Have you found one or more @privaterelay.appleid.com email in your database and are wondering what they are?
These email addresses are generated by Apple when a user signs up for an app or website using “Sign in with Apple”, choosing the “Hide My Email” option.
They are real, fully functional email addresses created by Apple through the Private Email Relay service, with the goal of protecting user privacy.
In this article, we’ll cover:
what privaterelay.appleid.com addresses are
how Apple’s Private Email Relay works
why you may find them in your database
how to send emails without getting blocked
What are @privaterelay.appleid.com addresses?
@privaterelay.appleid.com addresses are proxy email addresses automatically generated by Apple.
When a user:
signs up for a website or app using Sign in with Apple
selects the “Hide My Email” option
Apple:
Generates a unique, random address (e.g., x7k2h9q@privaterelay.appleid.com)
Associates it with that specific app or website
Automatically forwards emails received at the @privaterelay.appleid.com address to the user’s real email address
In other words, @privaterelay.appleid.com addresses act as intermediaries between the website or app and the user’s real email address, thereby protecting their privacy.
The company that owns the website or app will not know the user’s real email address, but will still be able to communicate with them.
How Apple’s Private Email Relay works
The Private Email Relay service is part of the Sign in with Apple authentication system.
The process works as follows:
The user signs in with their Apple ID
They choose “Hide My Email”
Apple generates a @privaterelay.appleid.com alias
The website stores that address in its database
Apple forwards emails received at that alias to the user’s real email address
Each alias is:
Unique to a specific app or website
Visible and manageable by the user in their Apple ID settings
Deactivatable at any time
If the user disables forwarding, the address will stop receiving and forwarding emails.
Why you have privaterelay.appleid.com addresses in your database
If your database contains addresses with the privaterelay.appleid.com domain, it means that:
Users registered on your website or app via Sign in with Apple
They chose not to share their real email address by activating the “Hide My Email” option
They authorized communication through Apple’s Private Email Relay
These are not temporary or fake email addresses. They are valid addresses that you can send emails to, as long as the user keeps the association active.
When should you be concerned?
If your website or app does not support Sign in with Apple, the presence of these addresses could indicate:
Data import errors
Potential list bombing attacks on your online registration forms
In such cases, you should:
Review your contact acquisition processes
Implement a CAPTCHA on online registration forms (if not already in place)
How to send emails to privaterelay.appleid.com without being blocked
Apple applies very strict checks to emails sent to the privaterelay.appleid.com domain.
If the sender is not compliant, emails may be rejected, generate bounces, and not be forwarded to the user.
To ensure proper email delivery, you should follow some best practices.
1. Register your sending domain with Apple
If you use Sign in with Apple, you must register your sending domain in the Apple Developer portal and properly configure the Private Email Relay service.
Apple only allows forwarding from authorized domains.
Do you send emails to @privaterelay.appleid.com addresses using magnews? In this article, you can find out which domains need to be registered:
2. Properly configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
Email authentication is essential.
Make sure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are correctly configured for your sending domain.
3. Maintain a strong sending domain and IP reputation
Apple performs strict anti-spam checks on both the sending domain and sending IP reputation.
Therefore, try to avoid:
Sudden mass email spikes
Sending to unclean or outdated contact lists
Spam-oriented content
Want to understand what truly impacts your domain reputation and email deliverability?
This article will help you explore the topic further: Understanding email deliverability