Apple’s latest iOS 18.1 update introduces a significant change that will make life simpler for users looking to update the email address associated with their Apple account. Previously, switching the primary email required the existing address to be deleted first. This cumbersome process has been streamlined, allowing users to directly change their email without needing to remove the old one.
With iOS 18.1, the Settings app now boasts a dedicated “Primary Email” toggle. This feature empowers users to designate their preferred email inbox for all communications related to their Apple account. This is a particularly welcome change for individuals using Gmail for work-related purposes on their iPhone and iPad.
Apple is also making it easier to modify the primary iCloud email account, the account used for a vast range of Apple services, including identity verification, recovery, iMessage, and FaceTime. This change offers increased convenience and a notable security enhancement. Previously, users could only utilize an alias for their iCloud email if they were collaborating on a shared project. Now, the email address is no longer necessarily exposed, providing a layer of privacy. This change is especially beneficial for those wanting to retire an unprofessional-sounding email address, like those gamer tags we all created in our youth!
With iOS 18.1, users can finally change their iCloud email address and use a fresh one. If you have already updated to iOS 18.1 on your iPhone, you can easily make these changes by navigating to Settings > Profile Name (at the top) > Sign-In & Security > Email & Phone Numbers.
The changes were first reported by the tech experts at MacRumors. For those enrolled in the beta program, Apple has already released the sixth beta update of iOS 18.1. This update includes several cosmetic refinements and minor additions to the Settings app.
