Google may soon let you change your @gmail.com address

For over two decades, one of the most persistent frustrations for Google users has been the permanent nature of their @gmail.com address. While you could always change your display name, the actual username was locked in stone, leaving millions of users stuck with unprofessional or “cringe-worthy” handles created years ago.

That is finally changing, however. According to updated Google support documentation (currently only shows the updated details in Hindi), a new feature is “gradually rolling out” that allows users to replace their existing @gmail.com address with a new one without losing a single shred of data.

The news first surfaced via a the “Google Pixel Hub” on Telegram (via 9to5 Google) and suggests that the rollout may be starting in India or other Hindi-speaking markets before a broader global release.

How the new Gmail change works

When you choose a new @gmail.com address, Google doesn’t delete the old one. Instead, your original address is automatically converted into an alias. This means you will receive emails sent to both the new and old addresses in the same inbox, and you can still use your old address to sign in to services like Maps, YouTube, and Drive.

Crucially, all your account data – including your Google Photos library, Drive files, and years of email history – remains completely untouched. This eliminates the headache of creating an entirely new account and manually migrating data, likely breaking third-party app logins and subscriptions in the process.

Understanding the limitations and guardrails

To prevent misuse, Google has implemented some specific restrictions on how often you can swap your identity. You are allowed to change your @gmail.com address up to three times, for a total of four unique addresses over the lifetime of the account. Once you make a change, a few strict rules apply:

• 12-month cooldown: You cannot create another new @gmail.com address or delete the new one for at least one year after the change.
• Account ownership: Your old address remains yours; it cannot be claimed by another user.
• Third-party friction: Google warns that changing your primary identifier might cause issues with “Sign in with Google” on non-Google sites or with tools like Chrome Remote Desktop.

How to check if you have the feature

Since this is a gradual rollout, the option may not be live for your account just yet. To check, you can navigate to the Personal info section of your Google Account settings and look under Contact info > Email. If the feature has reached your account, you will see a “Change” or “Edit” option next to your Google Account email.