Google finally lets users change their Gmail address
Google is finally letting users change their Gmail address without having to create a new account or lose their existing emails, photos, contacts and other data. The company has begun gradually rolling out the new feature that allows people with current @gmail.com addresses to switch to a new Gmail address while keeping their original account intact. The update was first spotted in an official Google support page currently visible in Hindi, suggesting the rollout may start in certain regions such as India before expanding globally.
Under the new system, users can choose a new username that still ends in @gmail.com, and Google will automatically convert the original address into an alias. This means that emails sent to both the old and new addresses will arrive in the same inbox and users can still sign in to Gmail and other linked services like Drive, YouTube and Maps with either address. All existing account contents, including messages, photos and subscriptions, remain untouched during the switch.
There are restrictions on how the feature is used. Google plans to allow only one change every 12 months, and users can make up to three changes per account lifetime, meaning up to four Gmail addresses total linked to the same account. After making a change, the new address cannot be deleted for at least 12 months, and the old username cannot be used to create a separate new Gmail account during that period.
This new capability marks a significant shift from Gmail’s long-standing policy that previously locked in the original email address for life. The change will be welcomed by many users who have felt stuck with outdated or embarrassing usernames they created years earlier.
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