In a significant update for millions of users, Google has started allowing account holders to change their primary email address ending in '@gmail.com' to a new one. The tech giant confirmed that this change will not affect any existing data, including emails, photos, and messages stored in the account.
How the New Gmail Address Change Feature Works
The update, which began its gradual rollout on December 30, is currently visible on select language versions of Google's official support pages. According to the information available, when a user switches to a new Gmail ID, their old email address is automatically set as an alias for the account. This means all data sent to the old address remains accessible.
The email address linked to a Google Account is crucial as it is used to sign in to various services like Gmail, YouTube, Maps, and Drive. The new feature provides users the flexibility to update this identifier while maintaining their complete digital history.
Important Limitations and User Guidelines
Google has clarified that this feature is being released in phases and might not be immediately available to all users. The company stated, "The ability to change your Google Account email address is gradually rolling out to all users."
There is also a notable restriction: once a user creates a new Gmail address, they cannot create another new one for the same account for a period of 12 months. However, the old address can be reused at any time. Users can sign in to all Google services using either their old or new email address after the change.
Steps to Check and Use the Feature
To see if the feature is active on their account, users need to navigate to the 'Personal information' section within their Google Account settings and look under the email category. Despite Google's assurance that data like photos and messages will be safe, the company advises users to back up their information before initiating the change. This precaution is recommended because some app-specific settings might be reset during the process.
This update simplifies long-term account management for users who may wish to move away from an old or less preferred email address without the hassle of migrating data to a brand-new account. It represents a user-centric shift in how Google handles digital identity.
