Google Begins Letting Gmail Users Change Their Email Address — Without Losing Data
For the first time ever, Google is rolling out a feature that allows Gmail users to change their @gmail.com email address without creating a new account or losing their existing data, emails, or access to services like Drive, YouTube, Maps, and Photos. Previously, Gmail addresses were permanent if someone wanted a new address, they had to open a new account and manually move everything over.
What’s New
- Users will soon be able to replace their current Gmail address with a new one while keeping all emails, files, photos, contacts, and account access intact.
- Once the change is made, the old address becomes an alias, meaning you’ll still receive mail sent to it in the same inbox and can use it to sign in if needed.
- This update solves a long-standing pain point for people stuck with old, unprofessional, or embarrassing email IDs created years ago.
Rollout and Language Support
- The feature was first spotted on Google’s official Hindi support page, suggesting India (and Hindi-speaking markets) could be among the first places to get access.
- It appears to be rolling out gradually, so not all users will see it immediately English-language support pages may not yet reflect the change in all regions.
How It Works (Reportedly)
- After choosing a new Gmail address, your old one stays active as an alias and still delivers email to your inbox.
- Your Google account data including email history, Drive files, photos, and access to all linked Google services remains unchanged.
- This represents a major shift from the old Gmail rules, where changing your email address meant starting a new account entirely.
Why It Matters
This change simplifies account management and modernizes how people control their online identity. Many users especially those who signed up with informal or outdated email names have wanted this flexibility for years. The new feature makes it easier to update your digital identity without the hassle of losing your data or migrating services manually.
Google is quietly rolling out a much-anticipated Gmail feature that lets users change their official Gmail address without creating a new account, lose data, or disrupt access to Google services and India appears to be one of the first markets where it’s becoming available.
