Google has begun rolling out a long requested feature that allows users to change their Gmail address without creating a new account, according to an update quietly added to the company’s account help documentation.
The change would let users replace their existing @gmail.com address while keeping all emails, files and Google services intact, a move that could affect hundreds of millions of users worldwide.
The update, first noticed by users and technology forums, appears only on Google’s Hindi language support page, indicating the rollout may have started in India or other Hindi speaking markets.
For years, Gmail users have been unable to change their email address once created. Google’s English language support page has long stated that Gmail addresses “usually cannot be changed,” forcing users to create an entirely new account if they wanted a different address.
That process often required manually transferring emails, contacts and files, a task many users found cumbersome and risky, particularly when third party app integrations were involved.
Under the new policy, users who change their Gmail address will automatically keep their original address as an alias.
Emails sent to the old address will still reach the same inbox, and the original address will continue to work for signing in to Google services such as Drive, Maps and YouTube, according to the updated support page.
Google did not respond to a request for comment from CNBC about the timing or regions of the rollout.
“This is a meaningful quality of life upgrade,” said Rohan Mehta, a New Delhi based digital identity consultant.
“People create email addresses when they are teenagers and carry them into professional life.
Giving users the ability to change Gmail address without losing data reflects how central these accounts have become.”
Mehta added that the alias feature reduces security risks by ensuring older addresses do not become dead endpoints that could be exploited.
A former Google product manager, who requested anonymity due to industry ties, said the change likely required extensive backend updates.
“Email addresses are deeply embedded across Google’s ecosystem. Allowing users to change Gmail address while preserving authentication is technically complex.”
Gmail serves more than one point eight billion active users globally, according to industry estimates.
Competing platforms such as Microsoft Outlook have also historically limited address changes, though some enterprise users have more flexibility through administrators.
Previously, users seeking to change Gmail address had to create a new account and rely on Google’s data transfer tools, which could take days and sometimes disrupted app permissions.
Under the new rules, Google said existing data, including photos, messages and emails, would remain unchanged.
Users may also reuse the old Google account email address at any time, according to a machine translated version of the Hindi support page.
Others expressed cautious optimism. “I’ll wait until it’s fully available,” said Sanjay Verma, an IT manager in Mumbai. “Google rollouts can be unpredictable, and there are restrictions like the twelve month waiting period.”
Accounts that change their Gmail address cannot create another new Gmail address for twelve months and cannot delete the newly chosen address, according to the support page.
The support page states the feature is “gradually rolling out to all users,” suggesting broader availability over time.
However, Google has not issued a formal announcement or press release, leaving uncertainty about when the change will reach users outside initial markets.
Industry analysts expect the feature to be introduced cautiously to avoid abuse and technical disruptions. Additional safeguards or eligibility requirements could be added as the rollout expands.
Google’s move to allow users to change Gmail address marks a significant shift in how the company handles digital identity within its ecosystem.
While details remain limited and availability uneven, the update signals recognition of evolving user needs in a platform that has become foundational to online life. As the rollout continues, clearer guidance from Google is expected.
