How to use Hide My Email on Mac

How-to
By
published
Macos Monterey Review Hero
Macos Monterey Review Hero (Image credit: Bryan M. Wolfe / iMore)
Jump to:

Hide My Email is a new tool in iCloud+ that makes it possible to use random email addresses that are then forwarded to your personal inbox. You can hide your actual details when filling out a form on the web or signing up for a newsletter.

Hide My Email is available on iPhone and iPad in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 respectively, and also on macOS Monterey. The software supports all of the best Macs.

What is iCloud+

Announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, iCloud+ is a mixture of a rebrand of the existing paid iCloud service plus new features. Like iCloud itself, iCloud+ is available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Besides Hide My Email, iCloud+ brings to the table for the first time iCloud Private Relay, custom email domains for iCloud Mail, and expanded HomeKit Secure Video support.

Setting up Hide My Email on Mac

To enable Hide My Email on macOS Monterey:

  1. Choose System Preferences from the Mac Dock.
  2. Select Apple ID.

To set up Hide My Email on Mac, choose System Preferences, then select Apple ID. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Click iCloud.
  2. Choose the Options... button to the right of Hide My Email.

To set up Hide My Email on Mac, click iCloud, then choose the Options... button to the right of Hide My Email. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Select the + to create a new random email address.
  2. Click Continue.

To set up Hide My Email on Mac, select the + to create a new random email address, click Continue. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Label the new email address and add a note, if necessary. Both are useful, so you know where you're using the random email.
  2. Click Continue.
  3. Choose Copy Address so you have it ready to go.
  4. Select Done.

To set up Hide My Email on Mac, label the new email address and add a note, if necessary. Click Continue. Choose Copy Address, then select Done. (Image credit: iMore)

That's it! Your new random email address is ready to go.

Using Hide My Email

Like any other email address, you can use this email across any Apple device, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you haven't copied the email address or have forgotten it, you can follow these directions to retrieve it:

  1. Choose System Preferences from the Mac Dock.
  2. Select Apple ID.

To set up Hide My Email on Mac, choose System Preferences, then select Apple ID. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Click iCloud.
  2. Choose the Options... button to the right of Hide My Email.

To set up Hide My Email on Mac, click iCloud, then choose the Options... button to the right of Hide My Email. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Choose the appropriate email under Hide My Email.
  2. Click Copy to copy the email for use elsewhere.
  3. Select Edit to edit the label you previously created.
  4. Choose Options to change the forwarding email, then select Done. You can only use an Apple-generated email.

To use Hide My Email on Mac, choose the appropriate email, click Copy to copy the email to use elsewhere. You can also select Edit to change the label or choose Options to change the forwarding email. (Image credit: iMore)

Useful tool

As you can see, it's pretty easy to use the Hide My Email feature in macOS Monterey. Already a beneficial tool, it will be interesting to see how it develops in the coming years.

Bryan M Wolfe
Bryan M Wolfe
Staff Writer

Bryan M. Wolfe has written about technology for over a decade on various websites, including TechRadar, AppAdvice, and many more. Before this, he worked in the technology field across different industries, including healthcare and education. He’s currently iMore’s lead on all things Mac and macOS, although he also loves covering iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Bryan enjoys watching his favorite sports teams, traveling, and driving around his teenage daughter to her latest stage show, audition, or school event in his spare time. He also keeps busy walking his black and white cocker spaniel, Izzy, and trying new coffees and liquid grapes.