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How to reuse my email address (own domain) for Apple ID

Hello there,


I can't use an email address on my own domain for my Apple ID. The email address was used for another Apple ID that is already deleted. Is there any way to reuse the address?


This way of "blocking" addresses, especially at Apple, seems to me very ill-conceived and stupid. The restrictions should last for a maximum of 12 months, or should only apply to @icloud.com addresses, not to addresses on your own domain. Or the account should be deleted COMPLETELY.


[Edited by Moderator]

iPhone 13 Pro Max, iOS 15

Posted on Dec 22, 2021 7:45 AM

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Posted on Dec 28, 2021 9:02 AM

This is terrible! I added a custom domain and then started adding custom emails when I realized on the 2nd email which was for my wife, that I had to add it from her account, so I delete it from mine. Now I can't add it to her, because it says it's been used with another Apple ID.

From what I read, I will never be able to create my wife's email under Apple Custom Domain! I'll try with support, but it seems it's a waste of time!

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Dec 28, 2021 9:02 AM in response to Limnos

This is terrible! I added a custom domain and then started adding custom emails when I realized on the 2nd email which was for my wife, that I had to add it from her account, so I delete it from mine. Now I can't add it to her, because it says it's been used with another Apple ID.

From what I read, I will never be able to create my wife's email under Apple Custom Domain! I'll try with support, but it seems it's a waste of time!

Dec 22, 2021 8:16 AM in response to TB82EU

There is no official or unofficial consensus from Apple about re-using an email address. The only official documentation that I can find says:


"If you see a message that the email address you want to use isn't available or is already in use, check that you or a family member aren't already using that email address with a different Apple ID. If a family member is using that email address, remove it from their account then try to use it." From: https://support.apple.com/HT202667


Apart from the above statement I have yet to find a formal Apple position statement online about re-using email addresses. Many user reports on this forum (given the large number over many years I don't have specific reason not to believe them) suggest that contrary to what the statement implies as to ease of address re-use, if you have recently used an email address with Apple for another purpose such as a notification email address it cannot be re-used; at least not immediately and possibly never. I guess you can "try to use it" but for many this does not work. This is not commenting on moderation but simply observing that Apple itself is inconsistent when recommending statements about re-using email addresses:


Here is an April 2021 post by ASC contributor IdrisSeabright that was recommended () by an Apple Recommended team member - "Once you've used an email address as an Apple ID, it can't be used again for an Apple ID, even if the first Apple ID has been deleted."

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252629414?answerId=255095641022#255095641022


This Community Specialist makes a similar statement to be above: "When you go through deleting an Apple ID, it cannot be used again as an Apple ID"

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253338991


In complete contradiction, another Apple Recommended team member favored -- over a reply referring to the recommended response in a previous paragraph saying you cannot re-use an email address -- a Sept. 2021 post saying just re-use an old email address: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253165777


'Anecdotal' posts:


April 2021 post https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252629414

"I tried contacting chat support and finally phone support today and they told me that you can NEVER use an email address that was used for a deleted account."


October 2021 post https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253209773

"I deleted the second Apple ID and waited 30 days for the deletion process. Tried to change the email of her initial Apple ID to her current email address, which she can access but it says; 'This email is not available'."


Nov 2021 post https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253380006

"How on earth can my husband reclaim his personal email address from that dead Apple ID? I spent 35 minutes on the phone with apple support and they were completely unable to help."


In conclusion, it appears that the preponderance of evidence suggests you cannot re-use an email address previously used with Apple for another purpose.

Dec 22, 2021 8:56 AM in response to Limnos

Thank you for the answer. Yes, I searched this forum and I'm literally horrified + worried. Many users are solving the same problem and are concerned. I would call this feature a BUG that unnecessarily complicates life for both sides.


I have to re-write my opinion - which is true, completely relevant and has been removed from the previous post (censorship as in the DPRK):

These "incomprehensible" restrictions and limitations don't exist at competing companies and accounts (e.g. Google). Apple should change that - We will have the year 2022 soon!

Dec 29, 2021 10:45 AM in response to TrueLook

Sorry but I doubt anything will change in a month. I had another own domain about five years ago and it can't be used to this day.. iCloud still says it's been used with another Apple ID..


The situation in my case is comical. I have an e-mail box with another provider and I pay extra (however, email services and filters are much better). Due to nonsensical limitations, I had to create an alias that I don't use at all and I only have it as an Apple ID. This is really funny.

How to reuse my email address (own domain) for Apple ID

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