Google is introducing a feature that will allow users to change their @gmail.com email address while keeping their existing account and data intact. The update reverses the company’s long-standing policy that prevented most Gmail users from modifying their email IDs once set.
Under the new system, users will be able to replace their existing Gmail username with a new one and continue to use the same Google account. Once the change is made, the original Gmail address will automatically become an alias. Emails sent to both the old and new addresses will be delivered to the same inbox.
The update also covers account access across Google’s services. Users will be able to sign in to services such as Gmail, YouTube, Maps, Drive and Google Play using either the old or the new email address. Google has stated that existing data, including emails, photos, files and messages, will remain unchanged after the address is switched.
The company has put safeguards in place to prevent misuse. The original Gmail address will remain owned by the user and cannot be claimed by another person. However, users will face limits on changes. After switching a Gmail address, the new address cannot be changed or deleted for 12 months, and each account will be allowed to change its “@gmail.com” address only three times over its lifetime.
Some older services may still display the original Gmail address for calendar events created before the change. The feature is being rolled out gradually and is not yet available to all users. Once enabled, users will be able to initiate the change through the “My Account” settings page.
Supporters of the update say it will help users who created Gmail addresses years ago that no longer reflect their personal or professional identities. Others have noted potential risks, including increased opportunities for misuse as email identities become editable.
