How to Set Up and Use Hide My Email in iCloud+

Every time you provide your personal email address to a website, application, or newsletter, you increase your risk of receiving spam, being tracked across the internet, or having your data exposed in a security breach. Apple’s “Hide My Email” feature, available to all iCloud+ subscribers, provides an elegant solution to this problem by allowing you to generate unique, random email addresses on demand.

These temporary aliases automatically forward messages to your personal inbox, keeping your actual email address completely private. If a specific alias begins receiving spam, you can simply deactivate it without affecting your primary account. This guide explains how to configure and manage Hide My Email across your Apple devices.

Requirements for Hide My Email

Before you begin, ensure you meet the following requirements:

• You must have an active iCloud+ subscription. (This includes the base 50GB storage plan and Apple One bundles).
• You need an Apple device running iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey, or later.
• Your device must be signed in with your Apple ID.

How to Create a New Hide My Email Address

You can generate a new random email address at any time directly from your device settings.

On iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap your name (Apple ID banner) at the top of the screen.
3. Tap on iCloud.
4. Under the “iCloud+” section, tap Hide My Email.
5. Tap + Create New Address.
6. Apple will generate a random address ending in @icloud.com. If you do not like the suggested address, tap Use Different Address to generate another one.
7. Once you are satisfied, tap Continue.
8. Provide a label for the address (e.g., “Newsletter Signup” or “Online Shopping”) and add a note if necessary. This helps you remember where you used the address.
9. Tap Next, and then tap Done.

On macOS

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions).
2. Click your Apple ID name at the top of the sidebar.
3. Click on iCloud.
4. Locate Hide My Email and click the Options button next to it.
5. Click the + (Plus) button to create a new address.
6. Label it appropriately and click Continue.

How to Use Hide My Email in Apps and Safari

Apple has integrated this feature deeply into iOS and macOS, meaning you rarely need to manually copy and paste the generated addresses.

• In Safari: When you tap into an email field on a website registration form, the QuickType keyboard will display a “Hide My Email” suggestion above the keys. Tapping this will instantly generate a new address for that specific website.
• In Apple Mail: When composing a new email, tap the “From” field. You can select “Hide My Email” from the dropdown menu to send the message using a random alias, ensuring the recipient never sees your real address.
• Sign in with Apple: When creating an account using the “Sign in with Apple” button, you are automatically given the option to hide your email.

How to Deactivate or Delete an Alias

If an alias is compromised or begins receiving excessive spam, you can easily disable it.

1. Navigate back to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Hide My Email.
2. Scroll through the list and tap the specific alias you wish to manage.
3. Tap Deactivate Email Address.
4. Confirm your choice by tapping Deactivate.

Emails sent to a deactivated address will immediately bounce back to the sender. If you change your mind later, you can scroll to the bottom of the Hide My Email menu, select Inactive Addresses, and reactivate it.