How to add an existing iCloud email to a mac that I setup using a non-iCloud email address

Question

Level 1

4 points

How to add an existing iCloud email to a mac that I setup using a non-iCloud email address

Hi,

This is my first post here and I apologise if I have inadvertently flouted some community rule or guideline here. Also, thanks in advance for all those who try to help me find a solution!

So, I have owned a Mac for a few years now which I setup with a gmail email id. At the time I never got around to setting up the iCloud email that Apple offers with the purchase of their devices.

However, I recently purchased an iPhone and set that up with a new iCloud email ID. I just assumed that I will be able to switch my Mac to this new iCloud email and that way all my devices will sync to each other.

When I try to add my iCloud email to my Mac account though I receive an error that reads something like "This email is not available. Please use another".

I have tried to search for queries and/or solutions similar to this online but had no luck so far. Can someone please help resolve this?

Thanks & Regards,

Aditya

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 15.5

Posted on Jul 19, 2025 01:46 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Androish

Level 8

39,549 points

Jul 19, 2025 03:00 PM in response to Ad8yaa

Hi Aditya,

So what has happened here is that you now have 2 apple ID's

You can't merge the accounts.

Your path forward here depends on you.

How long have you had your iPhone? Have you made any app purchases with the new iCloud.com account you have?

If you just recently got this account I think I would recommend just stop using this account and start using your Gmail apple ID on your iPhone as well.

It all depends on witch apple ID you wish to keep really. I would not recomend having a different account on each of your devises

Witch one you keep would be mostly witch one you migth have purchases on. because data (like photos) can be moved from one to the other anyways.

Reply