What changing your Gmail address actually does

Your Gmail address is the name that appears before @gmail.com — the part you choose when you create the account. Changing it means people will send mail to your new address instead of your old one. Gmail does not forward old messages to the new address automatically, and anyone who has your old address will not know the new one unless you tell them.

You can only change your Gmail address once every 90 days. If you change it and then want to change it back, you have to wait three months. This is a hard limit, so choose carefully before you make the switch.

The process takes about five minutes and happens entirely in your Gmail settings. You do not need to create a new account or read anything.

Key Takeaways

  • You change your Gmail address in Settings under the "Accounts and Import" tab, not anywhere else in Gmail.
  • The new address must not already exist as a Gmail account, and you can only change once every 90 days.
  • Your old address stops receiving new mail when ready, but you should tell your contacts your new address before you change it.
  • All your existing emails, folders, and settings stay with your account — only the address itself changes.
  • If you cannot find the change option, your account type may not support it, and you should check your account status first.

How to find the email change setting

Open Gmail in your web browser and click the gear icon in the top right corner. A menu will drop down. Click "See all settings" at the bottom of that menu.

You are now in the Settings page. Look for the tab labeled "Accounts and Import" near the top. Click it. Under the heading "Change your email address," you will see a button that says "Edit." Click that button. If you do not see this section at all, skip ahead to the troubleshooting section below.

A box will pop up asking you to confirm your password. Type your Gmail password and click "Next." Gmail does this to make sure you are really the account owner before letting you change something this important.

Entering your new Gmail address

After you enter your password, a form appears with a single text field. This is where you type the new address you want. Type only the part before @gmail.com — do not type @gmail.com again, because it is already there.

The address you choose must not already be taken by another Gmail account. If you type an address that someone else has, Gmail will tell you when ready and you will have to pick a different one. Gmail addresses are case-insensitive, so MyNewEmail@gmail.com and mynewmail@gmail.com are the same address.

Once you have typed a new address that is available, click "Change Email Address." Gmail will ask you to confirm one more time. Click the button again to finish.

What happens to your old address

Your old Gmail address stops receiving new mail as soon as you change it. Any emails sent to the old address after the change will bounce back to the sender with a message saying the address no longer exists. This happens when ready — there is no waiting period.

However, all the emails you received at your old address are still in your account. They do not disappear. You can search for them, read them, and organize them the same way you always have. The change only affects where new mail goes, not what you already have.

Before you change your address, send a message to anyone who regularly emails you. Tell them your new address and ask them to update their contacts. This is especially important for work, banking, and any services that send you important information by email.

Updating services that know your old address

Many websites and apps have your Gmail address on file. These include online shopping accounts, social media, banking, streaming services, and anything else you signed up for with email. Changing your Gmail address does not automatically update these services — you have to do it yourself.

Start with the services you use most often or that send you important information. Log into each one, find the account settings or profile page, and look for an email address field. Update it to your new Gmail address. Some services will send a confirmation email to the new address asking you to verify the change — check your new Gmail inbox and click the link they send.

You do not have to update every service when ready. Services that send you occasional emails will eventually bounce those emails back to you with a message that the address no longer works, and you can update them then. But for anything that sends regular mail — bills, order confirmations, password resets — update it soon after you change your Gmail address.

If you cannot find the change option

Some Gmail accounts do not have the option to change the address. This usually happens if your account is managed by a school, employer, or organization. These are called "workspace" or "business" accounts, and they have different rules. Your organization controls your email address, not you.

If you have a personal Gmail account and still do not see the "Change your email address" option, your account may have restrictions. Check that you are logged into the right account — if you have multiple Gmail accounts, make sure you are in Settings for the one you want to change. If you are in the right account and the option is still not there, your account may be too new. Gmail sometimes requires accounts to exist for a certain amount of time before allowing changes. Try again in a few days.

If you have a Gmail account through Google Workspace (a paid service for businesses), you cannot change the address yourself. You will need to contact your workspace administrator to make the change.

Undoing a change or getting your old address back

Once you change your Gmail address, you cannot change it back right away. You have to wait 90 days before you can make another change. If you realize when ready that you made a mistake, you have a short window to undo it — Gmail will show you an "Undo" option for a few seconds after you complete the change. Click it quickly if you catch the mistake in time.

If you miss the undo window, you will have to wait the full 90 days before you can change your address again. During that time, your new address is permanent. After 90 days have passed, you can go back through Settings and change to a different address — which could be your old address if no one else has claimed it in the meantime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have two Gmail addresses at the same time?

No. Each Gmail account has one address. If you want to use a different email address, you would need to create a separate Gmail account. You can manage multiple Gmail accounts in the same browser by adding them to your account list, but they are separate accounts with separate inboxes.

Will my old address ever become available again?

Not for a long time. When you change your Gmail address, your old address is reserved by Google for at least six months. After that period, it may become available for someone else to claim, but this is not may provide. You should not count on reclaiming an old address.

What if I want to keep using my old address too?

You cannot change your address back until 90 days have passed. If you need both addresses active at the same time, create a second Gmail account with your old address before you change your main account. Then you will have two separate accounts you can use.

Do I need to change my password when I change my email address?

No. Your password stays the same. You log in with your new Gmail address and the same password you have always used. Changing your address does not affect your password or security settings.

Will changing my address affect my Google Drive, Photos, or other Google services?

No. All your Google services are tied to your account, not to your email address. Your Drive files, Photos, YouTube channel, and everything else stays exactly the same. Only the address people use to reach you by email changes.