Google begins allowing users to change Gmail address

Google has started allowing users to change their Gmail addresses without creating new accounts, marking a major shift from its long-standing policy that treated email IDs as permanent.

The update, which is being rolled out to users in the United States, enables Gmail account holders to modify the username portion of their email address while retaining all existing data, including emails, contacts and access to services. 

Recall that Tribune Online reported that Google has rolled out a feature that allows Gmail users to change their gmail addresses without having to create a new account.

Meanwhile, under the new system, users can update their Gmail address directly from their account settings, ending years of restriction that required opening a new account to adopt a different email identity.

The report indicates that once the change is made, the old Gmail address will remain active as an alternate address, allowing users to continue receiving messages sent to both the old and new email IDs.

The feature also comes with limits. Users can only change their Gmail address once every 12 months, and the new username must be unique and not previously used by another account.

Google said the update addresses one of the most common user requests, particularly among individuals seeking to replace outdated or informal email names created years earlier.

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The update allows users to change their email “without opening a new account or losing access to their data.”

All account content, including files stored on Google Drive, YouTube activity and other linked services, will remain unchanged after the update.

To protect yourself and your Gmail account from such attacks, you are recommended to run an official Google security checkup that will give you options for securing the account. “Users can protect themselves from credential theft by turning on 2-step verification and adopting passkeys as a stronger and safer alternative to passwords,” a Gmail spokesperson said.

However, according to a Forbes report, experts have warned that the change could create opportunities for phishing attempts, as cybercriminals may exploit confusion around updated email identities. Users have been advised to enable additional security measures such as two-factor authentication to protect their accounts. 

(New York Times)