How to Create an iCloud Email on PC or Mac

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A step-by-step guide to creating an iCloud.com email address on your computer

Written by Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: November 12, 2024 Fact Checked

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• macOS
|
• Windows
|
• Making an Alias
|
• Tips

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This wikiHow article teaches you how to create a free iCloud.com email address on your Mac or Windows PC. On a Mac, you can create an iCloud email in your computer’s System Settings. If you're using Windows, you can get an iCloud email on iCloud.com. We’ll also explain how to generate alias addresses if you want to keep your primary address private.

Quick Steps

1. Open Apple Menu> System Settings on your Mac.
2. Click your Apple Account username.
3. Click iCloud.
4. Select Mail.
5. Turn on Sync this Mac.
6. Follow the prompts to create your new iCloud email address.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

macOS

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1. 
   1
   Open your System Settings. You'll find this option in the

   

   Apple menu at the top-left corner of your screen.

   • If you're using macOS Monterey or earlier, click System Preferences instead.
2. 
   2
   Click your username. You should see it at the top of the menu bar on the left side of the window. If you aren’t already logged into your Apple Account, click Sign In instead. Log in with the email address or phone number and password for your Apple Account.

   • If you don’t already have an Apple Account, you’ll need to create one now. Select Don’t Have an Account? after clicking Sign In and follow the on-screen prompts to make one.
     • Note that making an Apple Account is different from creating an iCloud email address! You’ll need to use a pre-existing email address or phone number to set up your Apple Account before you can make your iCloud address.
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3. 
   3
   Click iCloud. It’s near the top of the Apple Account window.
4. 
   4
   Click Mail. If you don’t see Mail in the list of apps associated with your iCloud account, click See All under the Saved to iCloud header to expand the list.
5. 
   5
   Toggle on Sync this Mac. In some earlier versions of macOS, you’ll see Turn On instead.
6. 
   6
   Follow the prompts to set up your new iCloud address. If you don’t see the option to create an iCloud address once you turn on Sync this Mac, that means you already have a primary iCloud address associated with your Apple Account. However, you can still create additional alias email addresses using iCloud.com.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Windows

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1. 
   1
   Visit https://www.icloud.com/mail in a browser. On a Windows PC, you can set up your iCloud email address using the iCloud website. You’ll need to have an Apple Account to do this.
2. 
   2
   Sign in with your Apple Account. If you aren’t already signed in, do so now.

   • Don’t have an Apple Account yet? Click Sign In, then click the Create Apple Account link. Follow the prompts to create your new account.
3. 
   3
   Click Create Email Address. Follow the prompts to create your new iCloud address.

   • If you are directed to an inbox and you don’t see the option to create an email address, that means you already have a primary iCloud email address associated with your Apple Account. However, you can still create a secondary alias address.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making an Alias

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1. 
   1
   Create an alias if you want to keep your main email private. Aliases are alternate email addresses you can link to your primary iCloud email if you’d rather not share your main address. You can create up to 3 aliases for your iCloud account. Create these alias addresses on your Mac in the Mail app, or in iCloud.com on a PC.
2. 
   2
   On a Mac. To create an alias, open the Mail app on your Mac. From there:

   • Click Mail in the toolbar at the top of the screen, then select Settings… and click the Accounts tab at the top of the window.
   • Select your iCloud email account, then click the Account Information tab.
   • Click the Email Address menu and select Edit Email Addresses…. This will launch iCloud Mail in your default web browser and direct you to a menu where you can edit your addresses.
   • Under Aliases, click Add Alias. Enter your desired email address, a label to help you identify the alias (optional), and the name you want to use for your alias.
   • Click Create.
   • When you want to use the alias, hover your cursor over your address in the From field when you’re composing an email in the Mail app. Select your alias from the pop-up menu.
3. 
   3
   On iCloud.com. You can use this method on either PC or Mac. To get started, visit https://www.icloud.com/mail in a browser and sign in with your Apple Account. Next:

   • Click the
     
     gear icon at the top of your list of Mailboxes in the left menu bar, then click Settings.
   • Select the Account tab in the left side menu bar, if it’s not already selected.
   • Click Add Alias.
   • Enter your preferred email address, a label (optional), and the name you want to appear on messages from your alias.
   • Click Create.
   • When composing an email, click the From field and select your preferred alias from the dropdown menu. You can also generate a temporary random email address.
4. 
   4
   Edit your alias in the Account menu. You can always edit, delete, or temporarily disable an alias. Go to

   

   > Settings > Account on the iCloud.com Mail page and click the ••• icon next to the alias you want to edit. Make any changes you like, then click Save Changes or Delete Alias.
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Tips

• Trying to figure out how to set up your iCloud email account now that you’ve created one? Check out this guide from Apple.
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