Change Apple ID email from Gmail to iCloud

The support article https://support.apple.com/109353 outlines various methods for changing the email address (Apple ID) you use for your Apple Account while retaining everything in your account. If you have an iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 or newer, read the support article for instructions how to do this.

I would just keep on using the Gmail address and not use an iCloud address. If you use an iCloud address and have problems with that account then Apple will be sending assistance emails to the very place where you are unable to read them.

Apple has two articles that I have found regarding email address usage and re-use. https://support.apple.com/109353 https://support.apple.com/102559 In some ways they appear to be more lenient about reusing email addresses than they have in the past but typically the line has been you cannot use an email address for an Apple ID that Apple has seen before. You may wish to contact Apple about this specific case.

This support page has information about contacting Apple support and service ➔ https://support.apple.com/106932 If live support options (chat and/or telephone) are available they will show near the bottom left.

- Telephone numbers may only work when calling from the same country.

- Chat options (telephone numbers appear as active links, not plain text) may depend upon cellular connectivity. If a number shows as an active link, click on it to see additional options.

- If chat is not available on the top level support page, try selecting your hardware and narrow down your issue to see if a support article offers a support link offering chat. For example, the contact support link on this page https://support.apple.com/119902#zerobalance offers a chat link about emptying account balance even on a computer where the top level page does not offer any chat.

With an iPhone, iPad, or Vision, you may be able to chat using the Apple Support App if it is available in your country —> https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

Well, I've read your initial post two more times, and nowhere does it say you've tried any of this. It does repeat a few times what you'd like to do.

The fields above are the only way to change email addresses without losing your account (purchased apps, music, personal data). I've only done this once, and it was indeed clumsy, so I may not have gotten the steps exactly right.

Apple does have their own page on the subject.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/109353

You go into your Apple account online and add the new address. Update that information.

As an example of my account, there is currently only one address. You cannot remove the primary email if it's the only one, for the rather obvious reason there'd be no possible way to login to your account if you did. Click the + button to add the new email. Once entered, you can then make the new address the primary and delete the previous one.

After the information is updated, you'll be prompted on your devices to login since they can no longer talk to your account using the old address. You could also logout of the old email address on all but one device before you change things.

And it can't be emphasized enough; backup your data to an external drive before doing anything so you don't lose your photos, contacts, or other personal info in case something doesn't work as it should.

I appreciate the reply. I already tried this and it stated the email I entered could not be used. Not sure why, it is an existing iCloud email that I have had for years.