Where to change your email on iPhone

You change your email address on iPhone in the Settings app, not in Mail itself. The process depends on which email account you're changing — whether it's your Apple ID (the account that controls your iPhone), an iCloud email address, or a third-party account like Gmail or Outlook.

If you're changing the email you use to sign into your iPhone, that's your Apple ID, and it takes about 10 minutes. If you're changing an email account that's just set up in the Mail app, that's faster — usually 2 to 3 minutes. The steps are different for each one, so start by figuring out which type of account you need to change.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Apple ID email (the one you use to sign into your iPhone) is changed in Settings > [Your Name] > Name, Phone Numbers, Email, not in the Mail app.
  • You can add a new email address to your Apple ID before removing the old one, so you don't lose access to your account.
  • Third-party email accounts like Gmail are changed by deleting the account from Mail and adding it again with the new address.
  • After changing your email, check Settings > Mail > Accounts to make sure all your accounts are still connected and syncing.
  • If you forget your Apple ID password during the change, you'll need to verify your identity using a recovery key or trusted device before you can proceed.

Changing your Apple ID email address

Your Apple ID is the email address you use to sign into your iPhone, download apps, and use iCloud. If you want to change this email, open Settings and tap your name at the top. Then tap "Name, Phone Numbers, Email." You'll see your current Apple ID email listed there.

Tap "Edit" next to your email address. You can add a new email first before removing the old one — this keeps your account secure in case something goes wrong. Tap "Add Email or Phone Number," type your new email, and tap "Next." Apple will send a verification code to that new email. Check your inbox, copy the code, and paste it into your iPhone. Once verified, you can tap "Make This My Primary Apple ID Email" to switch to the new address, or leave the old one as a backup for now.

To remove the old email after you've added the new one, go back to Settings > [Your Name] > Name, Phone Numbers, Email, tap "Edit," and swipe left on the old email address. Tap "Delete." You're done — your Apple ID now uses the new email.

Changing a Gmail, Outlook, or other third-party email in Mail

If you've set up Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or another email service in the Mail app, you change it by removing the account and adding it again with the new address. Open Settings and scroll down to find "Mail." Tap "Accounts," and you'll see a list of all your email accounts.

Tap the account you want to change. At the bottom, tap "Delete Account." A warning will appear asking if you want to remove the account from your iPhone — tap "Delete from My iPhone." This removes it from Mail, Contacts, and Calendar, but it does not delete the account itself or any emails on the server.

Now add the account again with your new email address. Go back to Settings > Mail > Accounts and tap "Add Account." Choose the email provider (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or "Other" if it's not listed). Enter your new email address and password, then follow the prompts. Once you've signed in, your new email will sync to your iPhone.

What happens to your old emails after you change your address

Changing your email address in the Mail app does not delete any of your old emails. They stay on the email provider's server — Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or wherever they are. When you remove the account from your iPhone, you're just disconnecting your phone from that inbox, not erasing anything.

If you want to keep those old emails, you can leave the old account set up in Mail on your iPhone even after you've switched to the new address. Just go to Settings > Mail > Accounts and tap the old account. You can turn off Mail, Contacts, and Calendar syncing for that account if you don't want it cluttering your inbox, but the emails will still be there if you need them later.

Fixing sync problems after changing your email

Sometimes after you change an email address, Mail stops syncing or you see an error message asking for your password. This usually means your iPhone is still trying to connect with the old credentials. Open Settings > Mail > Accounts and tap the account that's giving you trouble. Tap "Account" at the top, then "Password." Delete the old password and type the new one (or the same one if your password hasn't changed). Tap "Save" and wait a few seconds — Mail should start syncing again.

If you still see errors, try removing the account completely and adding it again from scratch. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap the problem account, scroll to the bottom, and tap "Delete Account." Then add it again using the steps in the section above. This usually fixes stubborn sync issues.

Changing your iCloud email address

If you have an iCloud email address (one that ends in @icloud.com or @me.com), you can add a new iCloud email address to your Apple ID. Open Settings, tap your name, then tap "Name, Phone Numbers, Email." Tap "Edit" and then "Add Email or Phone Number." Type your new iCloud email address and tap "Next." Apple will verify it, and then you can make it your primary email or keep it as an alias.

You cannot delete an iCloud email address the same way you delete a regular email — iCloud addresses are tied to your Apple ID permanently. But you can add multiple iCloud addresses and choose which one is your primary. If you want to stop using an iCloud address entirely, you would need to contact Apple Support, as this requires account changes that go beyond the Settings app.

Updating your email in other apps and services

Changing your email on your iPhone does not automatically update it everywhere else. If you use your email address to sign into apps, websites, or services, you'll need to update those separately. Check your most important accounts — email providers, banking apps, social media, and work systems — and change the email address in each one's settings.

For your Apple ID specifically, any device or service that uses your Apple ID will automatically know about the change within a few hours. But for third-party accounts, each service keeps its own copy of your email address, so you have to tell each one separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my email address without losing my photos and data?

Yes. Changing your email address does not affect your photos, messages, or any data on your iPhone. Your data is stored on your device and in iCloud separately from your email address. You can change your email as many times as you want without losing anything.

What if I don't remember my Apple ID password when I try to change it?

Tap "Forgot Password?" on the Settings screen where you're trying to make the change. Apple will ask you to verify your identity using a trusted device, a recovery key, or your phone number. Once you verify, you can reset your password and continue with the email change.

Do I have to remove my old email account from Mail before adding the new one?

No. You can keep both accounts set up in Mail if you want. Many people keep their old email account on their iPhone just to check old messages. You only need to remove it if you want to clean up your account list or if it's causing sync problems.

Will changing my email on my iPhone change it on my Mac or iPad too?

If you're changing your Apple ID email, yes — it updates across all your devices automatically within a few hours. If you're changing a third-party email account like Gmail, you'll need to update it separately on each device. Go to Settings on each device and follow the same steps.

What if Mail keeps asking for my password after I change my email?

Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts, tap the account, tap "Account," then "Password." Delete the old password and enter it again (or the correct password if it's changed). If that doesn't work, delete the account entirely and add it again from scratch using the steps above.