Google now lets you change your email address; here’s how to

We all know someone who is still clinging to a username they made when they were twelve. Maybe it is a gamertag that hasn’t been cool in two decades. The thing with emails is that the longer we stick with one, the more difficult it gets to ditch it.

It’s just tough to start over and lose all the data, which often leads to embarrassing situations like applying for a job with “skaterboi2005@gmail.com” for some. Well, Google has heard their plight and now has a solution.

What you need to know about the switch

Previously, if you wanted a new @gmail.com handle, you had to create an entirely new account and juggle two inboxes. It was a hassle. Now, as reported by 9to5Google, Google is gradually rolling out the ability to simply replace your existing handle with a fresh one.

The feature was first spotted on a support page (oddly, only visible in Hindi at first), but it is making its way to everyone. This means you can swap your current address for a new one without losing your saved emails, photos, or Drive files. Even better, your old address doesn’t just vanish into the ether. It automatically becomes an alias, meaning you will still receive emails sent to that old address right alongside the new ones.

That said, there are some rules to keep in mind. You can’t just swap names every week. That’s because once you make the change, you are locked in for 12 months. Also, each account is limited to a total of three changes.

How to change your Gmail ID

If you are ready to retire that old handle, the process is actually quite straightforward. Just remember that since this is a gradual rollout, you might not see the option immediately.

Step 1. Head to your dashboard: Open your browser and go to myaccount.google.com/google-account-email. You will likely need to sign in first.

Step 2. Find your info: On the left-hand side, look for the “Personal Information” tab and click it.

Step 3. Locate the email setting: Scroll until you see “Contact Info” and click on “Email.” Then select “Google Account email address.”

Step 4. Make the switch: If the rollout has hit your account, you will see an option that says “Change your Google Account email address.” Click that.

Step 5. Enter the new handle: Type in the new username you want. It obviously cannot be one that is already taken.

Step 6. Confirm: Follow the on-screen prompts to finalise it.

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Do note that if you’re not seeing one or more options mentioned above, this perk hasn’t rolled out to you… yet.