For the most part, email accounts are things we always have access to. But there are some exceptions.
Some types of email accounts, like work emails and school emails, depend on our current status. Because of that, we can lose access to those email accounts pretty easily.
That’s normally not an issue, but it’s not ideal if you lose access to an account that’s tied to another service or website — like your Apple ID, for example.
If your Apple ID is associated with an email account that you no longer have access to, you might want to change it. Here’s how.
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What Can You Do?
Luckily, if you still remember the password to your Apple ID, then you can change the email address associated with your account in a couple of ways.
- Go to this website (appleid.apple.com).
- Sign in with your defunct email address and your password.
- Under the Account section, click Edit.
- Click Change Apple ID under the Apple ID section.
- Enter the email address you’d like to use as your new Apple ID.
- Click continue.
If you’re logged into an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch device, and you’re running at least iOS 10.3 or later, then you can change your Apple ID email address straight from your device.
- Open Settings
- Tap on your Apple ID card at the top.
- Select on Name, Phone Numbers, Email.
- Choose Edit.
- Tap on the red mark next to your old email to delete it.
- Choose Continue on the window that pops up.
- Enter the email address you’d like to use instead.
- (Note: Apple may ask you to validate via security questions before you can continue.)
- Tap Next.
What If I Don’t Remember my Password?
If you don’t remember the password to your Apple ID (and you don’t have access to the email address on your account), you might not be entirely out of luck.
RELATED: Apple ID is Disabled, How-To Go About Resolving the issue
The Apple ID website allows you a couple of options, depending on what security option you have set up.
If You Don’t Use Two-Factor Authentication
If you’ve inputted security questions, then you can choose to answer those questions during the password reset process to reset your password.
Have you lost your device? You can try going through the password reset steps on a friend’s or family member’s iOS device. Just open Find My iPhone, ensure that the email field is blank, and tap Forgot Apple ID or Password.
If You Use Two-Factor Authentication
You can also reset your Apple ID password on a trusted iOS device by going to Settings > iCloud > (Your Name) > Password & Security > Change Password.
On a trusted Mac device, go to the Apple > System Preferences, and click on iCloud. Click Account Details and then on Forgot Apple ID or password.
If all else fails and you have two-factor authentication set up, you can always try Apple’s account recovery process. It’s the last resort for when you can’t sign in or reset your Apple ID.
If you have two-factor authentication setup, you lost your password and your trusted device; there are cases when your Apple account could be permanently lost.
Have a Recovery Key?
If you updated your Apple ID from two-step verification to two-factor authentication in iOS 11+ or macOS High Sierra+, AND you have a recovery key, use that recovery key to help reset your password.
Learn more about Recovery Keys in this Apple whitepaper.
How to Avoid Any Issues For Next Time
Even if you change your Apple ID email address, remember that an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure. To avoid any issues in the future, follow these steps.
- Never use a corporate, school or work email for your Apple ID. There are plenty of email providers that offer free accounts — opt for something you’ll never lose access to.
- Set up a secondary email account. Apple lets you add a “rescue email address” that’ll save you in a pinch should anything happen to your primary email.
- Set up two-factor authentication. Generate a recovery key and write it down in a safe place. Don’t lose it.
We hope that you found these tips helpful. Please let us know in the comments below if you have any questions.
Mike is a freelance journalist from San Diego, California.
While he primarily covers Apple and consumer technology, he has past experience writing about public safety, local government, and education for a variety of publications.
He’s worn quite a few hats in the journalism field, including writer, editor, and news designer.
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Hi Michael
Thanks for this, but it didn’t help. I can’t remember my password and of course Apple is still sending authorisation codes/links to my defunct email address, which of course is my current AppleID.
What can I do to change this to my current email address? Appreciate your help Michael, thank you
Mandy
Hi,
I’m just confused because for some reason my Apple ID has been locked so I can’t get on it even though I know the password for it, the problem is that to unlock it I need to the use the email but I can’t access that email anymore an so I’m not sure how I can get back onto my Apple ID?
Thanks.
HI Holly,
In your situation, we recommend either initiating account recovery or calling Apple Support and see if they have any other options for your unique circumstances.
I can access the old log in to open my iTunes. It says the email does not exist but it’s the email they sent me.
I still can’t get my mail through. I changed my apple I.d. and now I can’t get my mail.
My email that was associated with my iCloud account is now defunct and I have forgotten the password for it.
On top of this I do not know which email my Apple ID is linked to so I cannot use many features on my phone at all.
Is there any way to fix this problem without just wiping my phone?
Hi Kian,
First, look at Settings > Your Name (if shown) and tap on it. It should show you your Apple ID email address underneath your picture.
Other places to look for that Apple ID:
Tap Settings > Passwords & Accounts and tap iCloud Account
Tap Settings > Messages > Send & Receive
Tap Settings > FaceTime
If using an older iOS, tap Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars
If you have a computer that’s also using your Apple ID
On Windows
Open iCloud for Windows
Open iTunes, then choose Account > View My Account. If you’re signed in to iTunes with your Apple ID, you’ll see your account name and email address
On a Mac
Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > iCloud
Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Internet Accounts, then look for accounts with iCloud
Open iTunes, then choose Account > View My Account
Open App Store > Store > View My Account
Open Books > Store > View My Apple ID
Open FaceTime > Preferences > Settings
Open Messages > Preferences > Accounts
If none of those are options:
It’s possible that you can recover your Apple ID and associated iCloud account using Apple’s account recovery service.
Go to Apple’s iforgot site and enter in your Apple ID (if you know that) or use the link to look up your Apple ID by trying email addresses you think might be connected.
I no longer have an apple phone
Hi Bernard,
If you don’t have your Apple phone anymore, and your email address is no longer the same, you can try using Apple’s account recovery service.
Hi,
I forgot my icloud password on one of my old ipad 2. The account is associated with my email [email protected] but I don’t have access to this email since my icloud account is locked.
I tried to rest the password but I only have two options.
Option 1 is to get a link through my icloud email which is locked and can’t access into it.
Option two is through the answering security questions and I got stuck with a question that I can’t remember.
Will be any other way to unlock my account if I know the password?
Hi Kamar,
Contact Apple support and see if there are any additional options for you to recover your iCloud/Apple ID password.
I want to view photos on my tv. On the tv it asks me to sign into to iCloud. On the tv screen it has my deceased husband’s email address to sign in to iCloud. How do I change the email address so I can sign in with my own Apple account?
I do not know what my husband’s password was.
Hi Kate,
Sorry to learn of your loss. Our sympathies.
Sign out of your Apple TV
Go to Settings > Accounts > iCloud
Choose Sign Out
Once signed out of your husband’s ID, sign back in with your Apple ID
That should work, if not, let us know.
Liz
My email address ([email protected]) that is used for my
apple ID is defunct, and I want to change it to my current email. Your program will not let me. Why not?
I tried getting rid of the iCloud.com on my phone
I tried the steps you suggested
But apple wanted me to change my iTunes password, I did that several times, now I have changed my iTunes password I can’t get a ‘forgot password’ for this iCloud
I don’t want it, I have never used it
So how do I change the password or better still delete it, just get rid of it
I’m fed up with it keep asking for a password
Hey, @SK, in order to access Password and Security, one would need to input their password. So it seems unlikely to recover a password with those steps given to JAY. I may be missing something here.
I’m having the same problem with no password, a deactivated email and forgotten security questions for one of my pals. I tried the steps you showed JAY and couldn’t go further than tapping Password and Secutiry and encountering a popup asking for the password. Just a heads up.
Hi Caz,
You’re correct! If you don’t have access to the old email account AND don’t remember the password for the Apple ID, it’s unlikely you can recover your Apple ID account and update it to a new email address.
You can try to call Apple and talk to Account Security and ask for access to your old Apple ID account. Some readers tell us Apple helped them out–and others say this didn’t work.
So it’s mixed results when talking to Apple’s Support team for Apple IDs.
HOW CAN I RECOVER PASSWORD FOR THE DEACTIVATED EMAIL ADDRESS?
Hi Jay,
If you forgot your password, on one of your devices go to Settings > Apple ID Profile at the top > Password & Security > Change Password.
Follow the steps on-screen to update your password.
This is something I’ve been looking to do for ages. Thanks you Mike for sharing.
Halley