Gmail Users May Soon Be Able To Change Their Email Address and Keep the Old One (9to5google.com)
(Thursday December 25, 2025 @11:30PM (msmash)
from the christmas-miracle dept.)
- Reference: 0180457341
- News link: https://it.slashdot.org/story/25/12/26/0155213/gmail-users-may-soon-be-able-to-change-their-email-address-and-keep-the-old-one
- Source link: https://9to5google.com/2025/12/24/google-change-gmail-addresses/
Google appears to be [1]testing a feature that would let users change their @gmail.com address for the first time, according to an official support document. The support page [2]exists only in Hindi , suggesting an India-first rollout, and Google notes that users will "gradually begin to see this option."
The feature would let users switch to a new @gmail address while retaining full access to their old one, effectively giving a single account two working email addresses. Emails sent to either address would arrive in the same inbox, and existing data in Drive and Photos would remain unaffected. Users who switch cannot register another new address for 12 months. Google has not officially announced the feature.
[1] https://9to5google.com/2025/12/24/google-change-gmail-addresses/
[2] https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/19870?dark=0&sjid=13129471057818824497-NA&hl=hi&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&oco=0
The feature would let users switch to a new @gmail address while retaining full access to their old one, effectively giving a single account two working email addresses. Emails sent to either address would arrive in the same inbox, and existing data in Drive and Photos would remain unaffected. Users who switch cannot register another new address for 12 months. Google has not officially announced the feature.
[1] https://9to5google.com/2025/12/24/google-change-gmail-addresses/
[2] https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/19870?dark=0&sjid=13129471057818824497-NA&hl=hi&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&oco=0
Is this a feature? (Score:2)
by Big Hairy Gorilla ( 9839972 )
Or just something to talk about?
Is it rocket science to get a second gmail address?
You can do this now, with no restrictions. (Score:2)
by spaceman375 ( 780812 )
I have three gmail addresses that I use for different purposes. All the "smart" devices in my homes have the address [street number][street name]@gmail.com for three different houses, so that makes six gmail accounts. If you want a new address, go ahead and register one, then set forwarding and sharing on the old account. I don't see how they can call this a new feature.
Re: You can do this now, with no restrictions. (Score:1)
by nipslan ( 2604693 )
Curious why you wouldnâ(TM)t use something more obscure and unique. Like what3words.com
What about sending? (Score:2)
by Comboman ( 895500 )
That works fine for receiving; less so for sending. I'm hoping the new feature will have an easy pull-down to select which email address you are sending from without logging out and back in.
What? (Score:2)
How is this any different from an alias?
Re: (Score:2)
Actually pretty retro ... a big deal ... of the DONOEVIL type. Play-nice GOOG shocks me . You must PAY for two mailboxes at PROTONmail ... and alias what alias .
Re: (Score:2)
There's no good will here. If you want to change your email address, you either create a new account and abandon the old one, or create a throwaway account and forward all mail to your old one. Either way they lose that precious tracking profile on you and potential ad revenue. Now they're just plugging that hole so they can keep tracking you while you go by whatever you want.
Re: (Score:2)
Plus, it doesn't really fix the real problem that I have with my GMail address. I get tons of spam thanks to my 15 year old e-mail address being part of about 2 dozen security breaches over that time.
What I should really do is just start over and change my e-mail address on most of my commonly used accounts, but even that's a temporary solution. I know that they'll be another breach or someone will just flat out sell my e-mail address to a mailing list without my consent.
Re: (Score:2)
On the contrary I can't wait to get my new gmail email address. My email address is ilovebrenda@gmail.com and my new wife has a different name so she hates it.
Re: (Score:3)
> On the contrary I can't wait to get my new gmail email address. My email address is ilovebrenda@gmail.com and my new wife has a different name so she hates it.
Will she hate it even more when you futureproof the new one to ilovemycurrentwife@gmail.com?
Try ilovemywife@gmail.com and hope she doesn't think about it too much.
Re: What? (Score:2)
Get the new address and then filter the old one straight to trash.
Re: What? (Score:2)
Presumably it won't use the "on behalf of" header or whatever it is (original sender maybe) for who it's from.