This is an important step that will fundamentally change how the company deals with digital identity across its services.
The document appeared in the Google Pixel Hub Telegram group in Hindi only, strongly suggesting that the feature may launch first in India. Google confirms that the rollout will be gradual.
👍 Google Now Allows Users to Change Their @gmail [.]com Email Address
For years, one of the most persistent frustrations for Google users has been the inability to change their primary email address without creating an entirely new account.… pic.twitter.com/uLZ8HTvbYK
Since the launch of Gmail, Google has linked every account to a permanent email address. Although the displayed name can be changed, the @gmail.com address itself remains constant and unchangeable; this is the same address used to sign in to YouTube, Drive, and other services.
This restriction forced users to either live with outdated or inconvenient addresses or to create secondary accounts as a workaround, without Google offering a direct solution for individual users. The new document indicates a clear break with this rigid model.
Google will allow users to change their Gmail address while keeping the same account and all its data intact. Files, photos, subscriptions, and settings will all remain the same.
Most importantly, Google confirmed that the old Gmail address will continue to work. Messages sent to both addresses will arrive in the same inbox, effectively meaning that one account will have two email addresses.
The feature will come with restrictions to maintain security and stability: users will be allowed to change their Gmail address once every 12 months, with a maximum of three changes per account. They will not be able to register another new Gmail address for the same account during this waiting period.
The timing of the new feature's launch creates potential security risks, as cybercriminals may try to exploit the confusion surrounding it to phish users. Since changing your Gmail address affects your login credentials across Google services, it's an attractive target for fraudulent attempts.
Users are advised to be wary of any message urging them to "confirm" or "update" their Gmail address, as Google does not announce major account changes via unsolicited emails. Legitimate options will only appear within the official account settings.
Google has not yet officially announced the feature, and details may change before the global rollout. Users can manually check for availability by visiting 'my.account.google.com/google-account-email'; if the feature is not yet available to them, the option will not appear.
If rolled out widely, this move would represent a rare shift in Google policy, as it would be the first time the company has shown a willingness to allow users to abandon their old Gmail identities without starting from scratch.
