Google Introduces New Email Address Change Feature

Google has begun the gradual rollout of a new feature that will enable users to change their email addresses from @gmail.com to a new address while retaining the same domain. This is outlined in the updated help page of the company.

Previously, Google only allowed address changes if the account was linked to a third-party email service. Users with @gmail.com accounts did not have this option. Now, this limitation is being lifted. Google states that the new process "is gradually becoming available to all users".

According to the description, users will be able to modify their current @gmail.com address to a new one with a different username, but still under the same domain. The original address will not disappear; it will become an alias and continue to function for logging into the account and receiving emails in the same inbox.

Google emphasizes that during the address change, all account data, including emails, files, photos, and service history, will remain unchanged. Access to Google services – Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Google Play, or Drive – can be done with both the old and the new address.

However, there are some limitations. After changing the address, the user will not be able to change or delete it for 12 months. A single account can change its @gmail.com address no more than three times in total. The old address cannot be used to create a new account for a year, and it will not become available to other users.

The company also warns that in some cases, the old address may still appear for a while, particularly in Google Calendar events created before the address change. Sending emails from the old address will also be possible.

It is expected that after the full rollout, the feature will be available through the "My Account" section in Google's settings. However, the company has not yet announced the exact timeline for the global launch.