Why can't I use my iCloud email address as my Apple ID

That address is also your recovery address, in case of the iCloud address failing instructions will be sent to the alternate, not much use if it is the same address really.

'Primary' is a figment of your imagination, whichever address you choose to use is the 'Primary' (unless receiving emails from Apple is your 'Primary' use)

But, as you clearly feel different, tell Apple: Apple Feedback

Csound1 wrote:

That address is also your recovery address, in case of the iCloud address failing instructions will be sent to the alternate, not much use if it is the same address really.

'Primary' is a figment of your imagination, whichever address you choose to use is the 'Primary' (unless receiving emails from Apple is your 'Primary' use)

But, as you clearly feel different, tell Apple: Apple Feedback

Sorry, but you are still not understanding the issue. I suggest you read through this thread from the beginning. The 'Primary' is NOT my figment of my imagination. What I mean by primary (which is also Apple's term) is the email address Apple uses to send you correspondence on Apple purchases or any other correspondence from Apple. Also, Apple lets you setup a alternate email address for recovery issues. But Apple will not let you setup an iCloud email address as a primary email address for correspondence with Apple. It has to be a 3rd party email address. Just plan silly!!!

Actually, I've had it since I purchased my iPhone 4 in 2010....

When iCloud first came out, and the Mobile Me service was being eliminated, @me.com users had the option to set up the iCloud account using their @me.com address which then reactivated it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this doesn't ever change.... 😐 I really like my @me.com address - it is easy to remember, and seems to be more seamless with iCloud.com....

I would suggest that the more people who provide their feedback to Apple about this, the better:

Apple - Feedback

Cheers,

GB

Unless anything has changed since this was reported some time back, you can create a new Apple ID which is also the @icloud.com address provided you do so from the iCloud preference pane as detailed in this post:

Re: I wish to transfer my Apple ID to a new iCloud account

You cannot use an existing @icloud.com address. As said above, if you sign into iTunes with the new ID your purchases will not be transferred: there is nothing to stop you signing into iCloud with the new ID and iTunes with the old ID.

If you open an iCloud account using the @icloud.com address as the ID/login then you need to provide a non-Apple address as the 'rescue' address otherwise if something goes wrong and you are unable to access the account Apple will not be able to contact you.

Someone found out how to change the primary email address so that all coms go to that one (even tho you still can change your Apple ID). That means you will not have to create rules to forward apple emails etc:

Link to thread:

Change my "Apple ID and Primary Email Address" to my @me.com address

Summary below:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I figured out how to at least change my PRIMARY EMAIL to my @me account, so that I don't get receipts and other communications at an old, unused non-Apple email address! Try this:

1) Use your browser to go to the Apple Store website. In the USA, it is: http://store.apple.com/us or http://store.apple.com/uk for the UK.

2) Hover on ACCOUNT on the upper right, then scroll down and click on ACCOUNT HOME PAGE

3) Click on CHANGE YOUR DEFAULT SHIPPING OR BILLING INFO down on the left

4) Log in with your Apple ID and password

5) Click EDIT under PAYMENT INFORMATION

6) Enter your preferred email address where your old, defunct email address appears

7) Click SAVE

On 6), you can use xxxxx@me.com. If it tells you this is already in use, then just use your xxxxx@icloud.com and it should work.

Hope this helps.

OK, if it is completely different, then it should already be a totally separate Apple ID.

To find out for sure, log into Apple - My Apple ID with the iCloud ID and password, to see if it exists out there as a primary ID.

Cheers,

GB

The reason you cannot make an Apple Domain into a Primary email address on an existing Apple account is because the iCloud.com (or me.com, or Mac.com) is already an Apple ID. Go to: Apple - My Apple ID and sign in with your iCloud ID and password. You will see that it goes to its own Apple account.

Cheers,

GB

No, you cannot make changes to any Apple Domain email assignment - @iCloud.com, @me.com, @mac.com. Whether that email address is your iCloud address attached to your Apple ID, or whether it is your actual Apple ID, it cannot be changed from that function.

You will need to get a new email address (you can get a free one from Google, Yahoo, etc.), and then go to your Apple account, and EDIT your current Apple ID to the new email address. BEFORE you do that, however, be sure to sign out of iCloud on your computer or any devices where it is signed in. Also sign out of iTunes & App Store, FaceTime, and Messages. Then EDIT your email on your Apple account, then sign in with the new email address. You can then go on using your iCloud address if you wish.

To EDIT your Apple account ID, go to: Apple - My Apple ID

Best of luck,

GB

There is absolutely no call for you to be insulting Gail, who helps a lot of people in these forums. She knows, as we all do, what it is you want; but it's not possible and no-one on here can tell you otherwise. You can send feedback to Apple at http://apple.com/feedback about your views. It's Apple's decision, and ranting at posters in this forum who don't work for Apple and can't do anything about their decisions is not only pointless but ill-mannered.

Gail, at this point I have to assume that you're trolling us.

I assume the opposite... I think users who come to these threads, asking the same questions in perhaps a slightly different manner, but the same question nonetheless, are the trolls.

Of course we understand how it works.

I don't think you do, or how this community works. If you did understand how this community works, you wouldn't make this statement.

We just don't think that it should work this way and have described the issues it causes in earlier posts.

This is not a forum for debate. To ask why Apple does what they do and if and when they will change it. Their house, their rules.

It is for asking technical questions and giving technical answers.

Which Gail has done. Calmly, clearly and in this thread, repeatedly.

You and others have been given options. That you don't like them is moot.

I suggest you send your comments where a) Apple asks you to and b) where they have any chance of being addressed

Apple feedback goes here >>>> http://www.apple.com/feedback/ <<<<

Thanks for sharing.

GB

see goran Abdullah's reply

See Goran Abdullah's post - he's doneit all for you, just link & paste

4 years later and this still isn't possible ....

Google begs to differ.

Change your username - Gmail Help