What you can actually change in Gmail
Gmail lets you change two different things, and they work in completely different ways. Your display name is what people see when you send them an email — it can be anything you want and you can change it anytime. Your Gmail address itself (the part before @gmail.com) cannot be changed once it exists, but you can add a new Gmail address to your account or switch to using a different one as your primary address.
Most people who think they want to "change their Gmail address" actually want to change their display name, because that is the part other people see. If you genuinely need a different email address, you will need to create a new Gmail account — but you can keep both addresses active in the same Google account, which means you can check both inboxes from one place.
Key Takeaways
- Your display name (what appears in the "From" line of your emails) can be changed in Gmail settings anytime, and the change takes effect on new emails only.
- Your actual Gmail address cannot be changed, but you can create a new Gmail address and set it as your primary sending address without losing access to the old one.
- If you add a new Gmail address to your account, both addresses will receive mail and both can send from your account, but only one can be marked as primary.
- Changing your display name does not affect your password, recovery email, two-factor authentication, or any other security settings.
- Other people will see your new display name only on emails you send after the change — old emails will still show the old name.
How to change your display name in Gmail
Open Gmail in a web browser and click the gear icon in the top right corner. Select "See all settings" from the dropdown menu. Click the "Accounts and Import" tab at the top of the page.
Under the section labeled "Send mail as", you will see your current display name. Click the "Edit info" link next to it. A box will pop up with a field labeled "Name" — this is where your display name lives. Delete the current name and type in whatever name you want people to see when you send them emails. Click "Save changes" at the bottom of the box.
The change takes effect when ready on new emails. If you send an email to someone right now, they will see your new name in the "From" line. Emails you sent before the change will still show your old name in their inbox, because the name is stored with each individual email when it is sent.
Creating a new Gmail address if you need a different email entirely
If you need an actual different Gmail address (not just a different display name), you have two paths. You can create a brand-new Google account with a different Gmail address, but then you will have two separate accounts with two separate passwords and two separate inboxes. Or you can add a new Gmail address to your existing Google account, which means both addresses live under one password and one inbox.
To add a new Gmail address to your current account, go to "Accounts and Import" in settings (same place as above). Under "Send mail as", click "Add another email address". A window will open asking you to enter the name you want associated with this address and the email address itself. Type in a new Gmail address you want to create — it must follow Gmail's rules (letters, numbers, periods, and hyphens only; no spaces or special characters). Click "Next step".
Gmail will send a confirmation email to that new address. You will need to click the confirmation link in that email to set up the address. Once confirmed, both your old and new Gmail addresses will be active in your account. You can send from either one, and mail sent to either address will arrive in the same inbox.
Setting which address appears as your primary sender
If you have added a new Gmail address to your account, you can choose which one shows up as your default when you compose a new email. In "Accounts and Import" settings, find the "Send mail as" section. You will see both your addresses listed. Click the radio button next to whichever address you want to be the default.
This does not delete or disable the other address — it just means that when you open a blank email, the default sender will be the one you chose. You can still click the dropdown in the "From" line of any email and switch to sending from the other address if you want.
What happens to your old display name or address
If you change only your display name, nothing happens to your actual Gmail address. People can still reach you at the same email address, and your account works exactly as before.
If you add a new Gmail address to your account, your old address stays active and keeps receiving mail. You do not have to use the new address — both will work indefinitely. Some people keep an old address active for years even after they have switched to using a new one, because contacts and services may still have the old address on file.
If you want to stop using an old Gmail address entirely and remove it from your account, you can delete it from the "Send mail as" section in settings. But understand that once you delete it, you cannot add it back to this account — if you ever want to use it again, you would have to create a new Google account with that address. Mail sent to a deleted address will bounce back to the sender.
Changing your display name on your phone
The Gmail app on Android and iPhone does not let you change your display name directly. You have to use a web browser. Open Gmail in Safari, Chrome, or whatever browser you use on your phone, and follow the same steps as above: gear icon, "See all settings", "Accounts and Import" tab, "Edit info" next to your name.
If your phone keeps trying to open the Gmail app instead of the browser, look for a menu option in the app that says "Open in browser" or "View in web". Alternatively, you can wait until you have access to a computer, since the change will sync to your phone automatically once you make it.
Security and privacy notes about changing your name or address
Changing your display name does not affect your password or any of your security settings. Two-factor authentication, recovery email, recovery phone number — all of that stays exactly the same. You do not need to update anything else in your account.
If you are changing your display name because you are concerned about privacy or safety, understand that your Gmail address itself does not change. Anyone who has your email address can still find you. If you genuinely need to stop using an email address because of harassment or safety concerns, creating a new Gmail address (or a new account entirely) is the right move, and you should not share the new address with anyone who had the old one.
Adding a new Gmail address to your account does not create a separate account or a separate password. It is still one Google account with one login. If someone gains access to your password, they can access both email addresses. If you are concerned about account security, focus on a strong password and two-factor authentication rather than splitting into multiple accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Gmail address back to what it was before?
No. Once you create a Gmail address, it is permanent and cannot be changed or deleted in a way that lets you use it again. If you delete an address from your account, that address is gone forever — no one can create a new account with it, and you cannot add it back to your account. Choose your Gmail address carefully the first time.
If I add a new Gmail address to my account, will my contacts see both addresses?
No. Your contacts will only see the address you send from. If you send an email from your new address, they will see the new address. If you send from your old address, they will see the old one. You control which address appears in each email by choosing it in the "From" dropdown when you compose.
What if I forgot what my current display name is?
Go to "Accounts and Import" in settings and look under "Send mail as". The name shown there is your current display name. You can also send yourself a test email and look at the "From" line to see what name appears to other people.
Does changing my display name affect my Google account name or my Google password?
No. Your display name is separate from your account name and password. Changing your display name does not change how you log in or any other part of your account security. Your password stays the same.
Can I have different display names for different people?
No. Your display name is the same for everyone you email. If you want different people to see different names, you would need to use different Gmail addresses — you can add multiple addresses to one account and send from whichever one you want depending on who you are emailing.