alaskanative

Q: I want to change my primary email address but it says the email is in use by another user

I want to change my primary email address but Apple says it's already in use by another user. How do I solve this?

null, Windows 7, iTunes

Posted on Dec 8, 2015 9:49 PM

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Q: I want to change my primary email address but it says the email is in use by another user

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  • by judysings,

    judysings judysings Dec 10, 2015 8:59 AM in response to alaskanative
    Community Specialists
    Dec 10, 2015 8:59 AM in response to alaskanative

    Hi alaskanative,

    I understand you want to change the primary email address for your Apple ID.  One thing you can do is check the appleid.apple.com website to see if that address is already associated with you.  I'll include some information below on changing the Apple ID address, and I'll also include a link to our Apple ID Security team if you need additional help.

     

    Manage your Apple ID account information
    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204265

    Why can't I change my Apple ID email address?

    You might not be able to change your email address for one of these reasons:

    • The email address you chose is already in use as an Apple ID. All email addresses that end in @icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com are already Apple IDs.
    • You're already using an @icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com email address as your Apple ID. In this case, the Apple ID can't be changed to another email address. 

    About your Apple ID email addresses
    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201356

     

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

     

    Change your Apple ID

    Follow these steps to change the email address that you use as your Apple ID.

    1. Sign out of iCloud, the iTunes & App store, FaceTime, Find My Friends, Find My iPhone, and iMessage on each device that uses your Apple ID.
    2. Sign in to your Apple ID account page.
    3. In the Account section, click Edit > Change Email Address.
    4. Enter the email address you want to use as your Apple ID. A verification code will be sent to your new email address.
    5. Enter the verification code from the email into the fields provided and start using your updated Apple ID. Didn't get the email?

    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, you can't change your Apple ID and you won't see Change Email Address on your account page.

    Learn more

    After you change your Apple ID, you need to use your new sign-in information with all Apple services you use.

    If you want to change the Apple ID that you use on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch—and not change the email address that you use as your Apple ID—follow these steps to sign out, then back in with a different Apple ID.

    Last Modified: Dec 9, 2015

     

    Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security
    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204169

     

    Take care,