Cannot Delete Alias / Server Error

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Bodie_1980 Author

Level 1

31 points

Cannot Delete Alias / Server Error

For a few years now I have had an iCloud email alias that I created in 2016 or so, to receive spam emails. Last year I didn't need the address anymore so wanted to delete it, however I get weird errors stating their is a server error, or that the alias cannot be deleted at this time. These errors occur on Mac OS, iOS and in my web browser (I have tried Firefox and Safari on both mac and iPhone. All give error messages.)

I have spoken to Apple support by chat and on the phone, they came back once or twice with a few fixes, log out and log back in, try on the iphone instead of the mac etc etc, these have not worked. The agent advised me they were going to talk to apple server team, then I heard nothing. I sent an email and there was no response, this was over three weeks ago.

Does anyone know how this can be solved?

MacBook Pro 16″

Posted on Nov 4, 2023 7:02 AM

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Answer 1

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Bodie_1980 Author

Level 1

31 points

Nov 9, 2023 2:07 PM in response to Bodie_1980

I was able to resolve this by creating another alias called the same thing, i.e if the alias I could not delete was First.Last@icloud.com, I added another alias called first.last@icloud.com.

From what I can gather with bits of info from other support threats relating to other type issues, this is because at one time the Apple system allowed alias with capital letters, but the back end does not like this and stores alias in lower case, so hence when you try to delete the alias, the system cannot find the email address because there is a mismatch between the GUI and back end. If you create the alias again with lower case letters, the link to the back end is re-created and deleting it via GUI will delete both Alias. I am sorry Apple support was so poor however and clearly they do not have any SLA.

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