Change primary email address with rescue email address

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Change primary email address with rescue email address

Hi Folks.

My old primary email address that I originally used to set up my Apple account is no longer in use, and what I entered as my rescue email address has now become my primary email address. I want to make this change to my Apple account so I logged into my account and I changed my rescue email address to something different, removing the reference to the original rescue email address. I then tried numerous times to change my primary email address to what was my rescue email address, but it won't let me do so because it says the address is in use!?!

Can anyone help me out please?

Thanks.

Paul.

Posted on Jul 1, 2015 5:33 AM

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Answer 1

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King_Penguin

Level 10

334,144 points

Jul 1, 2015 5:53 AM in response to Paul_Boland

You logged into the account on http://appleid.apple.com and removed it as the rescue email address on the Password & Security section of your account ? And since doing so you've tried logging out of that site and logging back in and seeing if you can then use it as your primary email address ?

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Answer 2

Paul_Boland Author

Level 1

32 points

Jul 1, 2015 5:58 AM in response to King_Penguin

Hi.

Yes. The new rescue email address is setup fine. But when I try to change my primary email address to what was previously my rescue email address it won't let me.

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Answer 3

King_Penguin

Level 10

334,144 points

Jul 1, 2015 6:02 AM in response to Paul_Boland

And you've tried logging out of that site and logging back in, or tried changing it a different way e.g. Store > View Account on your computer's iTunes (Account > View Account on the new version of iTunes) ?

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Answer 4

Paul_Boland Author

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32 points

Jul 1, 2015 7:01 AM in response to King_Penguin

When I try to change the primary email address, I get a red text error message saying that the email address is in use???

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Answer 5

King_Penguin

Level 10

334,144 points

Jul 1, 2015 7:13 AM in response to Paul_Boland

Does the message refer to it as being used as the rescue email address on that account ? If not then it may mean that it's already being used as an account's primary email address - in which case does http://iforgot.apple.com let you send a password reset email ?

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Answer 6

Paul_Boland Author

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32 points

Jul 1, 2015 9:07 AM in response to King_Penguin

Thanks for that! I got it sorted. Turned out I had a second old Apple account on that email address. I have moved the old account off that email and now my real Apple account is on my primary email address. Is there any way to close that old account because I don't use it at all, it was created YEARS ago?

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Answer 7

King_Penguin

Level 10

334,144 points

Jul 1, 2015 9:13 AM in response to Paul_Boland

Only iTunes Support can potentially delete an account : http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact/

Or, and if you've removed any personal info from it (e.g. if you have your address or payment details), you just leave it to fade into obscurity - if you have any downloads from the account then they will remain tied to that account.

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Answer 8

Paul_Boland Author

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32 points

Jul 1, 2015 9:19 AM in response to King_Penguin

I have nothing tied to the account at all. It was created a long time ago, I never used it. I'll drop iTunes Support an email and just see if they can close it. I'm all sorted now. Thanks very much for your help, much appreciated.

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Answer 9

Aug 29, 2015 1:44 PM in response to Paul_Boland

What if you don't have a rescue email address and don't know the security answers to the questions?

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Answer 10

King_Penguin

Level 10

334,144 points

Aug 29, 2015 11:49 PM in response to Kevin Alejos

Contact Support in your country : Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support

If your country isn't on that page : https://www.apple.com/emea/support/itunes/contact.html

When the questions have been reset add a rescue email address : About your Apple ID email addresses - Apple Support

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