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I pay for iCloud not for storage, but for this perk instead

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Storage is fine, but privacy is why I stick around.

iCloud Plus landing page on iPhone
(Image credit: Tom's Guide / Sanuj Bhatia)
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I've been part of the Apple ecosystem for years now, and there are plenty of things that keep me in the walled garden. From Continuity features between my devices to better app performance and the broader ecosystem, and even iCloud to an extent. Yes, the cloud storage service.

While iCloud costs extra if you want to use it properly, it does justify itself in some ways. Perks like having your iPhone backed up daily and your photos synced across devices are genuinely useful. But, for me, the biggest reason iCloud feels worth it is a feature Apple quietly introduced a few years ago.

Hide My Email isn't talked about enough

Apple revamped iCloud from a standalone cloud backup and storage service into iCloud Plus back in 2021. With iCloud Plus, Apple turned iCloud into more than just storage by adding features like Private Relay, which protects your privacy while browsing, and iCloud Mail with support for email addresses with custom domains.

But the feature that really made an impact since it was first announced is Hide My Email. In simple terms, Hide My Email masks your primary email address and replaces it with a randomly generated one. Then, any emails sent to that random address are automatically forwarded to your main email address.

Hide my Email in iCloud page on iPhone

(Image credit: Tom's Guide / Sanuj Bhatia)

It essentially gives you a burner email address that forwards everything to your actual email. This lets you keep your primary address private while using the randomly generated one instead. It's perfect for filling out online forms, signing up for new services, or sharing your email when you would rather not reveal your real one.

Even better, it uses an @icloud address, so it does not look phishy while still keeping your identity safe.

For me personally, Hide My Email has been a godsend. As an online writer, I sign up for plenty of newsletters and services, and there are times when I don't want to use my work or personal email. That's where Hide My Email has been especially useful.

Another trick I've picked up is using it to test a service first. Instead of sharing my primary email right away, I create a new hidden address to try the service with. If I end up liking it, I then subscribe using my main email. It gives me a simple way to test services before committing.

How to create a hidden email address with iCloud

It's quite easy to create a hidden email address with Hide My Email on iCloud Plus, and you can do it on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or any web browser (even on Android).

The only thing you need is an iCloud Plus subscription. You can opt for the basic 50 GB plan at $1 per month if you want the cheapest access to Hide My Email.

Once you have the subscription, or if you're already an iCloud Plus member, here's how you can start using Hide My Email.

1. Open Settings and go to iCloud

I'd argue that now that iCloud has so many options, it should have its own dedicated app (like Passwords), but there isn't one yet.

So to get started, open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap your Apple account at the top, usually shown with your name. From there, select iCloud.

2. Open Hide My Email

Inside iCloud settings, scroll down and tap Hide My Email under the iCloud Plus Features section.

3. Create a random address

In the Hide My Email menu, tap Create New Address to generate a random iCloud email address.

Once you do, a randomly generated email ID will appear. If you don't like it, tap Use Different Address to generate another one.

You'll also need to add a Label so you remember what the address is for. Optionally, you can also add a note for the address. Once done, tap Continue.

Before leaving this screen, you can tap and hold the email address to copy it.

4. Configure which email ID to forward to

If you have multiple email IDs linked to your Apple account, you can choose which one Hide My Email forwards messages to.

Scroll to the bottom of the Hide My Email settings, tap Forward to, select your primary email address, and then tap Done.

And that's it! You can now use the generated email address anywhere on the web, and it'll automatically forward emails to your main inbox.

How to use Hide My Email inside iPhone apps

In addition to manually creating random addresses, you can also automatically hide your email when signing up for apps and services directly on your iPhone. Of course, you need an active iCloud Plus subscription for this to work, and it only works on apps and websites that support Sign in with Apple.

Here's how you can use Hide My Email on your iPhone.

1. Open the app or website you want to sign in to

To use Hide My Email, open the app or website where you want to create an account. For example, I'm setting up a new login with Trip.com.

On the sign-in page, tap Continue with Apple. A sign-in prompt will appear asking you to authenticate with your Apple ID.

2. Select Hide My Email

In the sign-up pop-up, you'll see the option to either Share My Email or Hide My Email. Select Hide My Email and tap Sign In. Authenticate using Face ID, and Apple will automatically generate a random email address and use it to sign you in.

Once you're signed in, you'll still receive emails from that service in your main inbox. If you ever want to manage this address later, head to Hide My Email in Settings, tap the service name, and you'll be able to view the generated email address if needed.

Hide My Email is one of the most useful and underrated iCloud features in my opinion, and no other service offers the same level of simplicity. It actually justifies paying for iCloud on its own.

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Sanuj Bhatia
Sanuj Bhatia
Contributor

Sanuj is a tech writer covering smartphones, tablets, and wearables for Tom's Guide. He also contributes to Android Central, Android Police, and Pocket-Lint. He started his tech journey with a Nokia Lumia before diving into both Android and iPhone. When he's not testing gadgets, he's usually sipping tea, watching football, or playing cricket.

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