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Remove xxxx@icloud.com email from my Apple ID

I set up an Apple ID using my gmail email years ago. At some point afterwards I accidentally created and then associated a xxxx@icloud.com email address using my wife's name as the the email. I think at the time I thought was logged into her account setting things up which I wasn't!!


I have ignored it up until now as I have not needed a new email address however I would like to start using an iCloud email. Is there a way I can delete the xxxx@icloud.com email which is currently associated with my apple id. There doesn't seem to be an option to delete it from the account.


Ultimately I'd like to associate a different iCloud email to my account.


Thanks for any help.

Posted on Apr 12, 2021 1:46 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Apr 12, 2021 10:40 PM

Long back you created a web mail account with gmail services say example1@gmail.com and used this as an Apple ID to sign in Mac system preferences ( the account was initially set up with secondary authentication in which three answers for respective questions , date of birth , rescue mail address and its password , credit card added as optional ) .

After that you signed out the Apple ID and created an Apple ID say example2@icloud.com and started using the Mac .

Now , you can't sign out Apple ID as password is not known to you Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac - Apple Support

If you have always set up iCloud Keychain Set up iCloud Keychain - Apple Support the password for both gmail address and iCloud address can still be found only by an administrator View the information stored in a keychain on Mac - Apple Support

Now coming to your gmail address that is an Apple ID used with iCloud services what is the status on iCloud server https://iforgot.apple.com/appleid#!&section=appleid

And also link is applicable for Apple ID example2@icloud.com if the id exists a green check mark will appear once you enter the credentials in the link .

Before signing out Apple ID go to appleid.apple.com can you sign in with three correct answers for respective questions and access the account , knowing rescue mail address and its password and using a rescue mail address to reset Apple ID password will work , but most important is answers for security questions and date of birth added in the account , you have to check all these .

If you have all incorrect credentials in records , don't sign out Apple ID from Mac , however a trick is used open system preferences > Apple ID > password and security what is the status do it show 2FA as on or in Mac system preferences >in front of keychain box that should be always checked > if options button is shown it means secondary authentication is set up , if options button is not shown it means account is set with 2FA , you must have working trusted numbers verified in the account

If you want to recover gmail account https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/7682439?hl=en

In case if you also discontinued the trusted number .

The Apple ID created with gmail account say example1@gmail.com was permanently deleted from the gmail server , and if the account was set up with secondary authentication , the administrator can’t sign with iCloud account.

Sign in with rescue mail address in gmail account ( enter the password ) , click on personal info .

Click on edit , and try to add a new trusted number .

And can't further move , the bell icon will shake and stop and if you click on send the code that will go to the old trusted number that is inactive .

Click on more ways to verify , it again prompted to enter rescue mail address and password , Scroll down and click on account recovery icon , then add a new trusted number and click on next , the trusted number will add , the trick was using the rescue mail address that was attached to the primary mail address .

The last way is if you don't have any credentials convert the account into 2FA Use two-factor authentication for security on your Mac, iOS devices, and iPadOS devices - Apple Support

And to change Apple ID sign out Apple ID from system preferences or Change your Apple ID - Apple Support

What to do after you change your Apple ID or password - Apple Support

2 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Apr 12, 2021 10:40 PM in response to Trystan1979

Long back you created a web mail account with gmail services say example1@gmail.com and used this as an Apple ID to sign in Mac system preferences ( the account was initially set up with secondary authentication in which three answers for respective questions , date of birth , rescue mail address and its password , credit card added as optional ) .

After that you signed out the Apple ID and created an Apple ID say example2@icloud.com and started using the Mac .

Now , you can't sign out Apple ID as password is not known to you Sign out of iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac - Apple Support

If you have always set up iCloud Keychain Set up iCloud Keychain - Apple Support the password for both gmail address and iCloud address can still be found only by an administrator View the information stored in a keychain on Mac - Apple Support

Now coming to your gmail address that is an Apple ID used with iCloud services what is the status on iCloud server https://iforgot.apple.com/appleid#!&section=appleid

And also link is applicable for Apple ID example2@icloud.com if the id exists a green check mark will appear once you enter the credentials in the link .

Before signing out Apple ID go to appleid.apple.com can you sign in with three correct answers for respective questions and access the account , knowing rescue mail address and its password and using a rescue mail address to reset Apple ID password will work , but most important is answers for security questions and date of birth added in the account , you have to check all these .

If you have all incorrect credentials in records , don't sign out Apple ID from Mac , however a trick is used open system preferences > Apple ID > password and security what is the status do it show 2FA as on or in Mac system preferences >in front of keychain box that should be always checked > if options button is shown it means secondary authentication is set up , if options button is not shown it means account is set with 2FA , you must have working trusted numbers verified in the account

If you want to recover gmail account https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/7682439?hl=en

In case if you also discontinued the trusted number .

The Apple ID created with gmail account say example1@gmail.com was permanently deleted from the gmail server , and if the account was set up with secondary authentication , the administrator can’t sign with iCloud account.

Sign in with rescue mail address in gmail account ( enter the password ) , click on personal info .

Click on edit , and try to add a new trusted number .

And can't further move , the bell icon will shake and stop and if you click on send the code that will go to the old trusted number that is inactive .

Click on more ways to verify , it again prompted to enter rescue mail address and password , Scroll down and click on account recovery icon , then add a new trusted number and click on next , the trusted number will add , the trick was using the rescue mail address that was attached to the primary mail address .

The last way is if you don't have any credentials convert the account into 2FA Use two-factor authentication for security on your Mac, iOS devices, and iPadOS devices - Apple Support

And to change Apple ID sign out Apple ID from system preferences or Change your Apple ID - Apple Support

What to do after you change your Apple ID or password - Apple Support

Remove xxxx@icloud.com email from my Apple ID

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