About your Apple Account email addresses
Learn how to add, change, or delete the different types of email addresses that you can use with your Apple Account.
Types of Apple Account email addresses
You can use your Apple Account primary email address or any additional email addresses on file in your account, along with your password, to sign in to your Apple Account. You can also use the phone numbers on file in your account to sign in. You can find these email addresses and phone numbers in Settings (or System Settings) > [your name] > Sign-In & Security.
Primary email address
In most cases, what you use to sign in to your Apple Account is also the primary email address of your account. This is the email address that receives communications related to your Apple Account.
Additional email addresses
Add extra email addresses to help friends and family find you on Apple services like FaceTime, Messages, Photo Sharing, and Find My. These email addresses can also be used to sign in to your Apple Account.
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.
Before you can use a new or updated Apple Account, Apple sends you a verification email to make sure that the email address belongs to you.
If you receive suspicious email, learn how to identify fraudulent email.
Manage your Apple Account primary email address
In most cases when you create an Apple Account, you enter an email address. This primary email address is what you can use to sign in to Apple Account and Apple services like Apple Music and iCloud. It’s also the contact email address for your account. Be sure to check your inbox regularly. Apple sends you email notifications to help you manage your account.
Change your Apple Account primary email address
Learn how to change your Apple Account primary email address.
Reset your Apple Account password
If you know your current Apple Account password and want to change it, learn how to change your Apple Account password.
If you’ve forgotten your Apple Account password and need to reset it, learn how to reset your Apple Account password.*
Get a verification code
With two-factor authentication, you’ll need a verification code to sign in with your Apple Account on a new device or browser. Learn how to get and use the code on a trusted device, or get a text or phone call.
* If you use two-factor authentication, in some cases you might be able to shorten the account recovery process or reset your password immediately by verifying a six-digit code sent to your primary email address.
Add or delete additional email addresses
Many people have more than one email address that friends and family use to reach them. You can add additional email addresses that you commonly use to your Apple Account, so people can easily find and communicate with you on Apple services like FaceTime, Messages, Photo Sharing, and Find My, and collaborate with Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. Apple might also use your email addresses on file to send you information about your account.
Add an additional email address
Sign in on account.apple.com.
Select Sign-In and Security.
Choose Email & Phone Numbers, then select the Add button
.Enter your additional email address. This additional email address can’t already be associated with a different Apple Account.
Apple will send a verification to that address. Didn’t get the email?
Enter the verification code and select Continue.
Delete an additional email address
Sign in on account.apple.com.
Select Sign-In and Security.
Choose Email & Phone Numbers.
To delete one of your additional email addresses, click the Remove button
next to the address.
Add, change, or delete a rescue email address
If you don’t use two-factor authentication, you have the option to add a rescue email address to your account for more security. A rescue email is optional but recommended.
If you ever forget your security questions, you can use your rescue email address to reset them. Apple sends any account security-related notifications to your rescue email address. If you have two-factor authentication, 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 on account.apple.com.
Select Sign-In and Security.
Select Rescue Email. You might be asked to answer one or more security questions or enter your Apple Account password before you continue.
To add a rescue email address, select Add email. Then enter your rescue email address, then select Save changes. Apple sends a verification to that address. Didn’t get the email?
To change a rescue email address, enter the new address. Apple sends a verification to that address. Didn’t get 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, that email becomes 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 on account.apple.com.
Select Sign-In and Security.
Select Rescue Email. You might be asked to answer one or more security questions or enter your Apple Account password before you continue.
To delete a rescue email address, select Remove email, and select Remove to confirm.
Reset your security questions
If you’ve forgotten the answers to your security questions, learn how to verify your identity and reset your security questions. If you set up two-factor authentication, you won’t need to remember any security questions.
Need more help?
Tell us more about what's happening, and we’ll suggest what you can do next.