UPDATE 1/16/26: After previewing the option to change your Gmail address on a customer support page in Hindi, Google has now updated an English-language FAQ page with the same information, so check your account if you’re looking to ditch a Gmail address that hasn’t aged well.
Google warns that you might not see the option right away. “The ability to change your Google Account email is gradually rolling out to all users, and this option may not be available to you yet.”
To check if it’s available on your account, navigate to myaccount.google.com/google-account-email and sign in. On the top left, click Personal info. Click Email > Google Account email. If you have the option to change your email, you’ll see a Change Google Account email option.
Enter the new username that you want. (Google confirms that you won’t be able to use an address that was used and then deleted by someone in the past.) Click Change email > Yes, change email. Follow the steps on the screen. When that’s done, your account will display the new name, though your old one will show as an alternate email.
3 Things to Check First
There are a few caveats, though. If you have a Chromebook, you’ll need to remove your account from the device and then add it to the Chromebook again with your new email address.
Also, if you use Sign in with Google to sign into third-party sites across the web, those sites might not recognize the new email address. “Since some third-party apps identify users by email address, we continue to provide the old username to apps after you change your Google Account email to a new email address,” Google says. To change the email address associated with those accounts, follow these instructions.
You might also encounter some trouble if you use Chrome Remote Desktop. Google’s support page says, “Learn how to fix your remote connections,” but there’s no link attached at the moment.
Google recommends backing up your data as a precaution. For more, see the details below.
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Original Story 12/30/25:
Gmail has been around for more than 20 years now, so chances are high that you’ve outgrown your first email address. However, Google doesn’t offer a way to change your email handle, forcing you to create a new one or stick with a potentially embarrassing moniker.
That could change soon, though. Google is reportedly preparing to gradually roll out the ability for consumers to change their @gmail username for the first time.
According to an FAQ update first spotted by 9to5Google, users will still be able to receive emails sent to their old address. Data stored in a user’s Google account—including photos, messages, and emails sent to the old address—will not be affected by the change.
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Users will still be able to sign in to Google services, such as Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Google Play, and Drive, using either their old or new email address. It will also be possible to send emails from the old username, while the old email address will remain tied to the account and cannot be claimed by another user. Google Workspace admins were already able to change managed users’ addresses while retaining their old data, but this will be the first time free Gmail account users get the option.
There are, however, still some strict limitations. According to the FAQ, users won’t be able to change their email address again or delete the new address within 12 months of making the change. Google has not shared firm details on when the feature will roll out or which regions will receive access first. The relevant support page currently appears only in Hindi, 9to5Google notes, suggesting that users in India may be first in line.
If you’re interested in changing your Gmail address, head to Google Account settings on mobile or desktop, then navigate to Personal Information, then Email, where you may see the option to “Change email address for your Google Account” if the feature is available in your region.
The news comes after Google has removed long-dormant Gmail addresses in recent years, citing cybersecurity concerns such as preventing 2FA fraud. However, it’s unknown whether these deleted email addresses will be up for grabs.
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