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After years of fixed usernames, Google is testing a major change for Gmail users: the ability to edit the portion of your email address before “@gmail.com.” The feature is rolling out gradually as a limited test and aims to give people more flexibility without forcing them to create new accounts.
What Google is testing — and where it started
According to Google’s support documentation, this option will let you change the local part of your Gmail address (the text that appears before @gmail.com) while keeping the same Google Account. Reports indicate India may be one of the first markets where this test is active.
How the address change works in practice
Here’s what Google says the new workflow looks like:
- You can change your Gmail address to a new handle that still ends in @gmail.com.
- After the change, your old address remains active: both addresses will receive email and can be used to sign in.
- You cannot delete or change the new address again for up to 12 months after a switch.
- Each Google Account can change its @gmail.com address up to three times.
- Google will not free up your previous address for others to claim.
Why this matters — and who benefits
Gmail addresses often become part of a person’s digital identity — used for personal contacts, subscriptions, and professional profiles. Until now, the only workaround for an outdated or awkward Gmail handle was to create an entirely new account and migrate data, which is cumbersome. Allowing username edits could stop that churn, reduce account fragmentation, and make email management easier.
Imagine you created an email as a teenager with a handle you no longer want. Instead of rebuilding your online life from scratch, you could pick a cleaner username while keeping your inbox, drive files, and signed-in sessions intact.
Things to consider before you change
Despite its convenience, the feature comes with important caveats. Because the previous address remains tied to your account and won’t be released, changing won’t necessarily protect you from older links or mentions using the old handle. Also, the 12-month lock and three-change limit mean this isn’t a tool for frequent rebranding.
From a security standpoint, expect Google to enforce verification and anti-abuse checks as part of the change process. And if you rely on third-party services that use your email for login or notifications, double-check how they handle an alternate but linked address.
What to watch next
Google says the option will appear gradually via the account support tools. If you don’t see it yet, it may simply mean your region isn’t part of the initial test. Watch official Google support pages and your account settings for rollout updates.
Will this reduce the number of new accounts people create? Quite possibly. Will it change how we think about email identities? At least a little. For now, users should weigh the pros and cons before making a once-in-a-while switch.
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