Google Hints at Letting You Change Your Gmail Address Without Losing Your Data
An online posting by Google offers a tantalizing possibility.
An online posting by Google offers a tantalizing possibility.
Julian Dossett Writer
Julian is a contributor and former staff writer at CNET. He's covered a range of topics, such as tech, crypto travel, sports and commerce. His past work has appeared at print and online publications, including New Mexico Magazine, TV Guide, Mental Floss and NextAdvisor with TIME. On his days off, you can find him at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque watching the ballgame.
2 min read
If you've outgrown the Gmail address you created long ago, you might soon be able to do something about that -- and without losing access to the emails and files associated with the previous Gmail account.
A Google explainer page recently popped up stating that users should be able to make the change soon, though there's a big caveat, at least at the moment: It's a Hindi language page, and it doesn't give a timeline for when this feature might become available more widely.
"The Google Account email address change feature is slowly being rolled out to all users. Therefore, this option may not be available to you right now," the support page states (translated with Safari).
Google didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
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How to check if you can make the Gmail name change
There's a ton of information on the Google support page for how the feature will work after you make the switch. You'll be able to receive emails to both your old address and you new address, and the data saved on the account associated with the original address will not be impacted by the new address.
So, you should be able to access all of your data using either address, and you can use the new address to sign in to Google services, like YouTube, Google Maps and Google Play. For 12 months after its creation, you won't be able to delete the new address.
To check if you can use this new feature, sign in to your Google account. Click on "Personal Information" in the top left corner. Then, in the email section, click on "Google Account Email." Finally, click on "Change Google Account Email Address." If you don't see this option, the feature may not be available where you live yet.
For people using a Chromebook, there may be additional steps. The same goes for those who use their Google account to sign in to third-party websites and for those who use a Chrome remote desktop.
The support page also lists instructions for Android, iPhone and iPad users. But again, all of it is currently written in Hindi.
Gmail has between 1.5 billion and 2 billion users, according to various websites that track Google user statistics. Statista puts the number at 1.8 billion. Gmail is by far the largest email provider in the world.