iOS 18.1 lets you change your primary email address directly from Settings

Apple has introduced a highly anticipated feature in iOS 18.1, allowing users to change their primary email address associated with their Apple account. This is a significant upgrade, offering more flexibility for users who want to manage the visibility of their email addresses, especially in professional or collaborative settings. The primary email is the one visible to others when sharing documents, sending calendar invites, or collaborating on projects.

Previously, changing an Apple account email address required a cumbersome process. Users had to delete their old email, select a new one, and go through a verification process. Even though users could set aliases, their primary email would still be visible in certain situations, such as document sharing or event invitations. Now, with iOS 18.1, this barrier has been lifted, and users can easily make changes directly from the Settings app.

To change your primary email address in iOS 18.1, simply open the Settings app, tap on your name, and navigate to “Sign In & Security.” Here, you will see the option to change your email address. Apple has made the process seamless and user-friendly, allowing you to keep your old email address for login purposes, even if you no longer want it to be your primary contact for other services.

This update is especially useful for those who may have created their Apple account years ago and are now dissatisfied with their iCloud.com, me.com, or mac.com email addresses. One limitation, however, is that once you change your iCloud email address, your old address will no longer receive emails. Apple has clarified that while you can still use your old email as an alias for sending and receiving emails, it will no longer function on services like FaceTime or iMessage.

The iOS 18.1 update represents a major shift for Apple, addressing long-standing user frustrations with email management. This feature is part of a broader set of improvements, including Apple’s first major foray into generative AI with the release of Apple Intelligence. This AI tool aims to simplify tasks across apps using personal context and advanced language and image generation capabilities.

For those eager to update, Apple is expected to begin rolling out iOS 18.1 by the end of October, with a phased release.