Change back Apple ID primary email

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Level 1

21 points

Change back Apple ID primary email

Hi folks. A couple years ago, I changed my Apple ID's primary email address from my gmail email to my yahoo email. I basically registered my new yahoo email as an additional email in my Apple account, then made it "primary". But now I want to move BACK to gmail (make my gmail my "primary" email on my Apple account). However, when I try to change my Apple ID's primary email address back from my yahoo email to my gmail, I am getting the error:

"Email Used by Another Apple ID. This email address is not available. Choose a different address."

(Specifically, I did this: iPhone Settings > Apple ID > Sign-In & Security > Email & Phone Numbers > Edit > delete the primary email (yahoo) > "Choose Another Email Address" > specify my gmail email > got the error.)

Both email addrs are registered in my iPhone settings (iPhone Settings > Apple ID > Sign-In & Security > Email & Phone Numbers). Currently Yahoo is the primary addr, eg, the phrase "Apple ID" appears under it. My gmail addr is further down the list.

To be clear, I have had control of both email addresses this whole time, and I have had only 1 Apple ID this whole time. It's not like I am trying to merge 2 Apple IDs. Indeed, I verified that I can currently log into my Apple ID using EITHER my yahoo email OR my gmail email. But I need the gmail account to be "primary".

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

Posted on Sep 26, 2024 8:37 AM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

418,519 points

Sep 26, 2024 8:53 AM in response to rustinjay

A month ago I would have told you that you could not ever re-use an email address that had been used before as an Apple ID. Now Apple seems to have changed things:

Change your Apple Account primary email address - Apple Support

- If you remove an email address from your Apple Account, it can’t be associated with another Apple Account for 30 days for security reasons.

So you would have to remove the gmail address from your account, then wait 30 days, then change your Apple ID. I don't think it is simply a matter or re-positioning the addresses, or else why would Apple have the more complicated Apple ID change support article -> Change your Apple Account primary email address - Apple Support ?

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Answer 2

rustinjay Author

Level 1

21 points

Sep 27, 2024 4:52 AM in response to Limnos

Thanks for the quick reply! That approach is easy to try, so I'll give it a shot.

It does seem a bit weird though. Apple lets me log in with either email, so it seems like it should let me switch which one is "primary". That's how it works on other websites like github and linkedin -- you have a list of verified email addresses, and it's easy to select which one is "primary".

I'll remove my gmail address from the list, wait 31 days, and then try to change my "primary" email from yahoo to gmail.

Thanks again.

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Answer 3

Limnos

Level 10

418,519 points

Sep 27, 2024 6:58 AM in response to rustinjay

I saw another person recently comment about being able to use either their real Apple ID or their iCloud address. I haven't set up an iCloud address so I never noticed that.

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