- Users in the US can now change their Google Account email addresses
- It comes after Google announced the change back in December 2025
- When you change, your old Gmail address will become an alternate email
Just three months after Google unveiled its plans to roll out the option to change your Gmail handle, the tech giant has set those plans in motion by rolling it out to Google Account owners in the US.
In January, we reported on an update to Google’s English-language support page stating that the rollout would commence that week, though Google iterated that it would be very gradual. It rolled out in regions outside the US first, though it’s not clear how widely available it is — I’m based in the UK, and the option to update my email address is still not available.
“Your digital identity just got an upgrade. You can now change your Google Account username (i.e., the part before @gmail.com), which you use to sign in to apps and services like Gmail, Photos, Drive and more,” Google officially announced. “We started rolling this out last year to help your account grow with you”, the company added.
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If the option to change your Gmail address is available to you, there are a few things to be aware of before you update it. Firstly, your old Gmail handle will become an alternate address, but you’ll still receive emails to both old and new addresses. If you’re worried about losing data such as messages, emails, and photos, fear not, these won’t be affected — but Google recommends backing up your data just in case.
When it comes to signing into new devices or Google’s roster of services, you can use either your old or updated Gmail address, and you can change back to your previous email address at any time, according to Google. That said, you’ll have to wait 12 months before you can change your Gmail address again, so make this one count.
How to update your Gmail address
Whether you’re updating your Gmail address in a browser or on an Android device or iPhone/iPad, the process is pretty much the same. All you have to do is head to your computer or mobile browser and use the link myaccount.google.com/google-account-email.
From there, go to ‘Personal info’, then tap ‘Email’ and then ‘Google Account email’. Under this, find ‘Change Google Account email’. If this option isn’t available to you, it might not be possible to change your Google Account email.
If you’re able to make it past this step, Google suggests reviewing potential issues before updating your email address, which you can find on Google’s support page. If none of the issues apply to you, you’re free to change your Gmail handle.
When you enter a new username (given that it’s not already being used by another Google Account), hit ‘Change email’ and then ‘Yes, change email’, and follow the steps after this. Once that’s all complete, you’re free to flaunt your brand new Gmail address and say goodbye to your old, slightly more embarrassing username.
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rowan.davies@futurenet.com (Rowan Davies)
