iCloud iCloud Mail - how to change 'main' address for SMTP/IMAP settings?

[bsmr]

Hi,

when using iCloud Mail within Thunderbird or other systems I do know that I need an app specific password. That isn't an issue at all and works fine.

But I do have another question concerning the username.

How can I change the iCloud username (the main iCloud Mail Username is 'not' my Apple ID Login Mail-Address, which is fine).

The iCloud Mail Username is my First Name.Last Name @icloud.com

I want to change it to something different.

 

[bsmr]

Hi. No one, who can help over here?

 

[BigMcGuire]

Hi. No one, who can help over here?

Not 100% sure what you’re asking.

Almost sounds like you’re asking to add a different account to your mail?

I read what you wrote several times and if it was just me, I’d add the different account I was trying to add. I don’t think Apple lets you change your account name through the IMAP settings.

I have 2 iCloud accounts myself (one as an Apple TV movie collection account and one as my personal iCloud account). I have both set up to send email through my Apple Mail application.

I couldn’t change the IMAP/SMTP of my primary iCloud - but I could add the other iCloud account (and I did) - so now I can send / receive mail from both iCloud accounts. Note, when you do this, all the aliases you set up under that iCloud account will work and show too.

Settings —> Mail —> Account —> Add Account.

Hope this helps.

 

[bsmr]

Hi. Thx for your feedback. I will try it again.

Example:
- My Apple ID: username@somedomain.com
- My iCloud Mail Address: firstname.lastname@icloud.com
- do also have other aliases for that iCloud Mail Address

How do I change my primary iCloud Mail Address?

At the moment for every external account setup (Thunderbird, Router Status messages via SMTP and so on) I have to use my firstname.lastname@icloud.com as 'username'.

That's why and what I want to change.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Hi. Thx for your feedback. I will try it again.

Example:
- My Apple ID: username@somedomain.com
- My iCloud Mail Address: firstname.lastname@icloud.com
- do also have other aliases for that iCloud Mail Address

How do I change my primary iCloud Mail Address?

At the moment for every external account setup (Thunderbird, Router Status messages via SMTP and so on) I have to use my firstname.lastname@icloud.com as 'username'.

That's why and what I want to change.

I don’t think you can change your iCloud email address. Hopefully someone else will correct me if I’m wrong.

Only thing I can think of is, you’d have to create a new Apple ID to be able to get a new _______@icloud.com. <shrug>.

I just use a different mail service entirely (fastmail.com). I have all my Apple Account notifications going to that fastmail account too. And like you I have username@somedomain.com for my apple id. (I don’t use my iCloud email addresses).

 

[bsmr]

Thx for your feedback. That would be stupid, if I couldn't change this name at all.

I'm also using Fastmail, but it's really expensive for the whole family. As iCloud Mail Domains is a thing, I think about switching to Apple Mail maybe.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Thx for your feedback. That would be stupid, if I couldn't change this name at all.

I'm also using Fastmail, but it's really expensive for the whole family. As iCloud Mail Domains is a thing, I think about switching to Apple Mail maybe.

Yeah I paid 3 years for FastMail so I have it for another year or two. But I too bought my own domain (GoDaddy) and am using Apple Mail with that. I've been very happy with it. (I only use Apple Mail on iPhone/Macs/iPads so it works for me). I've been doing this since Apple came out with the email domain thing and I've moved most of my email from Fastmail to Apple Mail.

I don't use my @icloud email address because I don't like the name I chose when I registered my Apple Account many many years ago. And as far as I know, there's no way to change it.

I did this back when Fastmail was having those constant DNS hacks - it's better now but <shrug>. I've got like 6 email addresses going through Apple Mail. (Google, Fastmail, 3 iCloud addresses, and my custom domain email through Apple).

 

[BigMcGuire]

Thx for your feedback. That would be stupid, if I couldn't change this name at all.

I'm also using Fastmail, but it's really expensive for the whole family. As iCloud Mail Domains is a thing, I think about switching to Apple Mail maybe.

Nice laptop btw. I also have a 16' MBP M1 Max. Best laptop I've ever had. Absolutely loving this thing.

 

[bsmr]

Maybe someone has an update here?

I really like to change my "main" username for iCloud mails.

Making an second account doesn't help, as I don't know how this first/main mail-address has come up (looks like simple firstname lastname).
Another point against another account is that I want to use it with my iCloud+ storage subscription I do already have within my Apple ID.