Gmail users have been demanding a way to change their email addresses for years, and Google is finally answering their request. The company began rolling out the ability to change email addresses late last month, but the feature is not yet widely available. Previously, Google’s support page for the feature was only available in regional languages. According to 9to5Google, the site is now live in English and provides more clarity on how changing Gmail addresses works and what limitations there are.
Here’s how changing your Gmail address works
The support page notes that users must go to myaccount.google.com/google-account-email and sign in with their Google accounts to change their email address. From there, users will need to navigate to Personal Information > Email > Google Account Email and click on the new “Change Google Account Email” option. Google notes that some users may not see this option and, if so, will not be able to change their email address.
If the option is available, users can enter the new address on the following page, click Change Email Address, and confirm. They then need to follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. Once you’re done, the new address will become the default address for your Google account, while the old one will remain as an alternate email address.
Google adds that users will receive new emails to both the old and new addresses, and data stored in their account, including photos, messages and emails, will not be affected. However, the company advises users to create a backup as a precaution.
Limitations and possible problems
The page also notes that users may face issues after changing their Gmail username. For example, some Google app settings may be reset, or third-party apps that use Sign in with Google may not recognize the new email address. To help users resolve these issues, Google has created a separate support page.
If problems persist, users have the option to return to their original Gmail address and delete the new one. However, after creating a new email address, users will not be able to create another email address for the next 12 months or create new addresses more than three times in total.
As mentioned, the feature is not yet generally available. Google says the rollout will be gradual, so it may be available to all users in the coming weeks.
