Request for advice at the end of this!

I want to use a throwaway email, using iCloud’s Hide My Email, in a web form.

How it is (I think):

  • Open System Settings (which always seems to default to Appearance, for some reason)
  • Click on Name/Apple ID
  • Click on iCloud
  • Click on Hide My Email
  • Click “+”
  • Fill in a label (I usually just put the URL)
  • Click Continue
  • Click Copy address
  • Go back to web form and paste. 9 steps! Or 10, depending on how you’re counting.

How it should be:

  • I click or right-click on the email field in the web form
  • My Mac asks me if I want to create a new email, I click yes (A new email is created, filled in, and registered in my list of email aliases, with no further input from me) 2 steps

Apple really likes to suggest that things “just work” so they hide things. I think they’ve lost their way with respect to usability. Sorry, ranting.

Request(s) for advice

Is the quick method already possible somewhere in the UI, and I’m just missing it? If it isn’t already there, does anyone have a solution, say a script for a service, that would accomplish this?

I would appreciate any advice, instructions, or even just commiseration on hidden UIs. Thanks 😊

  • gdbjr@lemmy.worldEnglish
    14·
    1 year ago

    In setting in Safari under the autofill tab you must have using information from my contacts checked. Without that checked it won’t prompt you. With it checked it will.

      • gdbjr@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        1 year ago

        Where is my Reddit gold then?

        Kidding. That setting is in such a odd place and doesn’t mention anything about hide my email in there. I guess apple assumes every has that checked. I am not sure what the default is and maybe it is on so apple has vague instructions on using it. Who knows just glad you got it sorted.

  • malloc@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    1 year ago

    On macOS (and iOS), you have to use Safari. When you are filling out the form, usually it should show a list of common emails to auto fill but you can scroll to the bottom and select “hide my email” to generate one.

    Some website forms are not configured correctly or use janky HTML hacks (so it’s not recognized as an email field), so you have to generate it manually as you describe.

    • michaelporter@lemmy.caOPEnglish
      01·
      1 year ago

      Tried a couple of sites, it didn’t work. Nothing happened on clicking, other than activation the insertion cursor.

  • tidaL@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I use duck duck go’s “generate private email address”, and it has been decent, if folks are looking for a (free) alternative.

  • michaelporter@lemmy.caOPEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Thanks to everyone for responding, especially @gdbir@lemmy.world who realized where my problem was.

    Can I just say that the speed and volume with which people responded far exceeded my expectations? I was worried the smaller population here would be a hindrance, but apparently we’re working with quality not quantity 😊