How-tos

Three ways to add an iCloud.com address, even if you already have one


Apple gives icloud.com email addresses away at no cost, but it’s not always obvious how to obtain one by itself or add one to an existing Apple ID account, or how to get additional addresses if you already have one at icloud.com.

But there are three paths, which vary by what you already have and what you want.

  • If you have an Apple ID without an associated icloud.com address, you can add one (via iOS or macOS).

  • If you have an icloud.com address already, you can add aliases (via iCloud.com).

  • If you want a separate icloud.com address for email that isn’t an alias, you can create one by creating an Apple ID account (via macOS).

Add an icloud.com address to an Apple ID

While iCloud seems like it’s integral to an Apple ID, Apple still keeps the two distinct: an Apple ID doesn’t have to have an associated iCloud address, but all iCloud addresses must be associated with an Apple ID. If you haven’t used icloud.com for email yet, you might have an Apple ID that uses a non-Apple email address for its account name.

To add an icloud.com address to such an account, you must use either iOS or macOS; you can’t add the address via the Apple ID site (or via iCloud.com).

  • In iOS, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud, tap Mail and turn it on, and then follow the instructions that appear.

  • With macOS, open the iCloud preference pane and check the box next to Mail. macOS prompts you to create an address.

This new iCloud address becomes associated with your Apple ID account, and can be used for email and to log into iCloud.com for other services.

Add icloud.com aliases

Apple doesn’t exactly hide this feature, but it’s not that easy to find, either:

  1. Log into iCloud.com.

  2. Click the Mail icon.

  3. Click the gear icon at the lower-left corner of the screen and select Preferences.

  4. Click the Account button.

  5. Click Add an Alias.

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iCloud.com lets you add additional icloud.com addresses to your account as aliases that receive email just like your main account.

You can add up to three aliases, all of which receive email just as if they were the main address on your account. (I wrote a Mac 911 column recently on how to use an alias to filter incoming email, especially if you’re receiving too much spam or unwanted email at your primary iCloud address.)

Create a new Apple ID to get an icloud.com address

You can create an Apple ID that uses as its login name an icloud.com address that you pick without switching to this new Apple ID for any other purpose.





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