I have a sender who is using an iCloud alias using her own domain. The alias address appears as it should on my iMac and iPhone but my iPad receives the "actual" email that the alias is forwarding to. Note: iCloud is not configured on my iPad. Can anyone explain why this is happening? Should this be happening?
iMac, iOS 7.1.2
Not sure exactly what you are saying.
Is it that is Sender using an alias address is being received on you Mac & phone as an alias address, but the iPad shows the real Sender's address instead of the alias?
Yes. That is what is happening. Any idea as to why?
So it's the sender's alias and not yours that shows differently.
Are you syncing contacts between all devices? Check setting on the iPad and others.
It may be how your Contact list is showing the address. If a sender is listed in the Address Book, it will usually show the name in the field and not the address. Can you expand the address like you would do on a name to show the actual sending address (there will be a "v" symbol to the right)?
Yes it's hers not mine.
I am on Yahoo and for some reason on the iPad the "sender" email is right at the top of the window. The Menu sits on top of it and I can't touch it (probably a Yahoo thing) to expand it.
So what you are saying is that if the Contact list on the iPad is not the same or synced with the other devices it defaults to the "real" email address...correct?
One other question (and it may sound silly) but just so I'm clear on what an alias actually is; An alias is NOT an actual email address but a "nickname" for your REAL email. It only forwards to the REAL email.
Is this correct?
So what you are saying is that if the Contact list on the iPad is not the same or synced with the other devices it defaults to the "real" email address...correct?
No. If it appears as an alias address on 2 of your devices and one shows it as the real address, then it's something with that device. If the Contacts aren't syncing (which I assume it's not since you say iCloud isn't enabled), then maybe it's something with the iPad Address Book listing that is causing this. If her real address is showing there, then it may be picking it up from there. It could be something corrupt in that list on the iPad, or just the way it's listed. So check the AB listing for her name and also look for her address listed separately without her name.
If you reply to that message, what address does that show it going to? And what does she recieve it as?
One other question (and it may sound silly) but just so I'm clear on what an alias actually is; An alias is NOT an actual email address but a "nickname" for your REAL email. It only forwards to the REAL email.
Is this correct?
An alias is tied to a specific email address where you can have several for the same account. However, all aliases and the original address will show up in one mailbox (of your account) because they are actually one. So for my iCloud account, I have my real email address and 3 aliases I use for the account. But all addresses show in the same mailbox. You have to actually view the address in order to tell which one it is sent to.
People receiving email from an alias should only see that address as being sent from.
The purpose of the alias is so that the people don't know your real address, or you can use an alias for different purposes such as one for shopping. If an alias address gets compromised, you can delete it and created a new one. That is not as easy if your real email address is compromised.
And if you send to an alias address, that's the address it will go to. Only the owner of the alias should know it's an alias and it should never get changed to the original in the process. In your case since you know the person, you may have her address listed in the AB as an alias along with the real address and somehow it's taking the original address as the name.
Thanks so much Glenn, for taking the time to answer all of my questions.
To answer yours: "If you reply to that message, what address does that show it going to? And what does she recieve it as?"
The answer is: It goes to the alias address and I would assume she receives it as such.
So....in layman's (my) language, until the iPad Contacts are fixed the "alias" will revert to the "real" address on my iPad. Maybe this is something that Mac automatically reverts to, to ensure that emails (even though the alias isn't recognized) will always get through? Know what I mean?
I'm wondering if this has happened to other people or if Mac/Apple even know about this?
Michelle
Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner.
Since your reply to the message on the iPad is going back to the Alias address (which should be correct), then what you see in the From field of the received message is like it's naming the alias with the real address, like it would a name. In other words, in normal cases for someone in your AB, a name like Kate would appear in the from field instead of the address. Clicking on the name would reveal the true address.
So, look for the address in your iPad address book and see how it's listed. The problem for the iPad appears to be getting incorrect info naming info for that address from the AB, or from a recent listing stored in memory.
What you may look to do is start a new message to the real address. If anything shows with that address that has a circle-i icon next to it, it is a recent address mailed to and can be deleted by selecting the icon and choose Remove from Recents.
You should also look to make sure no nickname is added to her contact in the AB and edit the email addresses and make sure they are correct. Also verify that the addresses are part and don't include a bracketed name before. (Ex: <abc.@mail.com>abc@mail.com)
Since it is going to the correct address on a reply, at least it's no major problem for the Sender to be concerned with. I'm sure you have had the real address in the AB now or at one time, or she sent a message to you from that address at least once. Otherwise, the device could only show the exact address it was sent from.
Recieved iCloud Alias not recognized on devices not connected to iCloud
