Can't change Apple ID to new email address from nonexistent email address

My Apple ID is associated with my former employee email address, because my work iPhone was given to me when I retired. My work email address was canceled, and its password has disappeared along with my job. I've been trying to change my Apple ID to my current email address, but I get a message saying I cannot change it to my current email address. How can I fix this Catch 22?

Posted on Jul 24, 2022 01:48 PM

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Posted on Jul 24, 2022 05:48 PM

You don't have to make a new Apple ID.


Have you logged into your Apple ID to see if the address shows under Reachable At, as a Rescue email address, or as a Notification email address? If it is listed, you can remove/replace the email address.


Apple ID - Manage  


Apple hasn’t published any guidance for using an address again. Normally, if your e-mail address was associated with an ID in any way, for example as a Notification email address or a Rescue e-mail address, then it can't be reused as an  Apple ID email address for approximately one year. I have also seen posts that stated Apple told them there was a 30 day waiting period before the address could be used again. You will need to get another e-mail address from somewhere like AOL or Yahoo to use as your Apple ID or you can try waiting 30 days to see if that works.



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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 24, 2022 05:48 PM in response to depoezenboot

You don't have to make a new Apple ID.


Have you logged into your Apple ID to see if the address shows under Reachable At, as a Rescue email address, or as a Notification email address? If it is listed, you can remove/replace the email address.


Apple ID - Manage  


Apple hasn’t published any guidance for using an address again. Normally, if your e-mail address was associated with an ID in any way, for example as a Notification email address or a Rescue e-mail address, then it can't be reused as an  Apple ID email address for approximately one year. I have also seen posts that stated Apple told them there was a 30 day waiting period before the address could be used again. You will need to get another e-mail address from somewhere like AOL or Yahoo to use as your Apple ID or you can try waiting 30 days to see if that works.



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Can't change Apple ID to new email address from nonexistent email address

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