Google appears to be preparing one of the biggest changes in Gmail’s history: allowing users to change their @gmail.com address while keeping the same account. An official Google support document indicates that this long-standing restriction may soon be lifted, starting with a gradual rollout that appears to be India-first, as the document has surfaced only in Hindi so far, as reported by CNBC.
Since Gmail launched, a user’s email address has been permanently tied to their Google account. While display names could change, the actual Gmail ID could not. Because that address also serves as the login for services like YouTube, Drive, and Photos, changing it meant creating an entirely new account and migrating data. Many users stuck with outdated or awkward usernames simply to avoid that disruption.
According to the support document, Google will allow users to replace their Gmail address without affecting their existing data. Emails, files, photos, subscriptions, and settings remain intact. Notably, the old Gmail address will continue to work, with messages sent to both the old and new addresses arriving in the same inbox. In effect, one account gains two Gmail identities.
There are strict limits. Users will be allowed to change their Gmail address only once every 12 months, with a maximum of three changes total. During the waiting period, they cannot register another Gmail address for that account. These restrictions reflect Google’s caution, since Gmail addresses are deeply tied to security, recovery, and identity verification.
While similar flexibility already exists through aliases on services like Outlook and Proton Mail, or via paid Google Workspace plans, this would be the first time standard personal Gmail accounts gain such functionality.
The change also raises security concerns. Any feature involving account identity is a prime target for phishing. Users should ignore emails or messages urging them to “confirm” or “update” their Gmail address, as Google does not roll out sensitive features through unsolicited links. Legitimate options will appear only within official account settings. Availability can be checked directly at my.account.google.com/google-account-email, where the option will either be present or absent depending on rollout status.
Google has not formally announced the feature, and details could still change. Even so, the existence of an official support document signals a rare and significant shift. For the first time, Google appears ready to let users move on from old Gmail identities without starting from scratch.
