You can create up to 3 extra email addresses in your iCloud account that you can use to mask your real email address. These extra addresses will direct email to your regular iCloud account, but the sender doesn't know what your real email address is. These are handy for creating one-time use accounts or using a different email address for certain types of services like online games, shopping or newsletters.
Bob: Yes. It will show you a message and not allow you to use that one.
Bruce
5 years ago
I had no idea this was available. It's great. I use Blur to create throw-away email addresses and it works well for truly one-time, never-again addresses. But there is one big problem with Blur: Many sites reject Blur addresses (which generally end in opayq.com) because they know it masks the real address. The iCloud alias trick solves the problem. Thank you!
Bob
5 years ago
Thanks Gary.
I thought so.
Jim S.
5 years ago
If I want to reply to the email that I received from using the alias does my email response get sent out using the alias name or my actual iCloud account?
Thanks Gary for everything.
Jim: It should be sent out using your actual email account, since the alias isn't a real account. But you can probably play around with the settings in the Mail app and have it go either way. Remember that "from" and "reply-to" are two different things when it comes to email. So check your setting and when in doubt, just do a quick test.
Alan Oliver
5 years ago
Have tried repeatedly to create alias but continually receive message that alias cannot be saved at this time and to try again later. After numerous attempts I have given up.
Ron
5 years ago
Can I setup an alias on an iOS device or is it only on a macOS? Thanks!
Ron: It is difficult to do on an iOS device because you need to go to iCloud.com and for whatever reason Apple doesn't let you do that on iOS.
Ken
5 years ago
Useful reminder Gary. Because of the three alias limit for shopping I always add the name of the company after my username with a plus sign. This works for most accounts.
Mike
5 years ago
Hi Gary, Is it possible to temporarily delete an alias and then recover it later. Also, is it possible to create dozens of alias e-mails as long as there are only 3 at any one time. Thanks - Mike
Mike: You should be able to delete it and then use it later, but if someone else takes it during that time you are out of luck. Also, there may be a time period right after you delete it where it is still thought of as "in use" and so you may not be able to go back to it. Why not try it? Experiment with some long random alias and see. Right, you should be able to create as many as you want, but only 3 at a time.
Such great information. This is very helpful. I have learned so much from you.
Thank you!!
Gavin
5 years ago
Hi Gary please could you maybe do a follow up on this subject relating to creating signatures for your alias email addresses. I use an alias email address which has its own signature - but every time I use my true email address Mac mail puts my alias signature on the bottom! I’ve tried and tried to cure it ... but I’m stumped!
Gavin: Did you check your Mail preferences to make sure you had it set up correctly? Also, what do you mean by "use an alias" -- since an alias is just another way to receive email (not send, really) then what are you doing that is different when you "send" from the alias instead of the main email address?
Chris
5 years ago
Identifying a culprit is nice, but far more valuable would be separate inboxes - for separate needs.
S. Tobias
5 years ago
Specific question. Have old "Self@me.com" which seemed to come over with "Self@icloud.com" as a combo (tho' only use @me).
-- Want a specific "alias@icloud.com" and my question breaks this way. For the 3 allowed addresses: Does the @me and iCloud count as one address? And if I wanted to keep the new alias (and disable it, rather than delete it) can i have another alias? maybe even toggle between? Thanks
Hi Gary,
What happens if I choose an
already in use alias or someone’s
actual icloud address?
Will icloud inform me?
Bob
Bob: Yes. It will show you a message and not allow you to use that one.
I had no idea this was available. It's great. I use Blur to create throw-away email addresses and it works well for truly one-time, never-again addresses. But there is one big problem with Blur: Many sites reject Blur addresses (which generally end in opayq.com) because they know it masks the real address. The iCloud alias trick solves the problem. Thank you!
Thanks Gary.
I thought so.
If I want to reply to the email that I received from using the alias does my email response get sent out using the alias name or my actual iCloud account?
Thanks Gary for everything.
Jim: It should be sent out using your actual email account, since the alias isn't a real account. But you can probably play around with the settings in the Mail app and have it go either way. Remember that "from" and "reply-to" are two different things when it comes to email. So check your setting and when in doubt, just do a quick test.
Have tried repeatedly to create alias but continually receive message that alias cannot be saved at this time and to try again later. After numerous attempts I have given up.
Can I setup an alias on an iOS device or is it only on a macOS? Thanks!
Ron: It is difficult to do on an iOS device because you need to go to iCloud.com and for whatever reason Apple doesn't let you do that on iOS.
Useful reminder Gary. Because of the three alias limit for shopping I always add the name of the company after my username with a plus sign. This works for most accounts.
Hi Gary, Is it possible to temporarily delete an alias and then recover it later. Also, is it possible to create dozens of alias e-mails as long as there are only 3 at any one time. Thanks - Mike
Mike: You should be able to delete it and then use it later, but if someone else takes it during that time you are out of luck. Also, there may be a time period right after you delete it where it is still thought of as "in use" and so you may not be able to go back to it. Why not try it? Experiment with some long random alias and see. Right, you should be able to create as many as you want, but only 3 at a time.
Ken: Interesting! I knew about the + hack for Gmail accounts, but I had assumed it was a Gmail thing. I see now that it works for iCloud accounts too.
Gary Is there any way once I create an alias, I can convert it to a regular email address?
Jim: I can't think of any way, no.
Such great information. This is very helpful. I have learned so much from you.
Thank you!!
Hi Gary please could you maybe do a follow up on this subject relating to creating signatures for your alias email addresses. I use an alias email address which has its own signature - but every time I use my true email address Mac mail puts my alias signature on the bottom! I’ve tried and tried to cure it ... but I’m stumped!
Gavin: Did you check your Mail preferences to make sure you had it set up correctly? Also, what do you mean by "use an alias" -- since an alias is just another way to receive email (not send, really) then what are you doing that is different when you "send" from the alias instead of the main email address?
Identifying a culprit is nice, but far more valuable would be separate inboxes - for separate needs.
Specific question. Have old "Self@me.com" which seemed to come over with "Self@icloud.com" as a combo (tho' only use @me).
-- Want a specific "alias@icloud.com" and my question breaks this way. For the 3 allowed addresses: Does the @me and iCloud count as one address? And if I wanted to keep the new alias (and disable it, rather than delete it) can i have another alias? maybe even toggle between? Thanks
Tobias: self@me.com and self@icloud.com is just your email address. It is not an alias. So it shouldn't count toward your number of aliases.