Hi, I have a main Apple ID that is my gmail account and then aliases that are my old icloud accounts I no longer use. Is there a way to delete the @icloud.com and @me.com email addresses that are currently being used as aliases?
When changing to the new ID, there may be some data loss, but you can minimize it. If syncing photos with iCloud, ensure Optimization is turned off in Settings/Your Name/iCloud/Photos and/or in Photos/Preferences/iCloud. Then make sure full resolution photos are on the device/computer. When signing out of iCloud, if asked whether you want to retain data, choose yes. Messages conversations will be lost if they are addressed to the ID. See the article below for other places that the old ID should be removed. See Winston Churchill's response in the below discussion. If possible, also set up Family Sharing between the IDs to keep access to your apps/purchases.
How to switch Apple IDs on your iPhone or iPad.
How to transfer all files from one iCloud account to another.
What to do after you change your Apple ID or password - Apple Support.
April 2017 Apple Recommended post by ASC contributor Roger Wilmut1
"If you are talking about the @icloud.com address created when the account was first opened (the 'primary address', and shown at the top of the list as the 'iCloudIMAP address' in Preferences>Accounts at icloud.com's Mail page) you cannot delete it. You can only delete 'email aliases' - additional addresses added later."
Hi, it says I can't delete my iCloud because it is my only account. I don't have any iCloud aliases, it's just that my iCloud is an alias of my gmail Apple ID. If I delete my main iCloud account will that affect anything since I use a different email (my gmail account) as my Apple ID now?
You cannot delete an @icloud.com, an @me.com nor a @mac.com address. Those are neither editable nor delete-able.
And the only way to delete an iCloud account would be to delete the entire AppleID used to sign into iCloud.
Okay, thanks. Would it be possible to create a new Apple ID and move all my information over to that one? Or would I have to start from scratch?
How do I delete an Apple ID alias?
