In a significant shift from a long-standing policy, Google appears poised to finally allow users to change their primary Gmail address. For years, individuals who signed up with an @gmail.com address were permanently locked into their initial choice, a restriction that is now set to be lifted according to a newly updated support page.
The End of a Rigid Gmail Rule
The change was first discovered on an official Google support page, though currently it is visible only in Hindi. The page, which originally stated that @gmail.com addresses could not be changed, now details a new process that is gradually rolling out to all users. This suggests the feature is in a limited testing phase before a global announcement.
According to the translated support page, users will be able to change their Google Account email address from one ending in @gmail.com to a new one also ending in @gmail.com. This represents a major new functionality that Google has not officially announced elsewhere.
How the Gmail Address Change Will Work
The process is designed to be seamless and non-destructive. When a user changes their address, their original email will be set as an alias. This means all emails sent to the old address will continue to arrive in the same inbox as the new one.
Importantly, all existing account data—including photos, messages, and emails—will remain unaffected. Users can also sign in to any Google service, like YouTube, Maps, or Drive, using either their old or new email address. The old address will remain under the user's control and cannot be claimed by anyone else.
However, Google is implementing several safeguards:
- Users can change their @gmail.com address up to 3 times, allowing for a total of 4 addresses per account lifetime.
- After making a change, users cannot create another new @gmail.com address or delete the new one for 12 months.
- The old address may still appear in some older instances, such as Calendar events created before the change.
What This Means for Millions of Users
This update addresses a common pain point for early Gmail adopters or those who created addresses they've since outgrown. It offers greater flexibility for managing one's digital identity without the hassle of migrating to a completely new account.
Once the feature is live, users will reportedly be able to make the change through the My Account settings page. While the Hindi-language page appeared earlier than intended, its existence strongly indicates an official announcement from Google is imminent. This move brings Gmail in line with other email providers that have long offered more flexibility, marking a user-friendly evolution for the world's most popular email service.
