Can't change Apple ID

I ran into this as well. What eventually worked: I signed out of the web interface and signed back in without using TouchID. I signed in by typing my AppleID password. Then I was able to change the AppleID e-mail address pretty easily.

I don't know if it was just a fluke or if logging in with TouchID vs plain password is what actually makes the difference.

iOS 17 changed the process a bit, on your device under sign in and security in Apple ID settings, you can delete your primary Apple ID email and it will prompt you to enter a new email to change it to

Are you doing it this way?

1. Go to https://appleid.apple.com and sign in.

2. In the Sign-In and Security section, choose Apple ID.

3. Enter the email address that you want to use as your Apple ID.

4. Choose Change Apple ID.

5. If you changed your Apple ID to a third-party email address, check your email for a verification code, then enter the code. Learn what to do if you didn't get the email. --> If you didn't receive your verification or reset email - Apple Support

6. If you use services like iCloud or Messages to share with friends and colleagues, sign in to those services with your updated Apple ID. --> What to do after you change your Apple ID or password - Apple Support

For more details, read the document: "Change your Apple ID" --> Change your Apple ID - Apple Support

When I search the web for that message I am seeing it in the context of app specific passwords.

Given that I can only find a few hits with a web search suggests this may be a truly obscure issue. Those hits are all recent ones, and one of them seems to be in the context of beta software. If you are using beta software then you should be asking about this on the special forum for beta issues. Otherwise I refer you to Apple:

For general questions about using Apple Beta Software, contact the Apple Developer program at --> Using Apple Beta Software - Support - Apple Developer

Refer to this document for ways to contact Apple ➞ Choose your country or region - Official Apple Support

Select your country (also look for "other" regions), then a product. If you don't see one that handles your issue then keep experimenting with selections until you reach one that gets you a chat session or a telephone call and get the representative to redirect you.

or:

Contact Apple for support and service by telephone ➞ Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

I used a different browser, Brave. That worked. Oh the non stop frustrations with Apple. It never ends.

Seems it may (or may not) be browser related:

every time I tried to create an app-speci… - Apple Community

Were you trying to do something with app-specific passwords (you did not say that).

I had exactly the same problem using touchID and tried with the password. It then worked fine.

Confirming—and agreeing with everyone else who tried this method—that this works.

Ran into the same issue and this worked for me too!