Google to finally allow Gmail users to change their primary email address

Google is rolling out a new feature that allows users to change their primary Gmail email address, something that was previously restricted to third-party account holders. With the new change, users will be able to change their username via the My Account settings.

To ensure that emails find their way, your old email address will be retained as an alias, so you can receive mail sent to the old address, and it stays available for signing into Google services such as Maps, YouTube, and Drive. Additionally, if you do change your username, your existing data across Google services will remain available.

The new change was first spotted by the Google Pixel Hub Telegram channel. The change is included on the Hindi language support page, however, it is expected to become available to all users.

There will be limits for the number of times that each account can change its user name. Each account will be limited to three changes, allowing for a total of four unique addresses over the account’s lifetime. Once you’ve changed it, you will not be able to delete the new address or create another one for 12 months.

To reiterate, your old address will be inextricably linked to your account and won’t be able to be claimed or used by anyone else. Additionally, you may see it in odd places such as created Calendar events.

This is a very big change for Google, but very much due. Gmail is now two decades old and if you made an account back then and are still using that account, you may feel like you’ve outgrown your username and want to change it up a bit. Very soon, you should be able to do this.