Apple is set to streamline its privacy features by unifying the email domains used for both ‘Sign in with Apple’ and iCloud+ ‘Hide My Email’ under a single, shared domain. This strategic move aims to simplify management and potentially bolster the security of its private relay services.
New Domain for Enhanced Privacy
Effective later this summer, all newly generated private email addresses for ‘Sign in with Apple’ and ‘Hide My Email’ will be issued using the new domain: private.icloud.com.
Impact on Existing Users and Developers
For users, this transition is designed to be seamless. Existing email addresses created through ‘Sign in with Apple’ (previously on privaterelay.appleid.com) and ‘Hide My Email’ (previously on icloud.com) will continue to function without interruption, forwarding mail as usual. The change primarily impacts how new private emails are provisioned.
However, developers and email service providers will need to take action. Apple is advising developers to update their systems to ensure they accept the new private.icloud.com domain. This includes updating account systems, email validation logic, and any allowlists.
Similarly, email service providers are encouraged to review and update any domain-based filtering, suppression lists, or routing rules that may explicitly reference the older relay domains. This proactive adjustment will prevent potential mail delivery issues for users utilizing these privacy features.
Timeline for Implementation
While a specific launch date has not been announced, Apple has indicated that the rollout of the new shared domain will occur sometime later this summer.
Further technical details and guidance for developers can be found in Apple’s official documentation regarding ‘Sign in with Apple’ and the Private Email Relay Service.
