Where to Change Your Email on iPhone

You change your email address on iPhone in the Settings app, not in Mail itself. Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap "Name, Phone Numbers, Email" to change the email linked to your Apple ID. If you want to change the email address in a Mail account (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or another provider), go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, select the account, and tap "Account" to edit the email there.

The process differs depending on whether you are changing your Apple ID email or an email account you use within the Mail app. Your Apple ID email controls access to your entire iPhone, so changing it requires your current password and a recovery method. A Mail account email is just the inbox you check through the Mail app, and changing it is simpler but may require your email provider's password.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Apple ID email (the one you use to sign into your iPhone) is changed in Settings > [Your Name] > "Name, Phone Numbers, Email", and you will need your current password.
  • A Mail account email (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) is changed in Settings > Mail > Accounts > select the account > Account, and you may need your email provider's password.
  • If you change your Apple ID email, your old email will stop working for iCloud, App Store purchases, and Find My iPhone within 30 days.
  • Changing a Mail account email does not affect your Apple ID or any other iPhone services.

How to Change Your Apple ID Email Address

Your Apple ID email is the account you use to sign into your iPhone. Changing it requires you to be signed in and to have access to a recovery email address. Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap "Name, Phone Numbers, Email". You will see your current Apple ID email listed. Tap "Edit" next to it.

Type your new email address in the field. Apple will send a verification code to both your new email and your recovery email address. Check both inboxes, enter the codes when prompted, and confirm the change. Your old email will remain active for 30 days in case you need to undo the change; after that, it is fully removed from your Apple ID.

If you do not have access to your recovery email, you can add a phone number as a recovery method before you change your email. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security > Recovery Email or Recovery Phone Number and add one first.

How to Change a Mail Account Email Address

If you use the Mail app to check Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or another email provider, you can change that email address without touching your Apple ID. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, then tap the account you want to change. Tap "Account" at the top of the screen.

Look for a field labeled "Email" or "Email Address" and tap it to edit. Type your new email address. You may be asked to enter your email provider's password to confirm the change — this is normal and does not affect your Apple ID password. Tap "Save" or "Done" to finish.

If the Mail app stops syncing after you change the email, go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts, select the account, and check that the email field matches what your provider shows. Some email providers require you to generate an app-specific password instead of your regular password; check your email provider's website if the change does not work.

What Happens After You Change Your Email

If you changed your Apple ID email, your old email will no longer work to sign into your iPhone, the App Store, iCloud, or Find My iPhone. Any services that were linked to your old email — like two-factor authentication codes or password reset links — will now go to your new email instead. You have 30 days to undo the change if you made a mistake; after that, the old email is permanently removed.

If you changed a Mail account email, only that inbox is affected. Your other Mail accounts, your Apple ID, and all other iPhone services continue to work normally. The Mail app will start syncing messages from your new email address, but old messages in that account may not appear if your email provider does not sync them automatically.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do not type your new email address into the wrong field. In Settings > [Your Name], you will see both "Name, Phone Numbers, Email" (your Apple ID) and other options. Make sure you are editing the correct one for what you want to change. If you are changing a Mail account, go through Mail in Settings, not through your Apple ID settings.

Do not lose access to your recovery email or phone number before you change your Apple ID email. If you change your Apple ID email and then lose access to your recovery method, you may not be able to reset your password or recover your account. Add a recovery method in Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security before you make the change.

Do not assume your Mail account will work when ready after you change the email. Some email providers take a few minutes to sync the change. If Mail shows an error, wait 5 to 10 minutes, then go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, select the account, and tap "Done" to refresh it.

If You Forgot Your Current Email Address

If you do not remember the email address linked to your Apple ID, go to Settings > [Your Name] and look at the top of the screen — your Apple ID email is displayed there. You do not need to guess or search for it; it is always visible in that location.

If you cannot remember the password for a Mail account you want to change, you will need to reset it through your email provider's website before you can update it on your iPhone. For example, if you use Gmail, go to accounts.google.com, sign in with your current email and password, and reset it there. Then return to iPhone Settings and update the email in the Mail account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my Apple ID email delete my photos or data?

No. Changing your Apple ID email does not delete anything. Your photos, contacts, messages, and all other data stay on your iPhone and in iCloud. Only the email address you use to sign in changes.

Can I change my email address if I do not have a recovery email set up?

You can change your Apple ID email, but Apple will ask you to add a recovery method (a recovery email or phone number) during the process if you do not already have one. This protects your account in case you forget your password later.

What if my email provider says my password is wrong after I change it on iPhone?

Some email providers, like Gmail and Yahoo, require an app-specific password instead of your regular password when you sign in on iPhone. Check your email provider's website for instructions on generating an app password, then use that instead of your regular password in the Mail account settings.

Can I have two email addresses on my Apple ID at the same time?

Your Apple ID has one primary email address, but you can add alias email addresses that also sign into the same account. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Name, Phone Numbers, Email, tap "Edit", and look for an option to add an alias. This lets you sign in with either email.

How long does it take for the email change to show up everywhere?

Changes to your Apple ID email take effect when ready on your iPhone. Changes to Mail account emails usually sync within a few minutes, but some email providers may take up to an hour to fully sync the change across all devices.