How do you change your Apple ID iCloud account?

If you are looking to change your Apple ID email address to a different one, then follow this Support Article:

Change your Apple Account primary email address - Apple Support

If you are just looking to change your iCloud email address associated with your Apple ID, then that is not possible. You can create up to 3 additional iCloud email addresses.

Add and manage email aliases for iCloud Mail on iCloud.com - Apple Support

Angeladennisme1 wrote:

Change iCloud account on apple phone

Activation Lock?

Activation Lock is intended as a theft-deterrent mechanism. A theft deterrent that is easy to bypass would not be much of a deterrent.

Nobody here in the Apple Discussion Forums can help you clear Activation Lock.

To clear an Activation Lock, you will need the password of the associated Apple ID, or the original purchase receipt and a discussion with Apple Support, or similar proof of ownership.

If this device was recently purchased and the seller is still available, contact the seller for remediation or for refund. A remote unlock using iCloud is available to the person with the Apple ID holding the Activation Lock, if that person is still available and is inclined to unlock this device.

Again, only the person with the credentials to the Apple ID holding the lock, or Apple, can clear this lock. For Apple to clear the lock, you will have to provide a receipt with proof of original purchase and with matching serial number or IMEI, legal paperwork from an inheritance, or other similar proof of ownership materials.

For recovering access to your own Apple ID, if you are the holder of the Apple ID associated with the Activation Lock:

If you forgot your Apple Account password - Apple Support

If you forgot your Apple Account primary email address or phone number - Apple Support

How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple Account password - Apple Support

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

If you are an heir:

How to request access to a deceased family member's Apple accounts - Apple Support

Purchasing devices with Activation Lock is unfortunately far too common. These are scams, and other fraudulent sales. These locked devices will not be useful to you, and are probably best recycled. See the following link for more info:

The All Too Common SAD Reality of Buying a Used iPad/iPhone

I had to contact Apple to change my email address for my Apple ID when my internet provider stopped supporting their clients' emails. grrrr

It has updated fine on my desktop & laptop computers & ipads - but my x 2 'old iphones' still ask for the password for my old Apple ID - They no longer work on the current phone networks. (I basically use them as a video cameras now, so they can airdrop to my current computers, as it is difficult moving files between my android phone & Mac gear since apple stopped supporting Android File Transfer. :( )

Any tips on how to get the old phones to accept the new Apple ID? (they keep popping up messages to put in the password and it is very annoying!)

Absent this resolving itself after a forced restart, you’ll want to continue your discussion with Apple.