Google has introduced a long-awaited update for Gmail users. All US users can now change their Gmail username, the part before the “@” sign. More than two decades after the service’s initial launch, this change has come to fruition.
The feature, which began rolling out gradually after its December 2025 announcement, is now available to all US users.In a blog post, Google wrote, “The ability to change a username is available now for all Google Account users in the US.” The change is a long-overdue fix for Gmail users, who have had to keep using their original email addresses even when they no longer reflected their identity or personal tastes. For some users, these email addresses have remained unchanged for many years, often dating back to the early days of the Internet.As Gmail marks 22 years since its launch on April 1, the update offers users the option to switch to a more suitable username while continuing to use their existing Google Account and services.
How to change your Gmail Account username
To change your Google Account username, open the email settings page and navigate to Personal info > Email > Google Account email. If the option is available for your account, you will see a “Change Google Account email” setting.
Select it to begin updating your username.The change applies only to accounts with a @gmail.com address, which can be switched to a different @gmail.com address. Users who want to switch to or from a non-Gmail address have separate options, including deleting the Gmail service or adding Gmail to an existing non-Gmail account. Once changed, the old address becomes an alternate email address, so emails sent to it will still be received.
Account data, including photos, messages, and emails, is not affected. Users can revert to their old address at any time, but cannot create another new Gmail address for 12 months after making a change.Before changing the address, Google recommends checking for potential issues, particularly for users who rely on Chromebook sign-in, Chrome Remote Desktop, or Sign in with Google for third-party sites. Backing up account data ahead of the change is also advised, as some app settings may reset.
