Change or Delete iCloud Email?

[blairh]

Is there any way to change or associate a new iCloud email account with my Apple ID? Right now when I log into iCloud I have an iCloud email account that I no longer want to use. However my Apple ID is not associated with this account as neither my primary or alternative email.

Also, does one need an iCloud email account? I see no option to delete it entirely from my iCloud account.

 

[Weaselboy]

There is no way to merge them like you want. If you don't want to use iCloud any more, sure just turn it off on your devices. Then just keep the old AppleID for your app purchases and iTunes.

 

[blairh]

There is no way to merge them like you want. If you don't want to use iCloud any more, sure just turn it off on your devices. Then just keep the old AppleID for your app purchases and iTunes.

Does signing up for iCloud require a new iCloud email address too?

 

[Weaselboy]

Does signing up for iCloud require a new iCloud email address too?

If you sign up for a new iCloud account it will have its own email address. You will not be able to use the old address with the nee account. Is that what you are asking?

 

[blairh]

If you sign up for a new iCloud account it will have its own email address. You will not be able to use the old address with the nee account. Is that what you are asking?

No. What I mean is if you sign up for a new iCloud account, must you also sign up for a new iCloud email account too?

 

[Weaselboy]

No. What I mean is if you sign up for a new iCloud account, must you also sign up for a new iCloud email account too?

A new iCloud account will give you a new iCloud email address associated with that account yes.

But you can create a new AppleID using and existing email address also, as long as that email address is not already being used in another iCloud/AppleID account. Apple has surely made this all very confusing.

 

[blairh]

A new iCloud account will give you a new iCloud email address associated with that account yes.

But you can create a new AppleID using and existing email address also, as long as that email address is not already being used in another iCloud/AppleID account. Apple has surely made this all very confusing.

So here's what happened with me.....

I don't know when, but I created a new Apple ID and of course was forced to get an iCloud email address as well (you are either forced to get an iCloud email address when you create your Apple ID or perhaps an iCloud account. Perhaps you know.) I'm still unclear as to why we must have an iCloud email address created.

Anyways, when I made my iCloud account I stupidly used my last name as my iCloud email address. So it's my last name at icloud.com.

I'm pretty protective about my identity. I had it stolen once some years back, and when I meet someone, say a new girl, I like to hold off revealing my last name until I get to know them, etc.

So without realizing I had my iCloud email associated with iMessage and when I got my 6 Plus a girl I just met said to me via text....'what is (my last name) at icloud.com?' Somehow this popped on somewhere on her iPhone or other Apple device.

Ugh.

I've since realized that 1. I need to disassociate my iCloud account with iMessage and 2. I can use an alias for my iCloud account. (I've since created an alias even though I have no plans to ever use this email account in any way.)

Creating a new Apple ID with a new iCloud email isn't really something I want to do for obvious reasons. I don't have that many costly purchased apps but of course I have no desire to repurchase any of them again. If I disassociate my iCloud email with iMessage, FaceTime, etc, I think I'll be in the clear. But I simply find having an iCloud email account to be pointless entirely and wish it wasn't forced upon us when making an iCloud account. (If that's the case.)

 

[Weaselboy]

But I simply find having an iCloud email account to be pointless entirely and wish it wasn't forced upon us when making an iCloud account. (If that's the case.)

iCloud does give you an email like you said. But if you don't want to use iCloud you can just get an AppleID with any email like Gmail or whatever and use that AppleID in iTunes and the App Store to purchase apps.

 

[blairh]

iCloud does give you an email like you said. But if you don't want to use iCloud you can just get an AppleID with any email like Gmail or whatever and use that AppleID in iTunes and the App Store to purchase apps.

My Apple ID is my Gmail account. I need to be able to backup to iCloud. I'm forced to obtain an iCloud email account.

 

[Weaselboy]

My Apple ID is my Gmail account. I need to be able to backup to iCloud. I'm forced to obtain an iCloud email account.

Oh believe me, I totally agree with you this needs to be fixed. Yeah, if you want icloud backup you are forced into that email address.

 

[blairh]

Oh believe me, I totally agree with you this needs to be fixed. Yeah, if you want icloud backup you are forced into that email address.

Do you have any idea why this is though? Meaning why does Apple require you to obtain an iCloud email address? Why isn't our Apple ID enough?

 

[Weaselboy]

Do you have any idea why this is though? Meaning why does Apple require you to obtain an iCloud email address? Why isn't our Apple ID enough?

Just a guess on my part, but the AppleID to but iTunes music existed before iCloud, and I'm thinking as they rolled out iCloud (and its predecessors) they just did not devote the time to mesh the two together. That's understandable I suppose, but no excuse to have gone this long and not addressed it.

 

[Rigby]

I don't understand the problem, OP. You should be able to log in to iCloud on the phone with your old Apple ID. If there was no iCloud account associated with that Apple ID before, it should add one automatically. Have you tried logging in to icloud.com with your old gmail Apple ID?

And, regardless whether you create a new Apple ID or not, nobody forces you to actually use the iCloud email address. If you don't want to use it, just set it up to forward all mails to your existing email so you don't miss any account notifications from Apple.

 

[blairh]

I don't understand the problem, OP. You should be able to log in to iCloud on the phone with your old Apple ID. If there was no iCloud account associated with that Apple ID before, it should add one automatically. Have you tried logging in to icloud.com with your old gmail Apple ID?

And, regardless whether you create a new Apple ID or not, nobody forces you to actually use the iCloud email address. If you don't want to use it, just set it up to forward all mails to your existing email so you don't miss any account notifications from Apple.

I explained my annoyance in this thread. There is no specific issue here. I just find it annoying that we 1) are forced an icloud email address for no specific reason 2) cannot change this icloud email address without creating a new Apple ID entirely.