A long-standing limitation on Gmail accounts may soon be lifted, allowing users to replace the email names they created years ago with something more current.
At present, people using addresses that end in @gmail.com have no way to modify the actual email name tied to their accounts. That restriction appears set to change, based on recently surfaced documentation connected to Google’s account settings.
Several technology publications reported discovering a Google account support page written in Hindi that outlines a process for editing Gmail addresses. The page suggests that some users are already seeing early access to the option as part of a phased release.
“The email address associated with your Google Account is the address you use to sign in to Google services. This email address helps you and others identify your account. 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 page reads, as translated by Google.
According to the instructions shown on the support page, users who have access to the feature can initiate the change from their account settings. The option appears under the user profile menu in the upper-right corner, directing users to manage their account, open personal information settings, and select the Google Account email address section, where a new email name can be entered.
Google also advises users to secure their data before making any changes, noting that backups should be completed prior to updating an email address.
When a Gmail address is changed, the original email does not disappear entirely. Google indicates that the previous address will continue to function as an alias, meaning messages sent to the old address will still reach the account. Stored data, files, and account history are not affected by the update.
The company has also placed limits on how often the change can be made. Users are allowed to reuse a former email address if they choose, but the total number of changes is capped at three.
For now, the feature is not available to users in the Philippines. Google has said the capability is being introduced gradually, with access expanding over time. No formal announcement has been issued detailing a global launch schedule or a confirmed rollout date for specific regions.
