Finally! How to Change Your Email Address on Gmail: A Step-by-Step Guide (Keep All Your Data)

Finally, Google has officially announced a feature that allows you to “completely change your Gmail ID (email address) without any data loss”!

Best of all, this feature has been rolled out to US users first, which means you can configure it right now. Let’s dive into exactly what has changed and how you can set it up.

What Has Changed? (Key Summary)

The biggest takeaway is that you can simply change your ID while keeping your existing data 100% intact.

1. No Data Migration Needed: All your data, including your email history, Google Photos, and Google Drive, remains exactly as it is.
2. Old Email Becomes an ‘Alias’: Changing your ID doesn’t mean your old address disappears completely. If someone sends an email to your old address, it will still be received in your new ID’s inbox.
3. Flexible Login: You can log in using both your new ID and your old ID seamlessly.

How to Change Your Gmail ID (Follow Along Right Now!)

If you are using a US Google account, you can easily change your ID by following these steps:

Step 1. Access the Google Account Settings Page on a PC or mobile browser

Access the Google Account settings page. You will see a screen like the one below.

Step 2. Click the Personal info tab on the left or top menu

Select “Personal info,” which is the second option on the left tab.

Step 3. Scroll down and select Email in the Contact info section

Choose the Email section.

Step 4. Click on Google Account Email

If you see a clickable area next to your email address like the image below, the account change feature is enabled for you. Click it and log in with your Google account.

Step 5. Click the Change Google Account email button below your email address

Right under your current Google email address, there is a “Change Google Account email” button. Click it.

Step 6. Enter your new desired ID, authenticate, and save

You will see a warning regarding the account change. Enter your desired account in the circled area shown in the image below, and the email change button will become active. Once you complete this process, your Gmail address change is done.

Today, we’ve walked through how to change your Google Gmail address (or Google Gmail ID). However, before you rush to change it just because the feature is available, there are some important restrictions you must check.

• Can only be changed once a year: To prevent abuse, ID changes are strictly limited to once per year.
• Reversible, but with a penalty: You can revert to your old address at any time. However, if you switch back, you won’t be able to create another new ID for the next 12 months, and the new ID you created once can never be completely deleted.
• Beware of sync and login issues: Changing your ID may cause temporary connection issues or setting resets on Chromebooks, Chrome Remote Desktop, or websites using the ‘Sign in with Google’ feature. It is strongly recommended to back up your Android device data, Chrome sync profiles, contacts, etc., beforehand.

If you’ve been stressed about your email address, head over to your Google account settings right now and make a fresh start with a clean new ID!