I have been there, you’ve got been there, we have all been there. Most of us created our first Gmail account greater than a decade in the past, and since then, we have outgrown it. You stroll as much as a resort desk, store at a retailer, or enroll anyplace, and when you must say your e mail handle out loud, you are caught spelling out one thing infantile you made years in the past.
Worse, you are caught utilizing that Gmail handle solely as a result of it has been your main handle for years, and now it feels too late to change to one thing new. We have been in the identical boat for years, and we’re fairly certain you’ve got been too!
Fortunately, Google has lastly added the choice to vary your Gmail username — the half earlier than “@gmail.com” — with out resetting or shedding your account information. The function merely updates your username, and you’ll proceed utilizing each the previous and new addresses as is.
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Find out how to change your Gmail username with out shedding any of your information
1. If you happen to’re utilizing an Android telephone, open any Google app in your telephone, like Gmail, Drive, or Maps, and faucet the profile icon on the highest proper, and choose Handle your Google Account. If you happen to’re on iPhone or desktop, go to myaccount.google.com.
2. On the account settings web page, faucet Private information.
3. Choose Electronic mail, then faucet Google Account e mail.
4. Right here you will see a brand new possibility known as Change your Google Account e mail. Faucet it.
5. You may now be taken to a web page the place you’ll be able to select a brand new username. Enter your most well-liked username and examine availability. If it isn’t accessible, Google will recommend options you should utilize.
6. When you’re completely satisfied together with your new username, faucet Change e mail on the backside proper.
What to learn subsequent
7. Google will present a affirmation dialog asking if you wish to change your main e mail handle. Faucet Sure, change e mail to substantiate.
(Picture credit score: Derrek Lee / Android Central)
That is it. You’ve got now modified your main Gmail username. You may see the brand new e mail handle throughout all Google apps and companies, whereas all of your current information stays intact. That mentioned, there are some things it is best to take into account earlier than making the change.
What it is best to know earlier than altering your Gmail handle
(Picture credit score: Jay Bonggolto / Android Central)
Google has made altering your Gmail username fairly straightforward, however there are some things it is best to take into account earlier than making the change. First, the function is at present accessible solely in India and the U.S. It additionally is not rolling out to all accounts but.
A few of my relations in India nonetheless do not see it of their settings, whereas most of my colleagues within the U.S. have already got entry. So there’s an opportunity you won’t see it but, however as soon as it turns into accessible, you’ll comply with the identical steps talked about above.
Google additionally notes that there may very well be just a few points after you modify your Gmail username. For instance, when you’re utilizing a Chromebook, you will have to take away your Google account from the system earlier than making the change — in any other case, it might trigger issues.
(Picture credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)
Equally, altering your Gmail handle may have an effect on some apps and companies the place you employ the Sign up with Google software. There’s an opportunity you will be logged out of sure apps in your telephone, and you may have to signal again in utilizing your new e mail.
Talking of signing in, you’ll use each your previous and new e mail addresses to entry your Google account. Your previous e mail will not disappear; it should proceed to work as an alias, so if somebody sends an e mail to your previous handle, you will nonetheless obtain it in your new e mail. All of your information, together with emails, Google Images, and Drive, will even stay intact after the change.
That mentioned, you’ll be able to change again to your previous e mail if you need. It is also value noting that you could solely change your Gmail handle thrice after the unique, which implies a complete of 4 usernames per account. On prime of that, you’ll be able to solely make this variation as soon as each twelve months.
That is one thing that feels lengthy overdue, however I am glad it lastly exists now
Even with all these caveats, I am nonetheless actually completely satisfied Google has lastly added the choice to vary your Gmail username. I bear in mind just a few years in the past after I needed to change my main account due to an embarrassing username I had picked again at school. I attempted organising a brand new Google account from scratch, however I by no means absolutely moved over since my important e mail was already tied to so many companies.
Now, fortunately, you’ll be able to change to a brand new Gmail username with out resetting all the pieces, and that is an enormous aid. I simply hope Google rolls this out to everybody quickly and would not hold it restricted to pick out areas.

