Gmail users have been clamoring for a way to change their email addresses for years, and Google is finally acting on the request. The company began rolling out the ability to change email addresses late last month, but the feature is not widely available yet. Until now, Google’s support page for the feature was only available in regional languages. According to 9to5Google, the page is now live in English, offering more clarity on how changing Gmail addresses works and its limitations.
How changing your Gmail address works
The support page notes that users need to head to myaccount.google.com/google-account-email and sign in with their Google accounts to change their email address. From there, users will have to navigate to Personal info > Email > Google Account email and click on the new “Change Google Account email” option. Google notes that it’s possible some users may not see this option, in which case they 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,” and confirm. They will then have to follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. Once finished, the new address will become the default for their Google account, while the old one will be retained as an alternate email address.
Google adds that users will receive new emails at both the old and new addresses, and the data saved in their account, including photos, messages, and emails, won’t be affected. However, the company advises users to take a backup as a precaution.
Limitations and potential issues
The page also notes that users may encounter some issues after changing their Gmail username. For instance, 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 troubleshoot these issues, Google has set up a separate support page.
If the issues persist, users will have the option to revert to their original Gmail address and delete the new one. However, after creating a new email address, users won’t be able to create another for the next 12 months or create new addresses more than three times in total.
As mentioned earlier, the feature is not yet widely available. Google says it’s rolling out gradually, so it might show up for all users in the coming weeks.