You Can Finally Change Your Gmail Address Without Losing Anything

Google is finally rolling out a long-requested feature that lets users change their Gmail address without creating a new account. Previously, anyone looking to switch away from an outdated username had to start over entirely. The new option is now available to some users in the United States, with a broader rollout underway.



With the update, users can choose a new available @gmail.com username while keeping their existing emails, Google Drive files, Google Photos, and integrations like Gemini in Gmail. Google turns the previous address into an alternate email, meaning messages sent to the old username will still arrive in the same inbox. Users can also continue signing in and sending emails with either address.


There are limits on how often the change can be made. Google allows users to choose a new username once every 12 months, with a lifetime cap of three changes. Users can also switch back to a previous address at any time.

Old addresses remain tied to the account. Even if the account is deleted, the previous username cannot be claimed by anyone else, helping prevent impersonation.

The feature is rolling out gradually, so it may not be available to all users yet. Google notes that while most services update automatically, older calendar invites and shared documents created before the change may still display the original email address. Users with work, school, or managed accounts will need to contact their administrator to request changes.

Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on X, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for more updates.