I was there, you were there, we’ve all been there. Most of us created our first Gmail account over a decade ago and have outgrown it ever since. You walk up to a hotel counter, shop at a retail store, or check in anywhere, and when you have to say your email address out loud, you’re stuck spelling out something childish you committed years ago.
Worse yet, you’re stuck using that Gmail address just because it’s been your primary address for years and now it seems too late to switch to something new. We’ve been in the same boat for years and we’re pretty sure you are too!
Fortunately, Google has finally added the option to change your Gmail username (the part before “@gmail.com”) without resetting or losing your account data. The feature simply updates your username and you can continue using the new and old addresses as they are.
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How to change your Gmail username without losing any of your data
1. If you are using an Android phone, open any Google app on your phone, such as Gmail, Drive, or Maps, and tap the profile icon at the top right and select Manage your Google account. If you’re on iPhone or desktop, go to myaccount.google.com.
2. On the account settings page, tap personal information.
3. Select Emailand then play Google account email.
4. Here you will see a new option called Change your Google account email. Touch it.
5. You will now be taken to a page where you can choose a new username. Enter your preferred username and check availability. If it’s not available, Google will suggest alternatives you can use.
6. Once you’re happy with your new username, tap Change email at the bottom right.
7. Google will display a confirmation dialog asking if you want to change your primary email address. Tap Yes, change email to confirm.
That’s all. You have now changed your primary Gmail username. You’ll see the new email address in all Google apps and services, while all your existing data will remain intact. That said, there are a few things you should keep in mind before making the switch.
What you should know before changing your Gmail address
Google has made changing your Gmail username pretty easy, but there are a few things you should keep in mind before making the change. First, the feature is currently available only in India and the US. It is also not rolling out to all accounts yet.
Some of my family members in India still don’t see it in their environments, while most of my colleagues in the US already have access. So, there is a chance that you may not see it yet, but once it is available, you can follow the same steps mentioned above.
Google too grades There might be some problems after changing your Gmail username. For example, if you are using a Chromebookyou will need to remove your Google account from the device before making the change; Otherwise, it could cause problems.
Similarly, changing your Gmail address may affect some apps and services where you use the Sign in with Google tool. There is a possibility that you will sign out of certain applications on your phone and you will have to sign in again with your new email.
Speaking of signing in, you’ll be able to use your new and old email address to access your Google Account. Your old email won’t disappear; It will still work as an alias, so if someone sends an email to your old address, they will still receive it in your new email. All your data, including emails, Google Photosand Drive will also remain intact after the change.
That said, you can go back to your old email if you want. It’s also worth noting that you can only change your Gmail address three times after the original one, which means a total of four usernames per account. Additionally, you can only make this change once every twelve months.
This is something that seems needed for a long time, but I’m glad it finally exists now.
Even with all these caveats, I’m still very happy that Google finally added the option to change your Gmail username. I remember a few years ago I had to change my main account because of an embarrassing username I had chosen at school. I tried setting up a new Google account from scratch, but never fully moved on because my primary email was already linked to many services.
Now, luckily, you can switch to a new Gmail username without having to reset everything, and that’s a huge relief. I just hope Google releases it for everyone soon and doesn’t limit it to select regions.
