Google has rolled out a feature that allows Gmail users to change their gmail addresses without having to create a new account, a significant shift from its previous policy.
The update, which first appears on Google’s Hindi support page, suggests that the rollout may begin in India before it becomes available globally.
The change marks a departure from Gmail’s long-standing rule that tied users permanently to the email address they chose at sign-up and could ease frustrations for users stuck with outdated or informal usernames from earlier years.
For years, Gmail users were unable to change the primary email address associated with their accounts once it was created, even if they wanted a more professional or updated identifier.
Under the new system, users can replace their existing Gmail address while keeping their account and all connected data, including emails, photos, messages, and access to Google services such as Drive, Maps, YouTube, and more.
According to the updated support documentation, once a user changes their Gmail address, the original address will remain active as an alias, continuing to receive messages in the same inbox. Both the old and new addresses will function for sign-in across Google services.
Google notes that all existing account content including emails, contacts, app subscriptions, and files, will remain unchanged after the address is updated. This means users do not have to manually migrate data as was previously required when switching accounts.
The new feature, according to CNBC, also includes certain limitations. Users will be allowed to change their Gmail address once every 12 months, and each account may only make up to three changes total, allowing a maximum of four Gmail addresses over the life of the account. After a change, the new address cannot be deleted during the 12-month period, and the old address cannot be used to open a new account during that time.
Although Google has not yet issued a formal global announcement about the feature or a timeline for when the change will be available to all users, the gradual rollout and the current Hindi-language support documentation suggest the company is staging the update before broader release.