Your Google Account email is the address you use to sign into Google services and to identify your account to you and others. If you choose, you can change your Google Account email that ends in gmail.com to a new address that ends in gmail.com.
Important; The ability to change your Google Account email is gradually rolling out to all users and this option may not be available to you yet.
What your Google Account email is
- Your Google Account email is what you use to sign into Google products and services
- When you're signed in, this email address shows up for you next to your name and profile photo. To find your email address, select your Profile picture or initial at the top right of any Google service.
- Your Google Account email is where you get important information about most Google services you use, unless you've added a different contact email.
- Your Google Account email will also be visible when you do things like share Drive files, send Calendar invites, or use Sign in with Google.
Important: Your Google Account email is the main email address for your Google Account. But you can also add additional email addresses for account recovery, as alternates, and more. Learn how to use different email addresses on your account.
Change your Google Account email
If your Google Account email ends in gmail.com, you may be able to change it to another address that ends in @gmail.com.
Tip: If you want to change the name on your Google Account but not change your Gmail address. Learn how to change the name on your Google Account.
Other ways you may be able to change your Google Account email
You may also be able to change your Google Account email if:
- You have a Google Account with a @gmail.com address and want to switch to a non-Gmail address. To do this, you’ll need to delete your Gmail service. Learn more about deleting your Gmail service.
Tip: If you don’t want to delete your Gmail service, you can also add a non-Gmail address as an alternate email. You may be asked to verify any alternate email addresses. Learn more about alternate emails.
- You have a Google Account with a non-Gmail address and want to switch to a Gmail address. To do this you’ll need to add Gmail to your Google Account. Learn how to use Gmail to access your Google Account.
- Your Google Account email was set up through your work, school, or other group. To change this email address, contact your administrator.
What happens after you change your Google Account email
When you change your Google Account email from one that ends in gmail.com to a new address that ends in gmail.com:
- Your previous Google Account email ending in gmail.com will become an alternate email address. Learn more about alternate emails.
- You’ll receive emails to both your old and new addresses.
- The data saved in your account won’t be affected. This includes things like photos, messages and emails sent to your previous email address.
- You can change back to your previous email address at any time, but you can’t create a new Google Account email ending in gmail.com for the next 12 months. You also can’t delete your new email address.
- You can sign in with your old or new email address on Google services, such as Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Google Play or Drive.
Step 1: Check if you can change your Google Account email
- On your computer visit myaccount.google.com/google-account-email. You may be asked to sign in.
- At the top left, click "Personal info"
- Click Email
Google Account email
- Under “Google Account email”, click Change Google Account email. If you don't have this option, it might not be possible to change your Google Account email. If you do have this option, move to step 2.
Step 2: Review potential issues
There can be some issues with Google services and features if you change your Google Account email that ends in @gmail.com to a new address that ends in @gmail.com. Before you change your Google Account email, check if any of these apply to you:
- You use a Chromebook. Learn what you should do first if you use a Chromebook.
- You use Sign in with Google for non-Google sites. Learn how this change may affect Sign in with Google.
- You connect remotely with Chrome Remote Desktop. Learn how to fix your remote connections.
We also recommend that you backup your data as a precaution. Also, some of your app settings may be reset. This is similar to when you sign in on a new device. Learn how to:
- Back up or restore data on your Android device
- Sign in and sync in Chrome
- Export, back up, or restore contacts
- Back up photos & video
- Back up your Timeline data
- Recreate your app settings
Tip: You can always go back to your old Gmail address at any time. You’ll still keep your new Gmail address. Learn how to go back to your old Gmail address.
Step 3: Change your Google Account email
- Enter the new username that you want to use. You’ll need to choose one that isn’t being used by another Google Account or that was used by someone in the past and then deleted.
- Click Change email
- Follow the steps on the screen.
- When complete, you’ll have a new Google Account email and your old one will show as an alternate email.
Common questions when you change your Google Account email
How do I go back to my old Google Account email?
Your previous Google Account email will remain as an alternate email address. You can switch back to it at any time. To switch back:
- Visit myaccount.google.com
- Select Email.
- Select Google Account email.
- Find your previous Google Account email and select “Make this your Google Account email”.
Will my old Google Account email still appear in some places?
Yes. After you change your Google Account email, the new address will appear when you use Google products. However, old instances won’t be changed retroactively. This means things like Calendar events that were made before the change will still show your old email.
What if I can’t find a Google Account email I like?
All Google Account emails that end in gmail.com must have a unique username. They can’t be identical to any existing or previously used address. Some usernames are reserved by Google to prevent spam or abuse. We’ll show you when a particular username isn’t available and offer similar email addresses as suggestions.
Can someone else use my old Google Account email?
No. It will remain as your alternate email and no one else can use it. Even if you delete your Google Account, no one can use your old Google Account email.
Important: This also means that you can’t use your old Google Account email to create a new account.
Can I add or remove dots from my Google Account email?
If the other characters in the username remain the same, the email address is already a valid email alias on which you can receive email. If you want to send emails using the version with added or removed dots, you can add it as an alias in Gmail. Learn how to send emails from a different address or alias.
It’s not possible to change the punctuation of your Google Account email. This means if your Google Account email has dots, they will be displayed in the account menu and when you share Google Docs or other Google Drive documents.
Additional troubleshooting
For help with issues in specific Google products, learn how to troubleshoot issues after you change your Google Account email address.