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Google is finally preparing to allow users to change their @gmail.com email address, a long-awaited feature that could give millions greater flexibility in managing their inbox identities. According to a newly surfaced Google support document, users will soon be able to modify their Gmail address or create a new @gmail.com alias linked to the same Google Account.
The development was first spotted in a Telegram group and later confirmed through the support documentation, which suggests the feature is already rolling out to select users. Until now, Google users could add non-Gmail recovery emails or use dots and plus addressing, but changing the actual @gmail.com username was not possible.
Greater Control over Gmail Identities
Explaining the change, Google said the email address associated with a Google Account is the primary identifier used to sign in to services and communicate with others. “If you’d like, you can change your Google Account email address that ends in gmail.com to a new email address that ends in gmail.com,” the support document states.
This marks a significant shift in Gmail’s long-standing policy. While Google Workspace users with custom domains have long been able to manage multiple aliases, regular Gmail users were locked into their original usernames—often created years ago and no longer suitable for professional or personal use.
Limited Rollout, India Likely First Test Market
Interestingly, the support document currently appears only in Hindi, suggesting the feature may be undergoing limited testing in India before a wider global rollout. Google has not made any official announcement yet, but the presence of detailed documentation indicates that the feature is active, at least for a subset of users.
If enabled for an account, the option to change the Gmail address is expected to appear within the account settings page, along with a direct link to the support guide explaining the process.
Original Gmail Address Will Continue to Work
According to the document, changing a Gmail address will not disable the original email ID. Instead, users will likely retain both addresses as aliases, meaning emails sent to either address will still reach the same inbox. This approach mirrors how other email services like Outlook and Proton Mail have long handled address aliases.
While the feature promises more flexibility, Google has not clarified whether there will be limits on how often an address can be changed or whether all usernames will be available.
No Timeline for Global Availability
At present, there is no confirmed timeline for when the Gmail address change feature will roll out to all users worldwide. However, the discovery of the support page suggests Google is actively testing the functionality and preparing for a broader release.
If rolled out globally, the update would mark one of the most significant Gmail changes in years, finally allowing users to update their email identity without creating an entirely new account.
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