Google rolls out feature allowing users to change their Gmail addresses
FILE PHOTO (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Reports from multiple tech outlets suggest that Google is beginning to test a feature that allows users to change their Gmail usernames. The discovery came from a Google Account support page, initially spotted in Hindi, that outlines the option for eligible users to modify their Gmail address while keeping the same account.
“The email address associated with your Google Account is the address you use to sign in to Google services. This email address helps you and others identify your account. If you’d like, you can change your Google Account email address that ends in gmail.com to a new email address that ends in gmail.com,” the page reads, as translated by Google.
How to check if you can change your Gmail address
According to the support page, the option isn’t available to everyone just yet. To see if your account qualifies, you’ll need to access your Google Account on a computer. From there, head to Personal info, select Email and tap Google Account email. If the setting can’t be opened, it likely means your account isn’t eligible at this time.
Accounts tied to workplaces, schools or organizations may require administrator approval, while most standard Gmail users will have to wait until the feature reaches their region.
How to edit your email address
If the option appears, users can edit their email address by selecting Edit next to their current Gmail. The new username must not already be in use by another Google Account. After entering the new address, Google will send a verification link to confirm the change.
Once verified, the update takes effect without deleting any saved data. Emails, files, photos, subscriptions and app access remain intact – an important detail for users who rely on Gmail for both personal and professional use.
Rather than disappearing, the original Gmail address becomes an alias. Messages sent to the old address will still arrive in your inbox, ensuring no missed emails during the transition. Google also allows users to reuse their old address later, though changes are limited to three times per account.
As of writing, the feature is not yet accessible in the Philippines. Google has only said it is “gradually rolling out to all users,” with no official global launch date announced.
