Starting with iOS 18.1, for the first time, Apple will allow users to permanently change their iCloud email address. Previously, users could set an alias as their email source, but there was no way to permanently change or remove the initial setting for iCloud Mail. Come on, you can.
The first report was mcroomersUsers will now be able to change their Apple account’s primary email address directly from the Settings app, and will also be able to permanently change their iCloud email address.
It was previously possible to change your primary email address, but only if you deleted the other email addresses on your account. There wasn’t a direct toggle to just change the email for your primary Apple account ahead of time, but iOS 18.1 makes it easier.
You can also change your iCloud Mail from the same pane in the Settings app. To go to the Settings app, tap Name > Sign-in & security, then tap the associated email address. There is a button called “Change Email Address” that allows you to permanently change your iCloud email address.
It’s worth noting that Apple says that if you change your old @iCloud.com or @me.com email address, you will no longer receive email from that address. However, it is theoretically possible to continue receiving email using an iCloud alias. FaceTime and iMessage will also be unavailable.
This is a big change if you created your Apple account a long time ago and aren’t a fan of the email address you may have chosen at the time. Previously, you could use iCloud aliases to send email, but collaborating on iCloud documents often exposed your actual email.
Would you like to change iCloud Mail now that this is a feature? Let us know in the comments.
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