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Understanding Apple Private Relay email issuesUpdated 2 months ago

What Is Apple Private Relay?

Apple Private Relay, also called "Hide My Email," is a privacy feature that creates a unique email address for each app or service you sign up for using "Sign in with Apple."

How It Works

When you use "Sign in with Apple" and enable "Hide My Email":

  1. Apple generates a unique relay email (format: [email protected])
  2. Example: [email protected]
  3. This relay email is registered as your CENTR account email
  4. Emails sent to the relay are automatically forwarded to your real email
  5. CENTR never sees your real email address

Privacy Benefits

  • Protects your identity: Companies don't get your real email address
  • Reduces spam: You can disable the relay if you start getting spam
  • Controls data sharing: You control which apps have your real email
  • Prevents tracking: Harder for companies to track you across services

Why It Causes Login Issues

While Apple Private Relay protects your privacy, it can cause confusion with CENTR accounts:

Common Confusion Scenarios

Scenario 1: Password Reset Doesn't Work

  • You request password reset using your regular email ([email protected])
  • But your CENTR account is registered to your relay email ([email protected])
  • Reset email never arrives because you're using the wrong email

Scenario 2: "Account Not Found" Error

  • You try to log in with your regular email
  • CENTR says "account not found"
  • Your account exists, but under the relay email, not your regular email

Scenario 3: Duplicate Accounts Created

  • You signed in with Apple (account created with relay email)
  • Later, you signed up again with your regular email
  • Now you have two CENTR accounts with different emails
  • One account might have your subscription, the other your workout history

Scenario 4: Can't Contact Support

  • Support asks for your account email
  • You provide your regular email
  • Support can't find your account (it's under relay email)

How to Find Your Apple Relay Email

To resolve these issues, you need to find your relay email address:

Step-by-Step Instructions (iPhone/iPad)

  1. Open Settings app
  2. Tap your name at the very top
  3. Select "Password & Security"
  4. Tap "Apps Using Apple ID"
  5. Scroll to find CENTR
  6. Your relay email is displayed next to CENTR
  7. Example format: [email protected]
  8. Copy or screenshot this email for your records

Alternative Method

If you can't find it in Settings:

  • Check your email inbox for messages from CENTR
  • The "To:" address will show your relay email
  • Look in receipts, welcome emails, or password reset emails

When to Use Relay Email vs Regular Email

Use Relay Email For:

  • Password resets: Request reset using relay email, not regular email
  • Account recovery: Provide relay email to support when asking for help
  • Email/password login: If not using "Sign in with Apple" button, use relay email
  • Account verification: When support asks for your account email, provide relay email

Use Regular Email For:

  • Receiving emails: All CENTR emails forwarded to your regular inbox
  • Checking spam: Check your regular email's spam folder
  • Reading communications: All emails appear in your regular inbox

Solutions Based on Your Situation

If You Want to Keep Using Apple Sign-In

Best approach:

  1. Always use the "Sign in with Apple" button for logging in
  2. No password needed - Apple handles authentication
  3. Save your relay email in notes for password resets
  4. When contacting support, provide your relay email

Benefits:

  • Easy and secure login
  • Privacy protection continues
  • No need to remember passwords

If You Want to Use Email/Password

Approach:

  1. Find your relay email (steps above)
  2. Set a password for your account (if you don't have one, contact support)
  3. Log in using relay email + password
  4. Save relay email in password manager

Note: You'll need to remember and use your relay email, not your regular email.

If You Want to Switch Away from Relay Email

Approach:

  1. Contact CENTR support at [email protected]
  2. Request to change your account email from relay email to your regular email
  3. Support will verify your identity
  4. After change, log in with your regular email + password
  5. You can still use "Sign in with Apple" if desired

Benefits:

  • Eliminates relay email confusion
  • Use your familiar email address
  • Easier password resets

Fixing Duplicate Accounts

If you accidentally created two accounts (one with relay email, one with regular email):

  1. Find both email addresses (regular + relay)
  2. Contact CENTR support at [email protected]
  3. Provide both email addresses
  4. Explain you have duplicate accounts you'd like merged
  5. Specify which email you'd like to use going forward
  6. Support will merge accounts safely (within 24 hours)
  7. Your subscription and workout history will be preserved

Managing Apple Private Relay

To Disable Relay for CENTR

If you no longer want to use Hide My Email for CENTR:

  1. Go to iPhone Settings → [Your Name] → Password & Security → Apps Using Apple ID
  2. Find CENTR
  3. You can see the relay email but can't disable it after creation
  4. Instead, contact CENTR support to change your account email

For Future Signups

When using "Sign in with Apple" with new apps:

  • "Share My Email" option - Uses your regular Apple ID email
  • "Hide My Email" option - Creates a relay email (what happened with CENTR)

Choose based on your privacy preference. "Share My Email" is easier to manage but shares your real email with the service.

Preventing Future Issues

Best Practices

  1. Save your relay email: Store it in notes or password manager immediately after finding it
  2. Label it clearly: "CENTR - Apple Relay Email: [email protected]"
  3. Screenshot it: Take a screenshot of the Settings screen showing your relay email
  4. Use consistent login method: Always use "Sign in with Apple" button OR always use relay email/password (don't switch)
  5. Don't create second account: If locked out, recover your original account instead of creating new one

Common Questions

Can I change my relay email to my regular email?

Yes, contact CENTR support and they'll update your account email from relay to your regular email. This is permanent and can't be automatically reversed.

Will I lose my data if I change from relay email?

No, your workout history and subscription are preserved when support changes your email address. Only the login email changes.

Can I use both relay email and regular email?

Not for the same account. You'll have one registered email. However, you can use "Sign in with Apple" AND email/password on the same account (both use the same registered email in the background).

Do I need to keep using "Sign in with Apple"?

No, you can set up email/password login. Just make sure you use your relay email (not regular email) unless you've contacted support to change it.

Why can't I find CENTR in my Apple ID settings?

If CENTR doesn't appear in Apps Using Apple ID, you may not have signed up with Apple Sign-In, or you may have signed up with a different Apple ID. Try checking on all your devices or contact CENTR support.

Need Help?

If you're confused about Apple Private Relay and your CENTR account, we're here to help:

Email: [email protected]

Include:

  • Your regular email address
  • Your relay email (if you found it in Settings)
  • What issue you're experiencing
  • What you'd like to do (keep relay, switch to regular email, merge accounts, etc.)

We'll guide you through the solution that works best for you!

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