My old Apple ID email address is non-existent and I need to change it to my existing email. It says that my email address is already used. However, I’ve been using that email address for at least 10 years. What can I do to get that problem resolved?
iPad, iOS 9
Unfortunately Apple does not have a clear position statement about when you can re-use an email address you have used with Apple before.
From: https://support.apple.com/HT202667
"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."
Although this next section discusses email address re-use in the context of deleting an account, it supports observations frequently posted on this forum about not being able to re-use an email address as an Apple ID once used previously as an Apple ID:
From: https://support.apple.com/HT208504
"Can I use the primary email address for my deleted Apple ID account to create a new Apple ID or with another existing Apple ID account?
No, once your Apple ID is deleted, you can't use the email address that you used with it to create a new Apple ID. In addition, you can't use that email address with another existing Apple ID except as a rescue [notification] email. Also, if your primary Apple ID email address is with a Custom Email Domain, it can never be reused to create an Apple ID after your Apple ID is deleted, even if the domain ownership changes."
And a related article about using iCloud email aliases - https://support.apple.com/guide/icloud/use-email-aliases-mm6b1a490a/icloud - "Note: You can’t delete or turn off a primary iCloud Mail address. You can’t use an alias to create a separate Apple ID, and an email alias can’t be converted to a primary iCloud Mail address."
If you still have questions or problems:
Refer to this document for ways to contact Apple --> https://support.apple.com/choose-country-region
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 --> https://support.apple.com/HT201232
Unfortunately Apple does not have a clear position statement about when you can re-use an email address you have used with Apple before.
From: https://support.apple.com/HT202667
"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."
Although this next section discusses email address re-use in the context of deleting an account, it supports observations frequently posted on this forum about not being able to re-use an email address as an Apple ID once used previously as an Apple ID:
From: https://support.apple.com/HT208504
"Can I use the primary email address for my deleted Apple ID account to create a new Apple ID or with another existing Apple ID account?
No, once your Apple ID is deleted, you can't use the email address that you used with it to create a new Apple ID. In addition, you can't use that email address with another existing Apple ID except as a rescue [notification] email. Also, if your primary Apple ID email address is with a Custom Email Domain, it can never be reused to create an Apple ID after your Apple ID is deleted, even if the domain ownership changes."
And a related article about using iCloud email aliases - https://support.apple.com/guide/icloud/use-email-aliases-mm6b1a490a/icloud - "Note: You can’t delete or turn off a primary iCloud Mail address. You can’t use an alias to create a separate Apple ID, and an email alias can’t be converted to a primary iCloud Mail address."
If you still have questions or problems:
Refer to this document for ways to contact Apple --> https://support.apple.com/choose-country-region
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 --> https://support.apple.com/HT201232
Change Apple ID email login
