Up until now, in order to change their email address, Gmail users have needed to create a whole new account. However, Google has now introduced a new feature whereby a Gmail address can be changed without needing to create a new account and without any data loss.
The feature is being rolled out gradually, so not all users will have immediate access.
Note: The feature is included in your Google account settings, not in Gmail’s settings.
To Change Your Gmail Address
- Sign in to your Google Account
- From the left-hand panel, select Personal info
- In the center panel, click Email
- Under Google Account email, if your current email address is associated with an edit/change option, you’re good to go
If it still says “You can’t change this address“, then the feature hasn’t reached you as yet. As I said, the feature is being rolled out gradually, so, in time, it will be available for everyone.
What Happens To Your Old Gmail Address
The old email address will remain active as an alias, so you’ll still receive email sent to that address. This presents somewhat of a two-edged sword:
- On the positive side, it means that you won’t need to update login details for existing accounts
- On the negative side, if your old email address is being heavily spammed, this feature does not provide a solution
BOTTOM LINE:
Apparently, the ability to change a Gmail username has been one of the most often requested features. Although, for the life of me, I fail to see why.
With the possible exception of users whose circumstances have changed, including a name change, surely the primary reason for anyone to change their Gmail address would be to combat spam, and as already pointed out, this feature does not achieve that goal.
In fact, I see little difference between what this feature achieves and creating a new alias as a primary email address.
What are your thoughts? Let us know via the comments.
All the best for a safe and prosperous 2026.
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Good point. No real need to change an email address as I see it as well. If getting spam email just send it to “SPAM” or create a rule to dump it in a folder designated as such. Thanks for the info Jim.
BTW… Love your newsletter. Great tips.
Jaime V.
Hey Jaime,
Pleased to hear you enjoy the newsletter. Comments like yours make it all worthwhile.
Cheers mate… Jim
Hi Jim,
I have a number of Gmail addresses back from when I was more active with my own businesses. So I have sacrificed two of these addresses for possible SPAM. When I set up a sign in for a new site I am not sure of, I use one of these addresses. If it is good site and important to me, I can go into the site and change my contact information with my personal address. That way I have mostly avoided SPAM on my personal address.
It may be nice for some people to change their email address, but it is easier just to create a NEW Gmail address separate from the old one. You can then gradually get people you wish to hear from to change their contact for you. 🙂
I’m guessing changing your email address doesn’t give you a new 15 gigs of free cloud storage. However, creating a new account …..
My wife wants to stop using Yahoo for e-mail and start using Gmail.
What do we need to know and what de we need to do?
(Below, I do not know what to put in the box labeled “Website”)
Hey Roger,
You don’t need to put anything in the “Website” box, that’s just for readers who want to insert a link to a website, usually a website that they own/run.
All you need to do is create a Google account. Go to: How To Create A Gmail Account and follow the guide.
Bear in mind that any online accounts where your wife has used the Yahoo email address as part of the sign-in credentials will need to be updated with the new Gmail address.