Privacy hasn’t always seemed like the biggest concern for Apple, but that has changed in recent years. Apple is constantly pushing the envelope in an effort to keep its customers information as protected as possible. Nothing was more evident of this than the introduction of iCloud+ during the WWDC ’21 Keynote.
With an iCloud+ subscription, you have three different tiers to choose from. For just $0.99 per month, you can get an additional 50GB of iCloud storage, $2.99 per month gets you 200GB, and $9.99 per month provides a whopping 2TB. But there’s more to this subscription service than just adding more iCloud storage.
iCloud+ also comes with some unique features that you won’t have access to if you’re using the free 5GB that comes with every Apple ID. These include things like iCloud Private Relay, HomeKit Secure Video, and Custom Email Domains. And when it comes to that last option, Apple is aiming to make your life a bit easier with iOS 16.
How To Buy Custom Email Domains on iPhone With iOS 16
Until iOS 16, you had to go through the frustrations of trying to find a domain registrar. But not all of those services offer the ability (or make it easy) to add a custom email address. Usually, there’s an additional cost attached, and Apple wants to try and alleviate the stress.
Thanks to some eagle-eyed users, it was discovered that Apple introduced the ability to purchase a custom email domain right from your iPhone. And we aren’t talking about just going through Safari. Instead, you can buy custom email domains on iPhone, right from the Settings app. Here’s how to do so:
Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap your [name] at the top of the page.
Tap iCloud.
Under the iCloud+ section, tap Custom Email Domain.
Beneath Custom Email Domain, tap Buy a New Domain.
Enter a domain that you would like to try and purchase.
With the URL entered, tap Next in the top right corner.
Select one of the options provided.
Tap Next in the top right corner.
From here, you’ll be taken to the Cloudflare Dashboard. If you already have a Cloudflare account, you can just sign in. Otherwise, you can use the Continue with Apple option that is presented.
Then, you’ll just need to follow the on-screen steps in order to complete the purchase of your custom domain. You will need to create an account, along with adding the necessary payment information.
Custom email domains are particularly useful for those who own their own businesses, as it provides a way to make your business seem more legitimate. Another big reason why you might want to use a custom email domain is for flexibility.
Instead of having emails sent to a specific registrar that you don’t own, you can create an email address that will stick with you for as long as you want to use it. There’s also a bit of personalization that may be appealing to have, compared to trying to get the “right” email address with another service.
This Is Extremely Convenient
While we’ve tested this on our iPhone 13 Pro Max running the first iOS 16 Developer Beta, it’s surprising to see how seamless the process is. Your iPhone guides you through every step, and if your specific domain is not available, alternative options are presented. Plus, you can see the cost of each domain, allowing you to switch to something else for a more cost-effective approach.
Speaking for myself, buying and managing domains have always been a bit of a pain. And this grows exponentially if you end up buying different domains from different registrars. At least with this option on iOS 16, you can keep everything tied together, and can even use the Sign in with Apple feature to keep your information more secure.
Are you going to try this out for yourself? Let us know whether you’ve used Cloudflare in the past. Also, let us know if this addition in iOS 16 will push you to actually purchase your own domain!
Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.
He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.
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