Google Is Finally Letting You Change Your Gmail Address Without Losing Everything
Google is quietly testing a long-requested feature that allows users to change their @gmail.com address without losing any data. Your old address becomes an alias. The update was first spotted on a Hindi support page.
Still haunted by that embarrassing email address you created in high school? Google appears to be quietly rolling out a fix. According to an update on the company's account help page, users can now change their existing @gmail.com address to a new one while keeping all their data and services intact. The change was first spotted on the Hindi version of the support page, suggesting a limited initial rollout.
The English-language page currently retains the old guidance, stating that @gmail.com addresses "usually cannot be changed." However, the Hindi support page notes the feature is gradually rolling out to all users, hinting at a future global release. Google did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on the timeline or which regions would get the feature first.
No More Manual Data Migrations
Under the new policy, the original Gmail address isn't deleted. Instead, it automatically becomes an alias for the new one. This means emails sent to the old address will continue to land in your inbox, and you can still use it to sign in to services like Google Drive, Maps, and YouTube.
This is a significant improvement over the previous method. Before, users wanting a new address had to create an entirely new account and manually transfer their data. It was a "complicated and fraught process," as the source noted, that could easily break integrations with third-party apps and lead to lost data. Google confirms that all existing data, including photos, messages, and emails, will remain unchanged after the update.
The Fine Print and What's Next
There are some limitations. A translation of the support page suggests that after changing an address, users won't be able to create another new Gmail address for the next 12 months. It also appears that the newly chosen address cannot be deleted. These measures likely aim to prevent abuse and user confusion.
The feature's existence was reportedly first discovered by users in tech forums, with no formal press release from Google. This low-key approach, combined with the Hindi-only documentation, points to a cautious rollout, possibly starting in the Indian market.
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