Hide My Email forwarding is broken or disabled

My Hide My Email alias (5d***@privaterelay.appleid.com) has stopped forwarding messages to my Gmail inbox, does anyone know how to reactivate or fix that issue?

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 26.0

Posted on Oct 16, 2025 12:23 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 23, 2025 5:33 AM

Check the Status of the Hide My Email Address

It's possible the specific "Hide My Email" address you are having issues with has been deactivated.

  • On iPhone/iPad:
    1. Go to Settings.
    2. Tap [Your Name] at the top.
    3. Tap iCloud.
    4. Tap Hide My Email.
    5. Check the list of active addresses. If the address is listed under Inactive Addresses at the bottom, tap it and choose Reactivate Address.


Verify the Forwarding Address

Make sure the primary email address that your "Hide My Email" aliases are forwarding to is correct and active.

  • On iPhone/iPad:
    1. Follow steps 1-4 above to get to Hide My Email settings.
    2. Scroll down to the bottom and look for Forward To.
    3. Tap Forward To and ensure the correct email address is selected. This must be an email address associated with your Apple ID.


Check for Misconfiguration in "Sign in with Apple"

If the problematic email address was created using Sign in with Apple (it will typically end in @privaterelay.appleid.com):

  • On iPhone/iPad:
    1. Go to Settings.
    2. Tap [Your Name].
    3. Tap Sign-In & Security.
    4. Tap Sign in with Apple.
    5. Find the app or website in question and tap on it.
    6. Ensure Forward To is turned On.


General Troubleshooting Steps

  • Check your Spam/Junk folder: The forwarded email might be getting caught by your mail provider's spam filter.
  • Check iCloud Storage: If your iCloud storage is full, it can sometimes affect mail delivery. Go to Settings $\ri [Your Name] $\rightarrow$ iCloud and check your storage capacity.
  • Restart your device: A simple restart can often resolve temporary software glitches.
  • Update iOS/iPadOS/macOS: Make sure your device is running the latest operating system version.
  • Try Deactivating and Reactivating: For the specific alias that isn't working, try deactivating it and then immediately reactivating it in the Hide My Email settings (see step 1).


If the Sender is Not Receiving a Bounceback

If you're testing by sending to the "Hide My Email" address and the email is not being forwarded, but the sender is not getting a bounceback/error message, it's likely an issue on Apple's forwarding or your inbox's filtering.

If none of these steps work, the issue might be on Apple's server end, and you should Contact Apple Support for further assistance.



1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 23, 2025 5:33 AM in response to jonathan_oh

Check the Status of the Hide My Email Address

It's possible the specific "Hide My Email" address you are having issues with has been deactivated.

  • On iPhone/iPad:
    1. Go to Settings.
    2. Tap [Your Name] at the top.
    3. Tap iCloud.
    4. Tap Hide My Email.
    5. Check the list of active addresses. If the address is listed under Inactive Addresses at the bottom, tap it and choose Reactivate Address.


Verify the Forwarding Address

Make sure the primary email address that your "Hide My Email" aliases are forwarding to is correct and active.

  • On iPhone/iPad:
    1. Follow steps 1-4 above to get to Hide My Email settings.
    2. Scroll down to the bottom and look for Forward To.
    3. Tap Forward To and ensure the correct email address is selected. This must be an email address associated with your Apple ID.


Check for Misconfiguration in "Sign in with Apple"

If the problematic email address was created using Sign in with Apple (it will typically end in @privaterelay.appleid.com):

  • On iPhone/iPad:
    1. Go to Settings.
    2. Tap [Your Name].
    3. Tap Sign-In & Security.
    4. Tap Sign in with Apple.
    5. Find the app or website in question and tap on it.
    6. Ensure Forward To is turned On.


General Troubleshooting Steps

  • Check your Spam/Junk folder: The forwarded email might be getting caught by your mail provider's spam filter.
  • Check iCloud Storage: If your iCloud storage is full, it can sometimes affect mail delivery. Go to Settings $\ri [Your Name] $\rightarrow$ iCloud and check your storage capacity.
  • Restart your device: A simple restart can often resolve temporary software glitches.
  • Update iOS/iPadOS/macOS: Make sure your device is running the latest operating system version.
  • Try Deactivating and Reactivating: For the specific alias that isn't working, try deactivating it and then immediately reactivating it in the Hide My Email settings (see step 1).


If the Sender is Not Receiving a Bounceback

If you're testing by sending to the "Hide My Email" address and the email is not being forwarded, but the sender is not getting a bounceback/error message, it's likely an issue on Apple's forwarding or your inbox's filtering.

If none of these steps work, the issue might be on Apple's server end, and you should Contact Apple Support for further assistance.



Hide My Email forwarding is broken or disabled

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