Hide My Email is an iCloud+ feature introduced with iOS 15 that allows users to create an alternate email address for each service they sign up for (and deactivate the address whenever they want). This feature prevents advertisers from accessing your primary email address and provides better control over your inbox.
Despite being introduced five years ago, the feature hasn't evolved as much as it could. According to 9to5mac.com, Apple could improve the feature.
Suggestions for improving Hide My Email on iCloud+
The opportunity must be more “visible”“
Apple believes that some features should remain hidden from users and work in the background. That was the case with iCloud Keychain until it got its own app in iOS 18. The same is true for Hide My Email. While some apps allow you to create a new email address via the keyboard, this functionality is not universally available.
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On macOS, availability is even more limited.
While it may not make sense for Hide My Email to have its own app, it could be integrated into the Passwords. It's important to make the feature more accessible so that users can more easily compose emails in apps that don't natively support keyboard integration.
Chrome support
Apple has long had an iCloud Passwords extension for Chrome , which has improved significantly over the years. It now supports passkeys , includes iCloud two-factor passwords , and integrates autofill from the Messages app.
According to 9to5mac.com, the Chrome extension could also allow users to create new Hide My Email addresses in any email field, similar to the functionality in Safari. Given that users are paying for the service, there's no reason Apple can't improve compatibility with Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers.
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Support for custom emails
Finally, a potential improvement would be the ability to use custom domains with Hide My Email. Currently, all emails are @icloud.com addresses. Apple allows users to use their own domains with iCloud Mail, so it could be possible for Apple to create aliases using personal domains that integrate with Hide My Email.
While this may reduce some aspects of privacy, it would still allow users to easily block senders from their inbox while using their preferred domain.
Overall, Hide My Email remains an important feature of the Apple, offering a substantial level of privacy protection in an era where personal data collection is a key tool for advertising platforms and online services. However, five years after its first appearance, it is clear that the feature needs a substantial update to keep up with modern user demands. With better integration into the iOS and macOS environment, broader compatibility with third-party browsers and more flexible management options, it could evolve from a “hidden gem” to an essential tool for everyday use.
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Strengthening Hide My Email would also send a clear message about Apple's strategy around privacy: that it's not enough to just offer protection, but also to make it truly accessible and easy to use. If the company chooses to invest further in the feature, possibly with announcements in future software updates, it could give iCloud+ subscribers an even stronger reason to make the most of the protection tools they already have.
