📬How to remove your old iCloud email (not alias)

If you once created your Apple ID using a hideous iCloud email address and now deeply regret it, here’s some good news: Apple finally allows you to remove that address. But — of course — it’s Apple, so it’s not as straightforward as it should be.

Problem

When you try to remove your only iCloud address, you’ll hit an error with a wonderfully cryptic message: “Could not connect to iCloud – Error Description not available.” What the hell, Apple?

After playing detective/QA engineer for a while, here’s what I found:

• You can’t remove your only iCloud email address unless you replace it with another iCloud address.

• That means you’ll need to create a new iCloud email alias first.

• The old address will still show up as an alias in your iCloud Mail settings — but you can delete it later if you want.

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Solution

1. Create a new iCloud alias (original Apple article):

   • Go to icloud.com/mail and sign in.

   • Click gear icon at the top of the Mailboxes list, then choose Settings.

   • Click Account, then click Add Alias.

2. Link the alias to your Apple ID:

   • On your iPhone or Apple device, open Settings

   • Tap your name at the top (Apple ID banner)

   • Go to Sign-In & Security → Add Email or Phone Number

   • Add the new alias. Apple will send a verification code to your old iCloud email. Confirm it.

3. Remove the old address:

   • Back on the Sign-In & Security screen, tap the old address and select Remove from Account.

   • Done. Finally.

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That’s it — you’re free from that cringey iCloud email. No more shame every time you send an email from your Apple ID.