Cannot verify email because it's "already in use with another ID"? Not in use with another ID

Hi annablue17,

I understand you have signed out iMessage on your iPod touch and are unable to sign back in because your email address is already in use. I'm a little unclear what you mean by your "example@gmail.com" is an "add on" to your Apple ID. Are you talking about an alias for sending emails? If so, aliases cannot be used to sign in to other services like iCloud or Messages.

I'm going to include some information for you below about troubleshooting Messages, managing your Apple ID, and using an alias in email. If this is unclear to you, please click on the Contact Apple Support link below so that one of our advisors can help you straighten this out.

Manage your Apple ID account information

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. You also can't change your Apple ID if it's an @icloud.com email address.

You can also add, change, or delete the different email addresses that you use with your Apple ID. After you verify an email address, it appears under Reachable At in the Account section along with the phone numbers that you use with iMessage. With these email addresses and phone numbers, your friends and family can contact you using iMessage, FaceTime, Game Center, and more.

For more information or help, visit Apple Support.

If you get an error when trying to activate iMessage or FaceTime

Turn off and restart iMessage and FaceTime

1. Go to Settings > Messages and turn off iMessage.
2. Go to Settings > FaceTime and turn off FaceTime.
3. Restart your device.
4. Turn iMessage and FaceTime back on.

iCloud: Create or change email aliases

You can’t use an alias to sign in to iCloud.com, and you can’t use an alias to create a separate iCloud account.

Take care,