iCloud account

[griffmeister]

Just a curious question that attracts different answer opposite to eachother.

If I login to iCloud using my ID email address, but one day that email address becomes de-activated/deleted or whatever, can I still access my iCloud using the ID that has gone? Could I still restore from back-up?

Many say I can, as it is just an ID to login and out of iCloud - but I wouldn't get access to email receipts for purchases/password reset emails etc

Some say I would not be able to access iCloud and would lose everything.

Help!

Thanks.

 

[Bart Kela]

The people who say you would lose everything are incorrect.

One way to avoid future login problems is to add additional e-mail addresses to your Apple ID like

• griffmeister (at) yahoo (dot) com
• griffmeister (at) gmail (dot) com
• griffmeister (at) aol (dot) com
• griffmeister (at) hotmail (dot) com

That way, if you lose access to your primary e-mail, you can still login in. You can manage your Apple ID at appleid.apple.com.

Apple's iCloud service isn't the only one that does this, many other online services (like Gmail) prefer that you have at least one recovery e-mail address for contingencies.

 

[griffmeister]

The people who say you would lose everything are incorrect.

One way to avoid future login problems is to add additional e-mail addresses to your Apple ID like

• griffmeister (at) yahoo (dot) com
• griffmeister (at) gmail (dot) com
• griffmeister (at) aol (dot) com
• griffmeister (at) hotmail (dot) com

That way, if you lose access to your primary e-mail, you can still login in. You can manage your Apple ID at appleid.apple.com.

Apple's iCloud service isn't the only one that does this, many other online services (like Gmail) prefer that you have at least one recovery e-mail address for contingencies.

But say I didn't have a secondary email account, and I lost my email address, I could still use it to login to icloud, right?

 

[Applejuiced]

But say I didn't have a secondary email account, and I lost my email address, I could still use it to login to icloud, right?

Yes but you should have a secondary email there for backup.

 

[eyoungren]

But say I didn't have a secondary email account, and I lost my email address, I could still use it to login to icloud, right?

Yes.

Free email accounts are everywhere though. I have free emails accounts with web domains for Australia and Ireland on top of the crapload I have just for regular domains. So finding and getting one or more alternate addresses is not any kind of a hassle.

Do yourself a favor and add at least a secondary address. Even if you never use the email account.

 

[Bart Kela]

Do yourself a favor and add at least a secondary address. Even if you never use the email account.

Actually, you do need to periodically log into some of these free e-mail service providers to keep the account active. I have definitely had my share of free e-mail accounts shut down due to non-usage.

Most ISPs include at least one e-mail account with Internet services. Register that e-mail address with Apple ID as well. As long as you are paying your bills, your ISP is not going to shut off that e-mail account.

For Apple ID, I suggest two free e-mail accounts (like Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, or AOL) and the e-mail address provided by your ISP. That way, if you ever lose access to one of those e-mail addresses, you still have two backup addresses for recovery.

Think of it as simple insurance.

And yeah, I'm the type who has a backup cellphone. I spend $0.09 per month keeping the account alive (there's no monthly charge, it's a Pay As You Go service).

 

[eyoungren]

Actually, you do need to periodically log into some of these free e-mail service providers to keep the account active. I have definitely had my share of free e-mail accounts shut down due to non-usage.

I wouldn't know, LOL! I have most of them set up on my devices. I guess the mail app checking every so often is enough to keep them open.

Most ISPs include at least one e-mail account with Internet services. Register that e-mail address with Apple ID as well. As long as you are paying your bills, your ISP is not going to shut off that e-mail account.

I removed that one. It's the one account I use for personal use. I don't use it for business, except if it's one of the limited types I want having it, nor as a sacrificial lamb for when I anticipate being spammed (I have another address for that). I've had it for a long time and I don't anticipate losing it, but if I ever move, my ISP is likely to change and that email won't be valid any more. That's just a personal preference - not a suggestion.

For Apple ID, I suggest two free e-mail accounts (like Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, or AOL) and the e-mail address provided by your ISP. That way, if you ever lose access to one of those e-mail addresses, you still have two backup addresses for recovery.

Think of it as simple insurance.

And yeah, I'm the type who has a backup cellphone. I spend $0.09 per month keeping the account alive (there's no monthly charge, it's a Pay As You Go service).

The one free account I use as my primary Apple ID I've had since 1999. It's got a few alternate addresses (aliases) because of the nature of the account. I give it out when I expect to be spammed and for business use when I don't want entities having my personal email address. It's spam filter is fairly robust (to me anyway) so most of the time I'm only dealing with real email I need to address.

If I get 'official' Apple email at any other address I know it's fake. Been getting quite a few phishing emails in the last week or so to accounts that were never put on my Apple ID.