Where to find your iCloud email
Your iCloud email is the address that ends in @icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com. You can read it in three places: on an iPhone or iPad through the Mail app, on a Mac through the Mail app, or on any computer through iCloud.com in a web browser. The fastest way if you are at a computer right now is to open a web browser, go to iCloud.com, sign in with your Apple ID, and click the Mail icon.
If you have never checked your iCloud email before, it may be sitting in your inbox unread. Apple creates an iCloud email address automatically when you set up an Apple ID, even if you have never used it. This is why it matters to check — scammers sometimes send phishing emails to iCloud addresses they find online, and you need to spot them before they sit there for months.
Key Takeaways
- Your iCloud email address ends in @icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com and was created automatically when you set up your Apple ID.
- The quickest way to check from any computer is to go to iCloud.com, sign in, and click Mail.
- On iPhone or iPad, open the Mail app and make sure you have added your iCloud account in Settings.
- Check your Spam and Trash folders too, because legitimate emails sometimes get filtered incorrectly.
- If you do not recognize an email asking you to click a link or enter a password, do not click it — it is likely a scam.
Checking iCloud email on a computer using iCloud.com
Open any web browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, it does not matter. Go to iCloud.com. You will see a sign-in screen asking for your Apple ID and password. Type in your Apple ID (the email address you use for your Apple account) and your password, then click the arrow or press Enter.
After you sign in, you will see a grid of app icons. Look for the Mail icon — it looks like a white envelope. Click it. Your inbox will open, and you will see all the emails sent to your iCloud address. If the inbox is empty, check the Spam folder by clicking the folder list on the left side of the screen. Spam filters sometimes catch real emails by mistake.
This method works on Windows computers, Macs, Chromebooks, and tablets. You do not need to install anything. If you see a message saying "Two-Factor Authentication Required," Apple is asking you to verify your identity using another device. Check your iPhone, iPad, or Mac — you will see a prompt asking you to allow the sign-in. Tap Allow, and you will be let in.
Checking iCloud email on iPhone or iPad
Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Scroll down and tap Mail. Tap Accounts. If you see iCloud listed, your account is already set up and you can skip to the next step. If you do not see iCloud, tap Add Account, then tap iCloud, and sign in with your Apple ID.
Once your iCloud account is added to Mail settings, open the Mail app itself. You will see your inbox with all your emails. If you have multiple email accounts set up (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and iCloud all at once, for example), you can switch between them by tapping the Mailboxes button at the bottom left, then tapping the account name you want to view.
Your iPhone or iPad will read new emails automatically and show you a notification when they arrive. If you want to check right now without waiting, open Mail and pull down from the top of the screen to refresh.
Checking iCloud email on a Mac
Open the Mail app — you can find it in the Dock at the bottom of the screen, or open Spotlight (press Command and Space), type Mail, and press Enter. When Mail opens, look at the sidebar on the left. You should see iCloud listed under Accounts. If you do not see it, go to Mail menu at the top, click Add Account, select iCloud, and sign in.
Your inbox will show all emails sent to your iCloud address. Like on iPhone and iPad, you can switch between multiple email accounts by clicking the account name in the sidebar. To refresh and check for new mail right now, press Command and T, or go to the Mailbox menu and click Get New Mail.
What to do if you cannot sign in
If you enter your Apple ID and password and get an error message, the most common reason is that you typed your password wrong. Try again, paying close attention to capital letters and numbers. If you are still locked out, go to iforgot.apple.com, enter your Apple ID, and follow the steps to reset your password.
If you see a message saying your account is locked for security reasons, Apple is protecting you from someone trying to break in. Go to iforgot.apple.com, answer your security questions, and unlock your account. After you unlock it, change your password to something new that you have not used before.
Recognizing scam emails in your iCloud inbox
Scammers send fake emails pretending to be from Apple, your bank, PayPal, Amazon, or other companies you trust. They ask you to click a link and enter your password, or they claim there is a problem with your account that needs fixing right now. Do not click the link. Do not enter your password. These are phishing emails designed to steal your login information.
Real companies never ask you to enter your password in an email. If Apple needs you to do something, they will ask you to go to Settings on your device or to apple.com directly — not to click a link in an email. If you are not sure whether an email is real, go to the company's website by typing the address yourself in your browser, then log in and check your account. Do not use any link from the email.
If you get a scam email, select it and click the trash icon to delete it. Some email providers let you report spam — in iCloud Mail, you can right-click the email and choose Report Junk to help Apple filter out similar emails in the future.
Checking your Spam and Trash folders
Sometimes real emails end up in the Spam folder by mistake, especially if they come from a new sender or contain links. Check your Spam folder once a week by clicking it in the folder list on the left side of iCloud Mail. If you see an email you actually wanted, click it, then click the Not Junk button to move it back to your inbox.
Your Trash folder holds emails you have deleted. If you deleted something by accident, you can find it there and move it back. Emails in Trash are usually deleted permanently after 30 days, so if you need something, recover it soon. Click the email, then click the Move button and choose Inbox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my iCloud email address with Gmail or Outlook?
No. Your iCloud email can only be checked through Apple Mail, the Mail app on iPhone and iPad, or iCloud.com. You cannot add it to Gmail or Outlook. However, you can set up Gmail or Outlook to forward emails to your iCloud address if you want everything in one place.
What if I have not used my iCloud email in years?
Check it anyway. Even if you have not sent anything from it, other people may have sent you emails there, and scammers may have found your address and sent phishing emails. Go through your inbox and Spam folder, delete anything you do not need, and then check it occasionally going forward.
Is it safe to check iCloud email on a public computer?
You can check it, but be careful. Use iCloud.com in a web browser rather than installing an app. After you are done, sign out by clicking your name in the top right corner and selecting Sign Out. Do not check your email on a public computer if other people have physical access to it while you are signed in.
Why am I not getting emails sent to my iCloud address?
Check your Spam folder first — emails sometimes get filtered incorrectly. If the email is not there, make sure your iCloud account is actually set up in your Mail app or on iCloud.com. If you set up a new Apple ID recently, you may have a different iCloud address than you think. Go to Settings on your iPhone or iCloud.com and look at your actual email address.
Can I delete my iCloud email address?
You cannot delete the iCloud email address itself because it is tied to your Apple ID. However, you can stop using it and switch to a different email address for your Apple ID. Go to Settings, tap your name, tap Name, Phone Numbers, Email, and follow the steps to change your primary email address.