Tired of Your Old Email? Google Allows Select Users to Change Their Gmail Address Without Data Loss

For many users frustrated with outdated email handles, this news may be a game-changer: the option to update their Gmail addresses is being discreetly introduced by Google.

Previously, updating an email address meant starting over with a new account, but this is no longer the case according to Google's recently unveiled procedure for altering the email or username attached to an account.

The New Feature in Detail

Described on Google's support page, a fresh feature now permits selected users to directly modify their @gmail.com address without forfeiting any data or losing access to services.

This rollout was initially mentioned in the Google Pixel Hub Telegram group, which conveyed that the update would be gradually accessible to users. As of last Friday, the instructions were present on Google’s Hindi-language support documentation.

Currently, this function seems to be in beta and available only in select areas, specifically those where Hindi is predominantly spoken.

Guidelines and Limitations

Translated guidelines stipulate that the new email must retain the @gmail.com suffix and users are restricted to altering their email address up to three times. Once a change is made, it cannot be reversed.

To initiate the change, users must navigate to their Google Account settings, select 'Personal Info,' and proceed to the 'Email' section, as per a Telegram announcement.

There is no specified timeline for a wider rollout, and Google's response has yet to reach Business Insider regarding further implementations. As of the last update, Google's English support page still lists @gmail.com username changes as typically non-permissible.

Post-Change Email Dynamics

After making an address update, your previous Gmail address acts as an alias, remaining functional for receiving emails. Nonetheless, creating a new Gmail address will be off-limits for a duration of a year following the change.

Accessibility for signing into Google's various services—including Gmail, YouTube, Google Play, and Drive—will remain intact with either the old or the newly-selected email address.