Gmail To Allow Email Address Changes Without Data Loss: New Update Solves Years-long User Frustration
Google is preparing a significant update that addresses a persistent issue for Gmail users: the inability to change an email address without abandoning an established account. The tech giant will soon introduce functionality allowing users to modify their existing Gmail username while retaining their original Google account, stored data, and associated services.
Fixing a permanent problem
Historically, Gmail users remained permanently tethered to the email address they initially created, regardless of whether it suited their current identity. This upcoming update resolves that limitation by permitting eligible account holders to swap their current @gmail.com handle for a new one.
This modification is exclusive to personal Google accounts ending in @gmail.com. Accounts managed by workplaces, educational institutions, or those using custom domains are not eligible for this feature. Crucially, the process does not require creating a fresh account or migrating data; the user’s Google profile—including access to Drive, Photos, YouTube, and the Play Store—stays intact.
How to use the feature
Google’s support documentation indicates that users can exchange their current username for a different available @gmail.com address within the same account ecosystem. The rollout will be gradual. To verify eligibility, users should navigate to their Google account settings, select “Personal info,” and click on “Email.” If an edit option appears next to the Gmail address, the feature is active for that account.
Read More: Google Introduces Live Translation Via Headphones: Complete Details
Following the switch, emails sent to either the old or the new address will land in the same inbox. Furthermore, users retain the ability to sign in using either credential.
Status of the old address
The original email address will remain linked to the account, functioning as a recovery contact. Google ensures the old handle stays under the user’s ownership, preventing others from claiming it. While some legacy services, like past Google Calendar invites, might briefly display the former address, core functionality will not be impacted.
Restrictions to prevent abuse
Google has implemented specific safeguards to prevent misuse of the feature. Users are limited to one username change every 12 months. Within that timeframe, however, they have the option to revert to their original address if needed. Additionally, creating a separate new Google account using the discarded address is prohibited during this one-year period, as it remains bound to the original account.
A lifetime cap applies: each Google account is permitted a maximum of three address changes, allowing for a total of four associated usernames over the account’s lifespan.
Eligibility requirements
The feature is restricted to users whose primary email ends in @gmail.com. Enterprise, education, and custom domain accounts remain excluded, and any new address chosen must also use the standard @gmail.com domain.