Apple Reverses Course: Hide My Email Addresses Will Remain on iCloud.com

Apple has reversed its recent decision to shift iCloud+ "Hide My Email" addresses to a dedicated privacy domain. The company announced on August 24, 2026, that the popular privacy feature will continue to use the icloud.com domain, a move widely reported by outlets including TechCrunch, 9to5Mac, and MacRumors.

This reversal comes approximately 10 weeks after Apple's initial mid-June 2026 announcement, which stated that both "Hide My Email" and "Sign in with Apple" would transition to private.icloud.com. The change for "Hide My Email" generated significant user and developer backlash, prompting Apple to reassess.

Why did Apple reverse its decision?

Apple stated that its decision to reverse course was made "after further consideration and reviewing community feedback." Various reports, including those from AI Weekly and Lifehacker, indicate that the strong negative reaction from users and developers was a primary factor. While Apple did not provide specific figures on feedback, the widespread reporting highlights the impact of public sentiment.

For "Hide My Email," the use of icloud.com has a distinct privacy advantage: it makes it harder for websites and email providers to detect and block these generated aliases without also affecting legitimate icloud.com email addresses. A dedicated private.icloud.com domain for "Hide My Email" would have made it easier for services to identify and potentially diminish the feature's privacy benefits.

What is "Hide My Email"?

"Hide My Email," a component of the iCloud+ subscription, allows users to generate unique, disposable email addresses that automatically forward messages to their real inbox. This feature helps users maintain privacy by concealing their personal email address when signing up for services or making purchases. These aliases can be deactivated or deleted at any time, providing greater control over online identity. The original icloud.com domain for these aliases was crucial to their stealth, as it blended them with standard iCloud accounts.

What happens with "Sign in with Apple"?

While "Hide My Email" addresses will remain on icloud.com, new addresses generated through "Sign in with Apple" will still transition from privaterelay.appleid.com to private.icloud.com starting later in 2026. Importantly, existing "Sign in with Apple" addresses on the privaterelay.appleid.com domain will continue to function and forward mail without interruption. This change for "Sign in with Apple" aligns with Apple's broader terminology shift from "Apple ID" to "Apple Account."

Developers who utilize "Sign in with Apple" are advised by Apple to update their account systems, email validation logic, and allowlists. These updates should ensure that private.icloud.com is accepted in addition to the existing privaterelay.appleid.com domain to accommodate both new and existing users, according to developer guidance reported by iClarified and Captain Verify. Unlike "Hide My Email," which can be used discreetly, "Sign in with Apple" requires explicit website implementation, making sites better equipped to handle domain changes.

SC Media previously reported on a bug in "Hide My Email" that temporarily exposed real email addresses, which Apple later fixed. While one report from SC Media suggested internal objections from Apple employees also played a role in the reversal, this detail has not been officially confirmed by Apple.