Stepping beyond my recent edition, All About Apple ID, I reveal how easy it is to change your Apple ID email address on iPhone and iPad. This is a word of caution, though. If you consider gifting an old device to a loved one, make sure to erase it first and allow your recipient to make it their own.

Also, know that an Apple ID is the username of your Apple account and it appears in the form of an email address. The password you use with this account is not itself your Apple ID, so please stop calling it that! I recommend you instead call it your “Apple password.”

Important Notes About Changing an Apple ID

I previously thought Apple’s website was the only place one could change their Apple ID email address. It turns out, you can also do so on mobile devices.

Be forewarned: You might wreak havoc with another person’s technology experience if you do this on a device currently set up for them. Changing another person’s Apple ID to your own email address is NOT an appropriate way to customize a device for yourself.

Change Apple ID on iPhone/iPad

If you have good intentions to change an Apple ID on a device where you are already signed in as yourself, follow along:

  1. Open Settings > [your name] > Name, Phone Numbers, Email
  2. Next to Reachable At, tap Edit
  3. Tap the red minus (⊖) next to your Apple ID and then tap Delete
  4. Tap Continue in the confirmation dialog
  5. Enter the email address you prefer to use as your Apple ID
  6. Confirm the new address via the email message sent to it

[Update: As of iOS 17, the Apple ID settings section is called Sign-In & Security.]

Whether you are replacing your device permanently or switching temporarily to a new device, if the replacement was used previously, make sure you start fresh with no connection to the previous user. If necessary, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

Complete the initial steps to set up the device as your own, either using another device associated with you or by entering settings manually. Sign in with your own Apple ID. If you don’t have one, create one for yourself.

Doing so, you can be sure you and your device won’t interfere with anyone else’s identity or applications.