December 30, 2025 — In a move that’s been years in the making, Google has started rolling out a feature that lets Gmail users actually change their email addresses. Yes, you read that right – you can now swap out that embarrassing username you created back in 2008.
The company quietly updated its support page to announce the change, and honestly, it’s about time. For years, people have been stuck with their original Gmail addresses, no matter how much they regretted them later.
So What’s Different Now?
Here’s the deal: you can now pick a new @gmail.com address without losing any of your stuff. Your emails, Google Drive files, YouTube subscriptions – everything stays put. You’re basically just getting a fresh email address attached to the same account.
But here’s the clever part – your old email address doesn’t just disappear. It keeps working as a backup, so if someone emails your old address, you’ll still get it. You can also still use it to log into Google products. Pretty convenient, right?
Who Gets It First?
The feature seems to be launching in India first. Google’s Hindi support page has the full details up already, which suggests they’re testing it out in specific markets before going global. The company says they’ll expand it gradually to more users over the next few months.
The Catch (Because There’s Always One)
Google isn’t letting people go crazy with this. There are some rules:
You can only change your Gmail address once a year. That’s it – one change every 12 months. And you can only do this three times total for your account. Ever.
Once you pick a new address, you’re stuck with it. You can’t delete it and start over. Plus, you’ll have to wait another year before you can create any new Gmail addresses.
Basically, Google wants you to think carefully before making the switch.
How to Change Your Gmail Address on Desktop
If you’re ready to make the change, here’s what you need to do on your computer:
Head over to myaccount.google.com/google-account-email and log in. Look for “Personal Info” and click it. Then find “Email” and select “Google Account Email.”
You should see an option that says “Change email address for your Google account.” If you don’t see it, you’re probably not eligible yet – the feature is still rolling out.
Click that option, type in the new Gmail address you want, and confirm it. That’s all there is to it.
Changing It on Your Android Phone
The mobile process is pretty similar. Open your browser and go to myaccount.google.com/google-account-email. Sign in if it asks you to.
Tap “Personal Info,” then “Email,” then “Google Account Email.” Look for the “Change email address for your Google account” option and tap it. Enter your new address and you’re done.
What Happens After You Change It?
Your new Gmail address works immediately. People can start emailing you at the new address right away. But your old address keeps functioning too – it basically becomes an alternate way to reach you and log in.
When Will Everyone Get This?
Good question. Google hasn’t announced a specific timeline for making this available worldwide. Given that it’s showing up in India first, it seems like they’re doing a gradual rollout to make sure everything works smoothly.
For those who’ve been wanting to ditch their old, cringeworthy email addresses, this is genuinely good news. Just remember – you’ve only got three chances to get it right, so choose wisely.
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