Loading...
Help others discover this article by sharing it
Check out more articles from the new technologies category
Gmail now brings AI Overviews and advanced email writing tools to your inbox, helping users summariz...
For millions of Gmail users worldwide, an email address created years ago can feel like a permanent digital identity — and not always in a good way. Whether it’s a 2008 username like [email protected] you now find embarrassing or a handle that no longer fits your personal or professional brand, until recently, Gmail offered no simple way to update it. That may be changing in 2026.
Google historically did not allow Gmail users to change their @gmail.com addresses once the account was created. If you wanted a new email address, the only option was essentially to create a brand-new account — a major inconvenience for anyone with years of data, contacts, subscriptions, and linked services.
However, according to a December 2025 Indian Express report, Google has quietly begun rolling out a new feature that lets users modify their existing Gmail address while keeping their current Google Account intact.
This move marks a significant policy shift for Google and could be a game-changer for users who’ve been stuck with outdated or undesirable email usernames for years.
While details are still emerging, here’s what we know so far from Google’s own support documentation and tech coverage:
📧 Users can change their Gmail username (the part before “@gmail.com”) without deleting their account.
📥 Your old email address becomes an alias — meaning emails sent to either the old or new address arrive in the same inbox.
💾 No data loss: All emails, files, photos, and other Google services remain untouched and linked to your account.
🔁 You’ll still sign in to Gmail, YouTube, Drive, Maps, and other Google apps using the new username. The old one continues to work too.
📆 Limits apply: You can change your Gmail address only once every 12 months, and up to three times total per account.
Importantly, this feature is already rolling out gradually — though not all users see it yet. Google is releasing it in phases, so it may take a few months before it’s available globally.
This Gmail update responds to a long-standing user frustration. For years, changing your username typically meant starting over from scratch, which means:
Losing your primary login identity
Having to update login credentials across hundreds of services
Manually migrating contacts and messages
With this update, Gmail finally acknowledges that people change, and so should their digital identifiers.
Here are the primary advantages of this new change feature:
Many professionals today still use decade-old Gmail usernames that may not look professional on a resume, business card, or LinkedIn profile. This update gives users more control over their online personas.
Because the old email becomes an alias and emails continue delivering, you don’t lose important messages — a huge relief for users with years of communication history.
Rather than creating a new account and manually transferring everything (contacts, calendars, subscriptions, files), this built-in Gmail solution does it seamlessly.
While the feature is exciting, there are some limitations:
You can’t change email addresses more than three times per account.
After changing your address, Google restricts reusing the old Gmail address for 12 months as a new standalone account.
Some older Google services may still display your old email address on historic items like calendar entries.
The rollout is gradual, so not everyone has access yet.
Although this article focuses on email address changes, it’s worth noting that Gmail users should continue to prioritize security features such as strong passwords, passkeys, and two-factor authentication. Recent reports highlight Google’s broader efforts to tighten Gmail security, including stronger login methods to defend against phishing and unauthorized access.
Once available to you, the option will likely be found in your Google Account settings:
Go to myaccount.google.com
Click Personal Info
Under Email, look for the edit or “Change Gmail address” option
Choose your new username and follow the steps
Since this feature is still rolling out, the exact menu names and interface may evolve.
If you’ve ever regretted the Gmail username you picked in your teens or early adulthood, relief may be on the way. In 2026, Google plans to finally give users the power to change their Gmail addresses without creating a new account or losing data — a long-requested feature that many consider overdue. From improved professionalism to cleaner digital identity management, this update could redefine how users think about Gmail for years to come.
Apple is reportedly scaling back Vision Pro headset production following lackluster sales, raising q...
Meta’s acquisition of Chinese-founded AI start-up Manus highlights the company’s growing ambition in...
