Email addresses that you use with your Apple ID
Your Apple ID uses an email address along with your password to sign you in to your account with Apple. The additional Reachable At email addresses on file in your account can help friends and family communicate and share with you through Messages, Photo Sharing and other features. We may also use the email addresses in your file to send you information about your account.
Apple ID email address
In most cases, your Apple ID is also the primary email address of your Apple ID account.
Additional email addresses
Add extra Reachable At email addresses to help people find you on Apple services such as FaceTime, Messages and Find My.
Rescue email address
Apple uses this to send you important account- and security-related information. Most people have a notification email address instead of a rescue email address. But if you don't use two-factor authentication or two-step verification (find out how to check which security method you're using), you have the option to add a rescue email address to your account for more security. You can see this option when you sign in to appleid.apple.com.
Before you can use a new or updated Apple ID, we'll send you a verification email to make sure the email address belongs to you.
If you receive a suspicious email, find out how to identify fraudulent emails.
Apple ID email address
When you create an Apple ID, you need to enter an email address. This email address is your Apple ID and the username that you use to sign in to Apple services, such as Apple Music and iCloud. It's also the contact email address for your account. Make sure you check your inbox regularly. We'll send you email notifications to help you manage your account.
Change your Apple ID email address
After you've signed out of all Apple services and devices that are using your Apple ID, find out how to change your Apple ID email address.
Reset your Apple ID password
If you know your current Apple ID password and want to change it, find out how to change your Apple ID password on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac.
If you've forgotten your Apple ID password and need to reset it, find out how to reset your Apple ID password.*
Get a verification code
With two-factor authentication, you'll need a verification code to sign in with your Apple ID on a new device or browser. Find out how to get and use the code on a trusted device, or receive a text message or phone call.
* If you use two-factor authentication, in some cases, you may be able to speed up the account recovery process or reset your password immediately by verifying a six-digit code sent to your primary email address.
Additional email addresses
Many of us have more than one email address that friends and family use to reach us. You can add additional Reachable At email addresses that you use regularly to your Apple ID account, so people can find and communicate with you easily on Apple services, such as FaceTime, Messages, Shared Albums and Find My, and collaborate with you in Pages, Numbers and Keynote.
Add an additional email address
- Sign in to appleid.apple.com.
- Select Personal Information.
- Choose Reachable At, then select the Add button
. - Enter your additional email address. Make sure you're not already using it as an Apple ID.
- We'll send a verification message to that address. Haven't received the email?
- Enter the verification code and select Continue.
Delete an additional email address
- Sign in to appleid.apple.com.
- Select Personal Information, then select Reachable At.
- To delete one of your additional email addresses, click the Remove button
next to it.
Rescue email address
You can only have a rescue email address if you don't have two-factor authentication or two-step verification. A rescue email address is optional but recommended.
If you ever forget your security questions, you can use your rescue email address to reset them. We'll also send any account- or security-related notifications to your rescue email address.
If you have two-factor authentication or two-step verification turned on, you have a notification email address instead of a rescue email address and won't need to remember security questions.
Add or change a rescue email address
- Sign in to appleid.apple.com.
- Select Sign-In and Security.
- Select Rescue Email. You may be asked to answer one or more security questions or to enter your Apple ID password before you continue.
- To add a rescue email address, select Add email. Enter your rescue email address, then select Save changes. We'll send a verification email to that address. Haven't received the email?
- To change a rescue email address, enter the new address. We'll send a verification email to that address. Haven't received the email?
- Enter the verification code and click Continue.
If you had a rescue email address on file when you upgraded to two-factor authentication or two-step verification, that email will become your notification email. You can also use these steps to edit your notification email address. If you remove the notification email, you won't be able to add a new one.
Delete a rescue email address
- Sign in to appleid.apple.com.
- Select Sign-In and Security.
- Select Rescue Email. You may be asked to answer one or more security questions or to enter your Apple ID password before you continue.
- To delete a rescue email address, select Remove email, then Remove to confirm.
Reset your security questions
If you've forgotten the answers to your security questions, find out how to verify your identity and reset your security questions. If you've set up two-factor authentication or two-step verification, you won't need to remember any security questions.