Finally: Google in a secret move that will allow you to change your Gmail address

Google has begun a quiet experiment that may change a two-decade-old habit, allowing users to change their Gmail address without opening a new account. The new feature was accidentally revealed on a support page, not yet active for everyone, but if officially launched it will affect hundreds of millions of users worldwide. This is one of the oldest requests of Gmail users, especially those who opened an account at a young age or before they realized how much the address would become their digital identity. Google makes it clear that this is a gradual and quiet deployment, but the details that have already been published outline a significant change in the company’s policy.

The quiet revolution in personal email: after years of refusal, Google signals a dramatic policy change. Users will be able to choose a new Gmail address without losing information or access to services. The old address will not disappear, but will become an active alias. The move is still experimental, but is already generating huge interest in the network.

For many years, Gmail was considered a permanent identity almost for life. Users could change their password, display name and even an external email address, but those who opened an account ending in gmail.com had to stick with it. Google previously explained that this was not possible, and directed users to open a new account, a solution that many considered cumbersome and problematic. Now the attitude seems to be changing.

A detailed description of a new process that allows changing an existing Gmail address to another Gmail address, with a new username, appeared on Google’s support page. The page itself was presented at this stage only in the Hindi language, a detail that raised the suspicion that it was an earlier publication than planned. According to the description, the feature is being rolled out gradually, and is not yet available to all users.

According to Google’s explanation, a user who chooses to change his Gmail address will not lose anything. All information in the account, including emails, files on the drive, photos, messages and usage history, will remain unchanged. The old address will become an alias, and will continue to work. This means that any mail sent to the old or new address will arrive at the same mailbox. Connecting to Google services will also be possible through both addresses.

However, Google places a series of limitations: after changing the address, it will not be possible to change or delete it for 12 months. During this year it will also not be possible to open a new Gmail account with the old address. The original address will remain the property of the user only, and will not be transferred to another person.

The document also shows that each account will be able to make up to three changes, so that in total it will be possible to have up to four different Gmail addresses connected to the same account. This is an important detail for those who consider changing frequently or experimenting with different addresses.

Google also makes it clear that the change will not be updated immediately everywhere. Log events created before the change, for example, may still display the old address. Sending emails from the old address will also continue to be possible, so the user maintains full control of his digital identity.

The network has already begun to respond enthusiastically. Veteran users noted that many opened a Gmail account in the early 2000s, sometimes with a childish or temporary name, without realizing that the address would be used for work, banking, authorities and social networks. Others mentioned name changes, marriage or gender transition as major reasons for wanting a new address.