diff --git a/models/user.go b/models/user.go
index 793cebbf56..e48accf02d 100644
--- a/models/user.go
+++ b/models/user.go
@@ -195,9 +195,9 @@ func (u *User) UpdateTheme(themeName string) error {
 	return UpdateUserCols(u, "theme")
 }
 
-// getEmail returns an noreply email, if the user has set to keep his
+// GetEmail returns an noreply email, if the user has set to keep his
 // email address private, otherwise the primary email address.
-func (u *User) getEmail() string {
+func (u *User) GetEmail() string {
 	if u.KeepEmailPrivate {
 		return fmt.Sprintf("%s@%s", u.LowerName, setting.Service.NoReplyAddress)
 	}
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ func (u *User) APIFormat() *api.User {
 		ID:        u.ID,
 		UserName:  u.Name,
 		FullName:  u.FullName,
-		Email:     u.getEmail(),
+		Email:     u.GetEmail(),
 		AvatarURL: u.AvatarLink(),
 		Language:  u.Language,
 		IsAdmin:   u.IsAdmin,
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ func (u *User) GetFollowing(page int) ([]*User, error) {
 func (u *User) NewGitSig() *git.Signature {
 	return &git.Signature{
 		Name:  u.GitName(),
-		Email: u.getEmail(),
+		Email: u.GetEmail(),
 		When:  time.Now(),
 	}
 }
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/admin/user.go b/routers/api/v1/admin/user.go
index 6dc3b0325b..f4b694aa22 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/admin/user.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/admin/user.go
@@ -91,8 +91,7 @@ func CreateUser(ctx *context.APIContext, form api.CreateUserOption) {
 	if form.SendNotify && setting.MailService != nil {
 		models.SendRegisterNotifyMail(ctx.Context.Context, u)
 	}
-
-	ctx.JSON(201, u.APIFormat())
+	ctx.JSON(201, convert.ToUser(u, ctx.IsSigned, ctx.User.IsAdmin))
 }
 
 // EditUser api for modifying a user's information
@@ -181,7 +180,7 @@ func EditUser(ctx *context.APIContext, form api.EditUserOption) {
 	}
 	log.Trace("Account profile updated by admin (%s): %s", ctx.User.Name, u.Name)
 
-	ctx.JSON(200, u.APIFormat())
+	ctx.JSON(200, convert.ToUser(u, ctx.IsSigned, ctx.User.IsAdmin))
 }
 
 // DeleteUser api for deleting a user
@@ -326,7 +325,7 @@ func GetAllUsers(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 
 	results := make([]*api.User, len(users))
 	for i := range users {
-		results[i] = convert.ToUser(users[i], ctx.IsSigned, ctx.User != nil && ctx.User.IsAdmin)
+		results[i] = convert.ToUser(users[i], ctx.IsSigned, ctx.User.IsAdmin)
 	}
 
 	ctx.JSON(200, &results)
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/convert/convert.go b/routers/api/v1/convert/convert.go
index f1cb23de43..d2691f8238 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/convert/convert.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/convert/convert.go
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ func ToTeam(team *models.Team) *api.Team {
 }
 
 // ToUser convert models.User to api.User
-func ToUser(user *models.User, signed, admin bool) *api.User {
+func ToUser(user *models.User, signed, authed bool) *api.User {
 	result := &api.User{
 		ID:        user.ID,
 		UserName:  user.Name,
@@ -239,7 +239,12 @@ func ToUser(user *models.User, signed, admin bool) *api.User {
 		LastLogin: user.LastLoginUnix.AsTime(),
 		Created:   user.CreatedUnix.AsTime(),
 	}
-	if signed && (!user.KeepEmailPrivate || admin) {
+	// hide primary email if API caller isn't user itself or an admin
+	if !signed {
+		result.Email = ""
+	} else if user.KeepEmailPrivate && !authed {
+		result.Email = user.GetEmail()
+	} else {
 		result.Email = user.Email
 	}
 	return result
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/org/member.go b/routers/api/v1/org/member.go
index ad60dfbda5..4ada2d6ef6 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/org/member.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/org/member.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/context"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/setting"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/routers/api/v1/convert"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/routers/api/v1/user"
 )
 
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ func listMembers(ctx *context.APIContext, publicOnly bool) {
 
 	apiMembers := make([]*api.User, len(members))
 	for i, member := range members {
-		apiMembers[i] = member.APIFormat()
+		apiMembers[i] = convert.ToUser(member, ctx.IsSigned, ctx.User != nil && ctx.User.IsAdmin)
 	}
 	ctx.JSON(200, apiMembers)
 }
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/org/team.go b/routers/api/v1/org/team.go
index 40b6e008b9..59a000b670 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/org/team.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/org/team.go
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ func GetTeamMembers(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 	}
 	members := make([]*api.User, len(team.Members))
 	for i, member := range team.Members {
-		members[i] = member.APIFormat()
+		members[i] = convert.ToUser(member, ctx.IsSigned, ctx.User.IsAdmin)
 	}
 	ctx.JSON(200, members)
 }
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ func GetTeamMember(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 	if ctx.Written() {
 		return
 	}
-	ctx.JSON(200, u.APIFormat())
+	ctx.JSON(200, convert.ToUser(u, ctx.IsSigned, ctx.User.IsAdmin))
 }
 
 // AddTeamMember api for add a member to a team
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/collaborators.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/collaborators.go
index 98daf2c9d5..3ba03e054c 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/collaborators.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/collaborators.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/context"
 
 	api "code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/structs"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/routers/api/v1/convert"
 )
 
 // ListCollaborators list a repository's collaborators
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ func ListCollaborators(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 	}
 	users := make([]*api.User, len(collaborators))
 	for i, collaborator := range collaborators {
-		users[i] = collaborator.APIFormat()
+		users[i] = convert.ToUser(collaborator.User, ctx.IsSigned, ctx.User != nil && ctx.User.IsAdmin)
 	}
 	ctx.JSON(200, users)
 }
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/hook.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/hook.go
index b35a10ac3d..5c71262560 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/hook.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/hook.go
@@ -130,8 +130,8 @@ func TestHook(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 			convert.ToCommit(ctx.Repo.Repository, ctx.Repo.Commit),
 		},
 		Repo:   ctx.Repo.Repository.APIFormat(models.AccessModeNone),
-		Pusher: ctx.User.APIFormat(),
-		Sender: ctx.User.APIFormat(),
+		Pusher: convert.ToUser(ctx.User, ctx.IsSigned, false),
+		Sender: convert.ToUser(ctx.User, ctx.IsSigned, false),
 	}); err != nil {
 		ctx.Error(500, "PrepareWebhook: ", err)
 		return
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/star.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/star.go
index 046142252b..1b2ef0b027 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/star.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/star.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/context"
 
 	api "code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/structs"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/routers/api/v1/convert"
 )
 
 // ListStargazers list a repository's stargazers
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ func ListStargazers(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 	}
 	users := make([]*api.User, len(stargazers))
 	for i, stargazer := range stargazers {
-		users[i] = stargazer.APIFormat()
+		users[i] = convert.ToUser(stargazer, ctx.IsSigned, ctx.User != nil && ctx.User.IsAdmin)
 	}
 	ctx.JSON(200, users)
 }
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/repo/subscriber.go b/routers/api/v1/repo/subscriber.go
index b7d329dc78..ec0ea6dada 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/repo/subscriber.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/repo/subscriber.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/context"
 
 	api "code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/structs"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/routers/api/v1/convert"
 )
 
 // ListSubscribers list a repo's subscribers (i.e. watchers)
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ func ListSubscribers(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 	}
 	users := make([]*api.User, len(subscribers))
 	for i, subscriber := range subscribers {
-		users[i] = subscriber.APIFormat()
+		users[i] = convert.ToUser(subscriber, ctx.IsSigned, ctx.User != nil && ctx.User.IsAdmin)
 	}
 	ctx.JSON(200, users)
 }
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/user/follower.go b/routers/api/v1/user/follower.go
index 453f73137d..078f30af3c 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/user/follower.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/user/follower.go
@@ -9,12 +9,13 @@ import (
 
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/context"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/routers/api/v1/convert"
 )
 
 func responseAPIUsers(ctx *context.APIContext, users []*models.User) {
 	apiUsers := make([]*api.User, len(users))
 	for i := range users {
-		apiUsers[i] = users[i].APIFormat()
+		apiUsers[i] = convert.ToUser(users[i], ctx.IsSigned, ctx.User != nil && ctx.User.IsAdmin)
 	}
 	ctx.JSON(200, &apiUsers)
 }
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/user/key.go b/routers/api/v1/user/key.go
index 286f9ae4c3..e3d7aa4b3e 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/user/key.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/user/key.go
@@ -22,13 +22,13 @@ func appendPrivateInformation(apiKey *api.PublicKey, key *models.PublicKey, defa
 		apiKey.KeyType = "user"
 
 		if defaultUser.ID == key.OwnerID {
-			apiKey.Owner = defaultUser.APIFormat()
+			apiKey.Owner = convert.ToUser(defaultUser, true, true)
 		} else {
 			user, err := models.GetUserByID(key.OwnerID)
 			if err != nil {
 				return apiKey, err
 			}
-			apiKey.Owner = user.APIFormat()
+			apiKey.Owner = convert.ToUser(user, true, true)
 		}
 	} else {
 		apiKey.KeyType = "unknown"
diff --git a/routers/api/v1/user/user.go b/routers/api/v1/user/user.go
index 8d05a67185..fc3b7a8160 100644
--- a/routers/api/v1/user/user.go
+++ b/routers/api/v1/user/user.go
@@ -104,11 +104,7 @@ func GetInfo(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	// Hide user e-mail when API caller isn't signed in.
-	if !ctx.IsSigned {
-		u.Email = ""
-	}
-	ctx.JSON(200, u.APIFormat())
+	ctx.JSON(200, convert.ToUser(u, ctx.IsSigned, ctx.User.ID == u.ID || ctx.User.IsAdmin))
 }
 
 // GetAuthenticatedUser get current user's information
@@ -121,7 +117,7 @@ func GetAuthenticatedUser(ctx *context.APIContext) {
 	// responses:
 	//   "200":
 	//     "$ref": "#/responses/User"
-	ctx.JSON(200, ctx.User.APIFormat())
+	ctx.JSON(200, convert.ToUser(ctx.User, ctx.IsSigned, ctx.User != nil))
 }
 
 // GetUserHeatmapData is the handler to get a users heatmap