In a move celebrated by many long-time users, Google has finally introduced the ability to change your Gmail address. This update solves a common problem for people stuck with embarrassing or outdated email handles created years ago.
What The New Feature Allows
According to an update on Google's official account help page, users can now replace their existing @gmail.com address with a brand new one. The crucial part is that all existing data, services, and connections are retained. This means your emails, photos, messages, and links to services like Google Drive or YouTube remain intact.
The change was first spotted on December 27, 2025, as reported by Linda Ikeji. Interestingly, the updated guidance initially appeared only on the Hindi version of Google's support page. This suggests the feature's rollout may have begun in India or other Hindi-speaking markets before a wider global release.
How It Works and Important Limitations
Under the new system, when a user changes their address, their original email automatically becomes an alias. Emails sent to the old address will still arrive in the inbox, and it can still be used to sign in to Google services. Users can also revert and reuse their old Google account email address at any time.
However, Google has set some important rules. Accounts that change their Gmail address will not be allowed to create another new address for 12 months. Furthermore, once you pick a new address, you cannot delete it. The English-language support page, as of the initial report, still showed the old guidance stating that @gmail.com addresses "usually cannot be changed," indicating a phased rollout.
A Major Shift From The Old Process
This new feature is a significant upgrade from the previous, cumbersome method. Before this, users wanting a fresh Gmail address had to create a completely new account. They then faced the tedious task of manually transferring all their data, a process that often broke integrations with third-party apps and caused major disruption.
Google has confirmed that all existing data remains untouched after an address update. The company stated the feature is gradually rolling out to all users, signaling that full global availability is on the horizon. For millions of users in Nigeria and worldwide, this means finally ditching those cringe-worthy email addresses from their youth without starting from scratch.
