I cannot change prime email address into what WAS my backup email address. Any solutions?

Hi michaelfromripley,

Thanks for the question. If you first change your rescue email address to a different email address, then you should be able to change your primary email address for your Apple ID. The following resources will explain more:

Manage your Apple ID primary, rescue, alternate, and notification email addresses - Apple Support
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201356

Add, change, or delete the several types of email addresses you can use with your Apple ID account.

Primary email address

Every Apple ID account has one primary email address, and that address is your Apple ID. When you create an Apple ID, you enter the primary address to use as your Apple ID.

Your primary address is also the contact email address for your account. Check it regularly, because it receives email that you need to manage your account. For example, before you can use a new or changed Apple ID, you need to verify it as directed in a verification email that Apple sends to that address. Didn't receive the email?

Rescue email address

A rescue address helps secure your Apple ID account against unauthorized access by someone who gains control of your primary address. If you have a rescue address, it receives all security-related Apple ID email instead of your primary address, including the email needed to reset your password or security questions.

1. Go to My Apple ID (appleid.apple.com).
2. Select “Manage your Apple ID” and sign in.
3. Select “Password and Security” on the left side of the page. You may be asked to answer one or more security questions before continuing. Forgot the answers?
4. If you see a list of three security questions, your account has the option to use a rescue address.
   • Accounts that have fewer than three questions don't have and don't need a rescue address.
   • Accounts that use two-step verification don't have and don't need a rescue address or security questions.
5. Add a rescue address:
   • Select Add Email Address, then enter your rescue address. Apple will send a verification email to that address. Didn't receive the email?
   • Follow the instructions in the email to verify the address. If you don't verify the address, security-related email continues to go to your primary address.
6. Edit a rescue address:
   • Select Edit next to the address, then enter the new address. Apple will send a verification email to that address. Didn't receive the email?
   • Follow the instructions in the email to verify the address. If you don't verify the address, security-related email continues to go to your primary address.
7. Delete a rescue address: Select Delete next to the address.

Alternate email address

You can add one or more alternate email addresses for use with Apple services such as Game Center, FaceTime, Find My Friends, iMessage, and OS X notifications.

1. Go to My Apple ID (appleid.apple.com).
2. Select “Manage your Apple ID” and sign in.
3. Add an alternate address:
   • Select Add Email Address, then enter your alternate address. Apple will send a verification email to that address. Didn't receive the email?
   • Follow the instructions in the email to verify the address.
4. Edit an alternate address:
   • Select Edit next to the address, then enter the new address. Apple will send a verification email to that address. Didn't receive the email?
   • Follow the instructions in the email to verify the address.
5. Delete an alternate address: Select Delete next to the address.

Notification email address

A notification address is automatically added to your account in certain circumstances:

• If you have a rescue address and turn on two-step verification, that address automatically becomes your notification address. With two-step verification, you don't need a rescue address.
• If you provide an email address with your shipping information when you purchase from the Apple Online Store, that address automatically becomes your notification address.

Your primary address receives a copy of all Apple ID email that Apple sends to your notification address.

1. Go to My Apple ID (appleid.apple.com).
2. Select “Manage your Apple ID” and sign in.
3. Edit a notification address:
   • Select Edit next to the address, then enter the new address. Apple will send a verification email to that address. Didn't receive the email?
   • Follow the instructions in the email to verify the address.
4. Delete a notification address: Select Delete next to the address.

Apple email related to your Apple ID account always comes from appleid@id.apple.com. If you receive suspicious email, learn about identifying fraudulent email.

Last Modified: Dec 22, 2014

Change your Apple ID - Apple Support
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202667

Learn how to change the email address that you use as your Apple ID.

In most cases, your Apple ID is also the primary email address of your Apple ID account. You can change your Apple ID to any other email address you control, as long as it's not already in use as an Apple ID. If your email address ends with @icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com, it's already an Apple ID.

Use these steps to reset your Apple ID:

1. Sign out of iCloud, the iTunes Store, App Store, FaceTime, Find My Friends, Find My iPhone, and iMessage on each device that uses your current Apple ID for these services.
2. Go to My Apple ID.
3. Select Manage your Apple ID and sign in. Forgot your password?
4. Select Edit next to Apple ID and Primary Email Address.
5. Enter the email address that you want to use as your Apple ID, then select Save Changes. Apple will send a verification email to that address.
6. Open the email from Apple, then click Verify Now. Didn't receive the email?
7. When the My Apple ID page opens, sign in with your new Apple ID email address and password. When you see a message that verification is complete, you can start using your updated Apple ID.
8. Update the features and services that you use with Apple ID, so that each one is using your updated Apple ID.

If you need to change the Apple ID that's signed in to your iOS device, use these steps to sign out, then back in with a different Apple ID.

Last Modified: Dec 11, 2014

Cheers!

- Judy