I’ve been there, you’ve been there, we’ve all been there. Most of us created our first Gmail account more than a decade ago, and since then, we’ve outgrown it. You walk up to a hotel desk, shop at a retailer, or sign up anywhere, and when you have to say your email address out loud, you’re stuck reciting some childish thing you made up years ago.
Even worse, you’ve been using that Gmail address simply because it’s been your primary address for years, and now it’s too late to change to something new. We’ve been in the same boat for years, and we’re pretty sure you are too!
Thankfully, Google has finally added this option Change your Gmail username – the part before “@gmail.com” – without resetting or losing your account data. The feature simply updates your username, and you can continue using both the old and new addresses.
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How to Change Your Gmail Username Without Losing Any of Your Data
1. If you are using an Android phone, Open any Google app on your phone, like Gmail, Drive, or Maps, and Tap the profile icon At the top right, select More Manage your Google Account. If you’re on an iPhone or desktop, go to myaccount.google.com.
2. On the Account Settings page, tap personal information.
3. choose emailthen tap Google account email.
4. Here you will see a new option named Change your Google Account email. Tap it.
5. You will now be taken to a page where you can choose a new username. Enter your preferred username and check availability. If it’s not available, Google will suggest alternatives you can use.
6. Once you’re happy with your new username, tap Change e-mail Bottom right.
7. Google will show a confirmation dialog asking if you want to change your primary email address. Tap Yes, change email To confirm.
That’s it. You have now changed your primary Gmail username. You’ll see the new email address across all Google apps and services, while all your existing data will remain intact. That said, there are a few things you should keep in mind before making the switch.
What you need to know before changing your Gmail address
Google has made it fairly easy to change your Gmail username, but there are a few things you should keep in mind before making the switch. First of all, this feature is currently available only in India and the US and is not available for all accounts yet.
Some of my family members in India still don’t see it in their settings, while most of my coworkers in the US already have access. So chances are you may not be able to see it yet, but once it becomes available, you will be able to follow the same steps mentioned above.
Google too notes Some problems may occur after changing your Gmail username. For example, if you’re using a Chromebook, you’ll need to remove your Google account from the device before making changes – otherwise, it may cause problems.
Similarly, changing your Gmail address may affect some apps and services where you use the Google Sign in tool. There’s a possibility that you’ll be logged out of some apps on your phone, and you’ll need to sign back in using your new email.
Speaking of signing in, you’ll be able to use both your old and new email address to access your Google Account. Your old email will not disappear; This will continue to serve as an alias, so if someone sends an email to your old address, you’ll still receive it on your new email. All your data, including email, Google Photos, and Drive, will also remain intact after the switch.
That said, you can switch back to your old email if you prefer. It’s also worth noting that you can only change your Gmail address three times after the original address, which means a total of four usernames per account. Additionally, you can make this change only once every twelve months.
This is something that seems long overdue, but I’m glad it finally exists now.
Despite all these warnings, I’m still really happy that Google has finally added the option to change your Gmail username. I remember a few years ago when I had to change my primary account because of an embarrassing username I chose in school. I tried setting up a new Google account from the beginning, but I was never able to go all the way because my main email was already tied to multiple services.
Now, thankfully, you can switch to a new Gmail username without resetting everything, and that’s a huge relief. I just hope Google implements this for everyone soon and doesn’t restrict it to select regions.
