With iOS 18.1: Easily change your primary email address & iCloud mail

With iOS 18.1, Apple is bringing some useful improvements to email address management. One important new feature is the ability to set a primary email address in the settings and at the same time the option to change the iCloud email address. These changes aim to improve user experience and make the handling of email addresses within the Apple ecosystem more flexible.

Managing your email addresses is a sensitive issue for many users, especially when they are seen by other people, whether when collaborating on documents, sharing calendar invitations or other activities. Until now, Apple has made it quite complicated to set a new email address as the primary address or even change the iCloud mail address. However, with the new iOS 18.1 update, this has changed fundamentally. Apple has significantly improved the user experience and now finally gives you the freedom to make these changes quickly and easily.

New option to set the primary email address

In iOS 18.1, you can now set a "primary" email address in your iPhone's settings. This email address is the one that is visible to others when you, for example, collaborate on documents, send calendar invitations, or share information about your Apple account. Previously, it was not so easy to change the main email address, which was problematic for many users, especially if the address stored was outdated or unsuitable. Until iOS 18.1, it was necessary to delete the existing email address and add a new address to set it as primary. This often led to cumbersome verification processes and made the switch more difficult. Now you can change the primary email address directly in the settings without having to give up the old address completely.

How to change your primary email address

Changing your primary email address is very easy in iOS 18.1:

Open the Settings app.
Click on your name above to go to the Apple ID or Apple Account settings.
Select the item “Registration & Security”.
Here you can see the option to set a new primary email address or change an existing one.

The old email address will still be active and can still be used for login purposes, even if it is no longer set as the primary address. This makes it easier to transition from an old email to a new one without having to adjust all of your account information.

Changing the iCloud email address

Another significant change in iOS 18.1 concerns the iCloud email address. Previously, there was no way to change or delete the iCloud address once it had been created. You could only use an alias, but the primary iCloud address remained visible. With iOS 18.1, you can now also change the iCloud.com or me.com address. For example, if you have an unsuitable or outdated iCloud address, you can now simply replace it with a new one. This was not possible before and represents a significant improvement in user experience. To change your iCloud email address, you also go to the Apple Account settings. Here you can add a new address or adjust an existing one. You no longer have to use an alias, but can set your new iCloud address as your primary email address, which will then be visible to others.

Benefits of the new email management features in iOS 18.1

The new features in iOS 18.1 bring many benefits:

More control: You can now easily decide which email address you want to set as primary without deleting the old address.
Improved privacy: With the ability to change your primary email address, you can control what information is visible to others.
Flexibility: The new email change option for iCloud addresses gives you more freedom if you want to change your email address.

This is especially useful for users who have created an inappropriate iCloud address in the past and no longer want to rely on an alias to hide it.

iOS 18.1 brings simplified email changes

The update to iOS 18.1 makes managing email addresses much easier. The ability to change your primary email address without having to resort to complicated processes and the new flexibility in changing your iCloud email address are welcome innovations. These features make it easier for you to keep your accounts up to date and replace unwanted email addresses without having to set up your entire Apple ID again. Overall, iOS 18.1 offers more control and ease of use when dealing with your personal email data. Looking for the best accessories? Visit our Amazon Storefront and discover a variety of products from top providers, including for HomeKit! (Image: Apple)