple ID password, you will need access to either your old email or a recovery phone number to reset it.
  • Two-factor authentication must be turned on to change your email on a Mac or through the web; iPhone and iPad do not require it.

Change Your Email Through iPhone or iPad Settings

Open Settings and tap your name at the top of the screen. Tap Password and Security, then tap Change Password or Change Email. If you see Change Email, tap it. If you only see Change Password, scroll down to find Edit next to your email address and tap that instead.

If you are changing to an email already on your account, select it from the list and confirm. If you are adding a new email, tap Add Email Address, type the new address, and tap Next. Apple will send a verification code to that email. Check your inbox (including spam), enter the code, and tap Verify. Once verified, you can make it your primary email by tapping it and selecting Make Primary.

After you confirm the change, your old email address stays active for 30 days. During that time, you can still use it to sign in to your Apple ID, and you can undo the change by going back to Settings and selecting your old email.

Change Your Email Through Mac System Settings

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, then System Settings. Click your name at the top of the sidebar. Click Password and Security on the right side. Click the Edit button next to your email address.

A window will open showing your current email and any secondary emails on the account. If you want to switch to an email already listed, select it and click Change. If you want to use a new email, click the plus sign, type the address, and click Continue. Apple will send a verification code to that new email. Enter the code and click Verify. Then select the new email and click Change to make it primary.

Your Mac will ask you to sign in again with your new email address. Do this right away so you do not get locked out of iCloud services. The old email remains usable for 30 days.

Change Your Email on the Web at appleid.apple.com

Go to appleid.apple.com in any web browser and sign in with your current Apple ID email and password. Click Account Settings on the left side. Under the Account section, you will see your email address. Click Edit next to it.

If you are switching to an email already on your account, select it from the dropdown and click Change Email. If you are adding a new email, click Add Email Address, type it in, and click Continue. Apple sends a verification code to that email. Open that email, copy the code, paste it into the web page, and click Verify. Then select the new email and click Change Email to make it primary.

Two-factor authentication must be on to change your email through the web. If you have not set it up, you will be prompted to do so before you can proceed. This takes about five minutes and requires a trusted phone number.

Add a New Email Address Before Making It Primary

If the email you want to use is not yet on your Apple ID, you must add it as a secondary email first. Go to your Apple ID account page (appleid.apple.com, or Settings > [Your Name] > Password and Security on iPhone, iPad, or Mac). Look for the section showing your email addresses.

Click or tap the option to add an email address. Type the new email and click or tap Continue. Apple sends a verification code to that email address. Check the inbox (including spam and promotions folders) for an email from Apple. Copy the code and enter it on the verification page. Once verified, the new email appears in your list of account emails.

After verification, you can make it your primary email by selecting it and choosing Make Primary (on iPhone or iPad) or Change Email (on Mac or the web). Your old email will remain on the account for 30 days as a recovery option.

What Happens to Your Old Email Address

When you change your primary email, your old email stays attached to your Apple ID for 30 days. During this time, you can still use the old email to sign in, and you can reverse the change by going back to your account settings and selecting the old email again. After 30 days, the old email is removed from your account entirely.

If you change your mind within the 30-day window, straightforward go back to your account settings, find the old email in your list, and tap or click Make Primary (or Change Email on the web). This moves you back to your original email without losing any data or purchases.

If you wait longer than 30 days and want to use that old email again, you will have to add it as a new secondary email and verify it again. You cannot recover it after the 30-day period ends.

Troubleshooting: Verification Code Not Arriving

If you do not receive the verification code Apple sends to your new email address, check your spam, promotions, and other filtered folders first. The email comes from Apple and includes the subject line "Verify your email address for your Apple ID." If you still cannot find it after waiting five minutes, try requesting the code again.

If you are still not receiving codes, make sure the email address you entered is spelled correctly. Go back and try adding it again, typing slowly and double-checking each character. If the address is correct but codes still do not arrive, the email provider may be blocking Apple's messages. Contact that email provider's support to check if Apple's domain is on a blocklist.

As a last resort, you can change your email through a different device (iPhone instead of Mac, or the web instead of your phone) or try again after a few hours. If none of these steps work, contact Apple Support through your account page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same email address for two different Apple IDs?

No. Each email address can be the primary email for only one Apple ID. If you try to add an email that is already a primary email on another account, Apple will reject it. You can use the same email as a secondary (recovery) email on multiple accounts, but only one account can have it as the primary login email.

What if I forget my password and need to reset it?

You will need access to either your current email address or a recovery phone number linked to your account. If you have changed your email and no longer have access to the old one, make sure you have a trusted phone number set up before you change it. If you are already locked out, you may need to contact Apple Support with proof of identity.

Do I lose my photos, purchases, or data when I change my email?

No. Your Apple ID stays the same — only the email address used to sign in changes. All your purchases from the App Store, iCloud photos, notes, contacts, and other data remain tied to your account and are not affected by the email change.

Can I change my email on an older iPhone or iPad?

Yes, as long as your device runs iOS 13 or later (or iPadOS 13 or later). Go to Settings, tap your name, tap Password and Security, and look for the Edit option next to your email. If your device runs an older version, you can still change your email through appleid.apple.com on a web browser.

What if my email provider is shutting down?

Change your Apple ID email to a new address before the old email becomes inactive. Once you switch, you have 30 days to undo it if needed. After 30 days, the old email is removed from your account. If your old email provider shuts down before you change it, you may lose access to your Apple ID recovery options, so act as soon as you know the shutdown date.