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Summary

Yes, you can email users who have Apple's private relay email addresses, but there are specific requirements and considerations to ensure successful delivery. These addresses, often ending in privaterelay.appleid.com or @icloud.com (for Hide My Email), are designed to protect user privacy by masking their real email. For successful delivery, senders must be authorized by Apple to communicate with these addresses, typically by associating their sending domain with the app or service through which the user generated the relay address. Failing to meet these authentication and consent requirements can lead to email bounces and poor deliverability.

What email marketers say

Email marketers often approach Apple Private Relay addresses with caution, balancing the desire to reach their audience with the need to respect user privacy and Apple's guidelines. The primary concern revolves around whether these masked addresses allow for continued engagement, especially for retargeting or promotional campaigns. Many realize that proper consent and technical setup are paramount to avoid deliverability issues.

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks asks: If a list of users contains Apple Private Relay email addresses, can email still be sent to the actual user behind the masked address? This is a fundamental question for targeting campaigns. Understanding how these addresses function is crucial for list management and ensuring message delivery for ongoing engagement.

14 Feb 2023 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Marketer from DailyStory notes: While sending marketing emails to privaterelay.appleid.com addresses is technically possible, it is not recommended for general marketing purposes. Apple's design prioritizes user privacy, and broad, unsolicited campaigns can violate these principles. This approach may lead to negative deliverability outcomes, including emails being sent to spam folders or even blocklisted.

01 Jan 2024 - DailyStory

What the experts say

Email deliverability experts highlight the critical distinction between Apple Private Relay addresses obtained through Sign in with Apple and those created directly by users via Hide My Email. They stress that for Sign in with Apple, only the associated app should send messages, enforcing a strict consent model. Proper domain registration and verification with Apple are consistently emphasized as non-negotiable technical requirements to ensure message delivery and avoid being perceived as spam.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains: Apple Private Relay addresses are generated in two main ways. Firstly, users can create them via the "Hide My Email" feature, typically resulting in @icloud.com addresses. Secondly, Apple generates them as part of the "Sign in with Apple" feature, often using privaterelay.appleid.com. For the latter, only the specific app the user signed into should have consent to send mail. If you are not the owner of that app, you likely won't be able to email those contacts successfully. This is a strict privacy enforcement measure by Apple.

14 Feb 2023 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from SpamResource.com states: Achieving deliverability to Apple's Private Relay requires strict adherence to authentication protocols, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. These foundational email security measures are essential for any sender, but they are particularly critical for Apple, which prioritizes user security and privacy. Non-compliance will invariably lead to messages being rejected or routed to spam folders.

20 Jan 2025 - SpamResource.com

What the documentation says

Apple's documentation outlines the technical requirements for communicating with users via the Private Email Relay Service. It emphasizes that apps and websites using Sign in with Apple must verify their sending domains. This ensures that only authorized entities can send emails to the unique, random addresses provided by Apple, thereby maintaining user privacy and reducing unwanted communication. The documentation provides clear guidelines on how to set up and manage this communication effectively.

Technical article

Apple Developer documentation states: To send email through the private email relay service, ensure your email sending domain is registered and verified with Apple. This crucial step links your domain to your developer account and grants the necessary permissions for Apple to relay your messages securely to the private email addresses. Without this registration, your emails will not pass through the relay.

20 May 2024 - Apple Developer

Technical article

Customer.io documentation highlights: After completing all necessary authentication steps, you should be ready to send emails to customers utilizing Hide My Email addresses. Proper setup includes verifying sending domains, setting up SPF and DKIM, and ensuring DMARC policies are aligned. This comprehensive approach is essential for successful message delivery through Apple's privacy-focused system.

10 Apr 2024 - Customer.io Docs

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