How to change your Gmail address
For over 20 years, a Gmail address was permanent. The username you chose when creating your account (the part before @gmail.com) could not be changed. If you regretted a handle created as a teenager or if your address had leaked in a data breach, the only option was to create a new account and migrate everything manually. Google changed this in late 2025 by gradually rolling out a feature that lets you change your @gmail.com address directly, without losing your emails, files or data.
Before going further, an important clarification: changing your Gmail address (the username, for example switching from [email protected] to [email protected]) and changing the display name that appears when you send an email are two different operations. This guide covers both.
The new feature: changing your @gmail.com address
Since late 2025, Google has been gradually rolling out the ability to change the @gmail.com address linked to your Google account, without creating a new account. The rollout began in the United States and is expanding to other regions throughout 2026. The feature is not yet available to all users.
To check whether you have access, go to accounts.google.com, click on "Personal info", then "Email" under the "Contact info" section, and select "Google Account email". If the option "Change your Google Account email address" appears, you are eligible. If it does not appear, the feature has not yet reached your account.
How it works in practice
If the feature is available on your account, the process is straightforward. From your Google account page, go to "Personal info", then "Email", then "Google Account email". Click "Change your Google Account email address". Enter the new username you want (the part before @gmail.com). Google checks availability in real time. Confirm the change.
The change takes effect immediately. Your new address becomes the primary address for your Google account. You do not need to sign in again: your existing sessions remain active.
What happens to your old address
Your old Gmail address does not disappear. It is automatically converted into an alias. This means several things in practice. Emails sent to your old address continue to arrive in your inbox, exactly as before. You can still use your old address to sign in to all Google services (Gmail, YouTube, Drive, Photos, Maps). You can also choose to send emails using your old address as the sender.
The old address cannot be assigned to another user. Nobody else will be able to create an account with your former username. This is an important security point: third-party services linked to your old address will continue to work normally.
Limitations you should know
Google has imposed restrictions to prevent misuse. You can change your Gmail address a maximum of three times over the lifetime of your account, giving you a total of four different addresses (the original plus three changes). After each change, you must wait 12 months before making another. You cannot delete the new address after the change, but you can continue using the old one as an alias.
The feature applies only to personal @gmail.com accounts. Google Workspace accounts (managed by an employer or school) are not covered. If your account uses a non-Gmail address as the primary identifier, different rules apply.
All your data stays intact
Changing your address does not touch your data. All your existing emails remain in your inbox. Your Google Drive files stay in place. Your Google Photos library remains accessible. Your YouTube history (watched videos, subscriptions, playlists) is preserved. Your Google Calendar events remain in place. Your Google Play purchases are kept. It is the same Google account with a new identifier, not a new account.
What the address change does not do
Changing your Gmail address does not automatically update third-party services. If you use your old address to sign in to websites, apps, online banking or social media, those services will continue to work thanks to the alias, but it is recommended to update your address on each service to avoid long-term confusion.
Changing your address is not a solution against spam. Emails sent to your old address continue to arrive in your inbox, including spam. If your old address is compromised in data breaches, spammers will still be able to reach it. To reduce spam, use Gmail's filters and blocking features, or consider using disposable aliases for future sign-ups.
Changing your address also does not erase your data history with Google or your presence in breach databases. It is not a reset of your digital identity.
If the feature is not yet available
If you do not see the address change option in your account settings, you have an alternative: create a new Gmail account and migrate your data.
Step 1: create the new account. Go to accounts.google.com and create a new Google account with the address you want. Choose a professional, lasting username.
Step 2: enable automatic forwarding. On your old Gmail account, go to Settings (the gear icon at the top right), then "See all settings", then the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab. Click "Add a forwarding address" and enter your new address. Confirm via the link sent to the new address. Then enable automatic forwarding. All new emails received on the old address will be automatically redirected to the new one.
Step 3: import your history. On your new Gmail account, go to Settings, then the "Accounts and Import" tab. Click "Import mail and contacts" and follow the instructions to import your old emails and contacts from the former account.
Step 4: update third-party services. Go through your online accounts (social media, banks, subscriptions, shops) and update the contact email address. This is the most tedious part but also the most important.
Changing the display name (without changing the address)
If what you want to change is not the address itself but the name that appears when you send an email (for example, switching from "CoolKid2005" to "John Smith"), this is much simpler and is available to everyone.
Go to accounts.google.com and click on "Personal info". Under "Basic info", click "Name". Edit your first and/or last name and save. The display name change takes effect immediately on new emails sent. Recipients will see the new name in their inbox.
You can also change the display name directly from Gmail: click the Settings gear, "See all settings", "Accounts and Import" tab, then "edit info" next to your address in the "Send mail as" section.
Security tips after an address change
If you change your Gmail address, take the time to secure your account. Enable two-step verification if you have not already. Check the security keys and recovery methods linked to the account. Update the recovery email address if it pointed to the old address. Check the list of third-party apps with access to your Google account in the security settings and revoke any you do not recognise.
If you created a new account rather than using the change feature, do not delete the old account immediately. Keep it active with automatic forwarding for at least 6 to 12 months, to make sure all important services have been updated.
Impact on professional email and Google Workspace
The address change feature applies only to personal Gmail accounts (@gmail.com). If you use a Google Workspace account (provided by your employer or school, such as [email protected]), you cannot change the address yourself. It is the administrator of your organisation who manages email addresses for Workspace accounts.
If you need to change your Workspace address, contact your IT administrator. The procedure is different and depends on the organisation's internal policies.
| What you want to do | Method | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Change the @gmail.com username | New Google feature (accounts.google.com) | Gradual rollout, not yet universal |
| Change the username if the feature is unavailable | Create a new account + forwarding | Available to everyone |
| Change the display name | Google account or Gmail settings | Available to everyone |
| Change a Google Workspace address | Contact IT administrator | Depends on the organisation |
After 20 years of permanent addresses, Google finally offers the ability to change your @gmail.com username without starting over. The process keeps all your data, turns the old address into an alias, and takes effect immediately. If the feature is not yet available on your account, migrating to a new account with automatic forwarding remains the most reliable alternative. In both cases, remember to update your third-party services and secure your account after the change.