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Google appears to be working on a long-awaited feature that will allow users to change their Gmail address without losing any existing emails, files, or account data, which users have requested. According to recently updated support documentation found on Google’s Hindi language help pages, the company is developing a system that will allow users to select a new Gmail address while keeping their original inbox and account intact. While the feature is not yet live, the 9To5Google report indicates that a phased rollout is planned, with initial access limited to a small number of users.
The proposed system would convert the user’s original Gmail address into a different one once a new address is selected. Both addresses would continue to be valid for signing in, and emails sent to either address would arrive in the same inbox. Google also states that users will not lose any messages, settings, or account information, which is a significant departure from the current setup, as changing email addresses typically requires completely deleting Gmail or creating a new account.
Google currently allows users to link third-party email addresses to their accounts, but doing so requires giving up Gmail entirely. A native option to rename a Gmail address has never been officially available, forcing users to rely on workarounds like account forwarding or migration to a new inbox.
The upcoming feature will have restrictions. Users will reportedly be able to change their Gmail address once every 12 months, with a maximum of three changes per lifetime. This is intended to prevent abuse and reduce identity confusion throughout Google’s ecosystem.
It must be noted that the documentation does not clarify when the feature will be rolled out or even if it will be available in all the regions. Also, the search giant has also not confirmed the update at the moment and it still remains unclear if all account types including older or Workspace-linked accounts will be supported or not.
If implemented globally, this would be a big change to Gmail account management in years, offering the users to refresh the email address without needing to start over.