Many Gmail users have lived with email addresses they picked as teenagers. Now, Google is offering an escape hatch.
Google has begun rolling out a new Gmail feature that allows users to change their @gmail.com address while keeping their existing account, data, and connected services intact. The update marks a major shift for a service that has historically treated Gmail addresses as permanent.
The change is not yet available to everyone. According to Google’s documentation, the rollout is gradual, and some users may not see the option immediately.
“The ability to change your Google Account email address is gradually rolling out to all users, so this option may not be available to you right now,” Google states on its support page. As of the time of writing, the updated guidance is available on the Hindi-language version of Google’s support site, suggesting that the rollout may have started in India or other Hindi-speaking regions.
Under the new system, users can switch their existing Gmail address to a new one while keeping their original address active as an alias. Emails sent to the old address will continue to arrive in the inbox, and both the old and new addresses can be used to sign in to Google services such as Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive, Maps, and Google Photos.
Importantly, Google says users will not lose any data in the process. Emails, files, photos, subscriptions, calendars, and purchase history remain untouched after the address change.
Limits and restrictions apply
The new flexibility comes with limits. Users can only change their Gmail address once every 12 months. There is also a lifetime cap on how many times an address can be changed — up to three changes, for a total of four Gmail addresses tied to one account.
Once a new Gmail address is chosen, it cannot be deleted. Users also won’t be able to create another new Gmail address for the same account for at least a year after making the change.
The feature applies only to personal Gmail accounts ending in @gmail.com. Google accounts provided through workplaces, schools, or other organizations are not included.
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No formal announcement yet
Despite the significance of the change, Google has not issued a press release or official blog post. The update was first spotted in user communities and later confirmed through Google’s own support documentation.
As of now, Google has not clarified which regions will receive the feature first or when it will be available worldwide. On the English-language support page, the old message still appears, stating that Gmail addresses “can’t be changed.”
While this feature is exciting, experts are warning users to stay vigilant. Forbes reports that hackers often use major feature rollouts as bait for phishing attacks. If you get an email with a link that says “click here to change your Gmail address,” be careful.
Furthermore, Gmail is cleaning house in other ways as 2026 approaches. Google is phasing out older “POP” access for third-party apps in favor of the more secure “IMAP” protocol. According to Forbes, Google said, “Gmail will no longer support checking emails from third-party accounts through POP.”
Users who check their mail via third-party apps have until the end of this year to switch to the more modern settings.
Also read: Google is pushing Gmail users toward passkeys as phishing grows more convincing.