Will changing Apple Account email affect Apple devices?
Will changing my Apple Account email, (after 20+ years) cause problems with the many Apple Devices I own? I want to get rid of using the old email provider.
iMac 27″, macOS 15.7
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The support article Change your Apple Account primary email address - Apple Support outlines various methods for changing the email address (Apple ID) you use for your Apple Account while retaining everything in your account. If you have an iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 or newer, read the support article for instructions how to do this.
If you have an older iOS/iPadOS, Apple no longer provides the instructions for that, but here they are:
1. Go to Settings, then tap your name.
2. Tap Sign In & Security.
3. Next to Email & Phone Numbers, tap Edit.
4. Tap the red Remove button next to the email address, then tap Delete.
5. Tap Choose Another Email Address and enter your device passcode if asked.
6. Enter the new email address, then tap Continue.
7. Enter the verification code that was sent to your new email address. Read this support article to learn what to do if you didn’t get the email —> If you didn’t receive your Apple Account verification or password reset email - Apple Support
8. If you encounter issues with certain services after doing this, this outdated support article may still have useful suggestions --> What to do after you change your Apple ID or password - Apple Support
On a Mac see the instructions at Set up your Apple Account sign-in and security information on Mac - Apple Support (choose your system version at the top of the page).
Refer to the support article Change your Apple Account primary email address - Apple Support :
- If you don’t have an iPhone or iPad, the support article says to, “go to https://account.apple.com and sign in. Then follow the onscreen instructions to change the email address associated with your Apple ID.”
- For general information, and other issues such as changes or addresses not being accepted.
- Note a recent change to the article where you can now change the email address without having to have access to your old email account.
How to change your Apple ID email address online:
1. Go to https://account.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 old ID 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 Apple Account verification or password 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, as indicated in this support article —> What to do after you change your Apple ID or password - Apple Support
Read about what to do after [or before] you change your Apple ID email address or password. This document is no longer updated, presumably because most of it is no longer relevant with newer systems, but may still have valid suggestions: What to do after you change your Apple ID or password - Apple Support